The “Right” Road to College Focuses on Fit and Planning Ahead

Spring  has sprung! It’s that time of year when many seniors are still waiting to hear from colleges to which they’ve applied. Although most are anxious, hoping to receive good news soon, I urge parents to encourage them to use this time wisely by continuing to weigh the pros and cons of their options prior to officially accepting an offer of admission.

Meanwhile, savvy juniors already are creating an appropriate college list by undergoing a thoughtful assessment of their strengths and weaknesses, interests, learning style and personality as well as specific needs and wants. In my experience, kids with the most satisfying college experiences have benefited from this kind of self-reflection before even applying to college A, B or C.
Unfortunately, most parents aren’t aware of how their student’s road to college can be exciting and empowering rather than confusing and stressful. Here are two common but avoidable mistakes that can derail the college search process:

• People-Pleasing. It’s understandable for young people to want their family as well as their teachers and friends to admire and feel proud of their achievements. However, during their college search, too often students get on the “wrong” road by bowing to pressure from well-meaning individuals. They find themselves considering institutions based primarily on name recognition, perceived level of prestige or family preferences rather than “fit.”
  
  It’s important to remember that as hard as it may be to let go, it's your kid—not you—who’s going to college, and there are hundreds of wonderful options out there. And although your child, by virtue of high grades and scores, may seem like a good candidate for a particular school, that doesn’t mean they’d necessarily be admitted or do well there. In fact, many studies have shown that it matters less in the long run where you go to college than what you do with that opportunity.
  

• Magical-Thinking. With an increasing number of highly selective private colleges and universities charging upwards of $80,000 per year and tuitions at public institutions continuing to rise as well, sending a child to college may be the biggest expenditure a family ever makes. Accordingly, it can be disastrous trying to figure out how to pay for college—and which colleges might be more or less generous with need-based financial aid and/or merit scholarships—at the eleventh hour. 
  
  More than ever, starting to think about college sooner rather than later gives your child a distinct advantage by helping to ensure that they’re on the appropriate college-prep-track and pursuing authentic interests and activities that will help schools get a strong sense of who they are and what makes them tick. And required tasks can be spread out over time, significantly reducing family stress.
  

The road to college can be bumpy so don’t simply cross your fingers and hope that your family’s journey will somehow lead your child to where they want to go. The college search and application processes take a lot of time and effort. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
© 2024 Sandra M. Moore/Next Step CC, LLC – For more information, contact me at 845.242.8336