College Prep for Parents

Looking for tips as a parent on how to navigate the whole college process? I found this article in USNews and found it very helpful in taking away some of my anxiety: 8 Strategies for Starting Your College Application Process.

Here are 3 great take-aways from the article:

1. It’s never too soon to start visiting college campuses to get a feel of the different kinds (large vs small, in/near a major center vs isolated and rural etc). You can even sign up for official campus tours.

2. Your resume or portfolio is a work in progress and should be worked on and added to (and considered) from the beginning of your high school career.

3. Do not take your reference letters lightly. Ask teachers who know you well and can give you personal referral. There are also professionals to help you and your child with this process.

Here are some more tips from Marissa Sandora, founder of the Essay Specialist for parents entering into this Land of Oz:

1. Start the summer between junior and senior year (before you get busy with school commitments).
2. Stay focused on one main idea rather than trying to cover everything.
3. Be thoughtful about your topic. Colleges want to see how you think, not just read about what you did.
4. Be vivid in your writing. (Show, don’t tell.) Write with active verbs and use descriptive language. Think about trying to convey smell, taste, sound and feeling.
5. Be accurate! Make sure you don’t go over the maximum word count. Fact check; spell check; proofread; have others read. Don’t rely on your computer to catch every error.

Republished from 2018