Get insider tips from two moms who’ve navigated six kids through the college application process. Learn what they wish they knew before their kids applied to college!
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We remember the first time we started thinking about our students applying to go to college.
Our middle school hosted a seminar for parents of 7th graders with a local consultant who helped families navigate the process.
The presentation left us feeling both overwhelmed and relieved — we didn’t really need to start thinking about college applications for a few more years!
Now that all six of our kids have applied to college (and gotten in!), we’ve learned so much.
If you’re reading this, we bet you’re beginning the college application process and might wonder why our experiences can help you.
We’ve put together our list of things we wished we’d known when our students were applying to make things easier for you!
You’re about to discover that applying to college has changed a lot compared to 20+ years ago.
Experiencing the process as a parent is also very different than it is as a student.
Buckle up. Let’s get this emotional rollercoaster going as you head into the next stage of your student’s life.
- Why It's Never Too Early to Start Preparing
- Why College Tours Are Valuable
- Why Choosing a Major Can Make or Break an Application
- How to Stay Organized and Manage College Applications
- What We Learned from Our Students' College Application Journey
- Why a College Application Coach Could Be a Game-Changer
- 10 Things We Wish We'd Known
- Pin it to Remember it:
Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Preparing
Some high schools are highly competitive when it comes to class rankings.
Depending on where your student may want to apply, there are some things they can do to improve their class standing by the end of their junior year.
- Learn how your student’s school weights different types of classes. Grades in AP, Honors, IB, and dual enrollment classes are often given more weight than those in regular classes.
- Consider deferring required classes that don’t have as much weight (for instance, PE or other electives) until senior year for a higher GPA
Extracurricular activities and work experience can also factor into college applications.
Get involved early in one or two activities (dance, music, sports, clubs). Colleges are more interested in a student’s commitment to a few extracurriculars than in their involvement in a larger number.
Encourage your student to connect with teachers and/or mentors early to develop a relationship with them.
This will ensure that they have people who know them well when it’s time to request letters of recommendation.
Some of our kids felt really uncomfortable requesting those letters because they didn’t know their teachers very well.
Start a shared document to track everything they do and any awards and accolades so you can access that information easily when filling out applications.
Why College Tours Are Valuable
The first step in applying to colleges is deciding where to apply.
College applications aren’t cheap, and each one can be time-consuming, so finding ways to narrow down the list can really help.
We recommend taking time to tour every college your student is seriously considering BEFORE applying.
All of our students had some schools on their list that they crossed off after visiting the campus in person.
You’ll discover that each college has its unique atmosphere and dynamic, so even if it looks impressive online or in a brochure, it may not feel right in person.
After visiting 20 different campuses, here are some ideas to get the most out of your campus visits:
- Begin touring campuses during your student’s junior year before they decide where to apply.
- Think hard before touring colleges your family can’t afford. It’s really difficult when they fall in love with a campus that they realistically can’t attend.
- If the weather is lousy and the school is at the top of your student’s list, consider scheduling another tour if they don’t have a great visit.
- Try to tour when students are on campus. The energy is entirely different when classes are in session!
- If your student is interested in a particular major, try to set up a chance to meet with an advisor or professor from that major to get more information. This isn’t always possible, especially at larger universities, but it can make a big difference in deciding where to attend.
Once your student begins getting acceptance letters, you should attend accepted student events to help with that final decision.
Why Choosing a Major Can Make or Break an Application
We’ve recently noticed that a number of colleges are asking students to include their intended major when they complete their applications.
Many students find it challenging to make that kind of decision when they don’t know all the options available!
Heck, we’re both still trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up… LOL
Too often, students choose one of the most popular majors because it’s something they’ve heard of.
Many colleges will only accept a certain number of students into particular majors because of staffing and facilities.
So, take some time to research some of the more unique majors offered at a school. Check the college’s website or call the admissions office to see if listing an intended major on the application is a factor in their decision-making process. This one thing can have a significant impact on whether they’re accepted!
Don’t choose something they have zero interest in, but dig a little deeper than business, engineering, or biology.
How to Stay Organized and Manage College Applications
Once it’s time to begin completing college applications, consider setting up a shared calendar with all the deadlines and due dates added.
Make sure you understand the difference between early action, early application, and early decision options and what those different programs entail. This will affect the dates and timeline for each school.
For a quick breakdown, read this post from Bright Horizons College Coach: Understanding the Different Types of College Application Deadlines.
Some things to include on the calendar for each college:
- application deadlines
- transcript requests
- standardized testing dates
- letter of recommendation requests
- essay writing deadlines (with time allowed for proofreading and rewrites)
- interview schedule
- scholarship application dates
- FAFSA deadlines
Set up the calendar to send reminder notifications so you won’t be the one nagging them. Then, plan how they want to be held accountable for meeting the deadlines.
Taking the time to do this will give you all some peace of mind, plus it teaches them to get organized and learn project management skills that will help them throughout college and beyond.
What We Learned from Our Students’ College Application Journey
We’ll get a little philosophical with you now because it’s easy to do that when you’re looking backward.
Students may end up somewhere that turns out to be a poor fit despite all the research beforehand.
It’s not the end of the world!
They can always transfer to a different school.
There is more than one right college for everyone!
College is a lot like life: you will find what you’re looking for. Spend time looking for the negative things, and that’s what you’ll see, so spend time looking for the positive things!
Why a College Application Coach Could Be a Game-Changer
No matter how prepared you are, applying to college can feel stressful for both students and parents.
The application process is very different from when we applied, and things continue to change rapidly (standardized testing: we’re looking at you!)
Working with a college coach from Bright Horizons can make a big difference because they’re all former admissions and financial aid professionals.
Having someone with years of experience in college admissions can help in a variety of ways:
- Get perspective and a reality check from a professional
- Figure out what the best plan is for standardized testing
- Input and guidance about writing essays
- Help with the information overload so you can focus on the things that actually matter for your student’s application
We saved the best part of a college application coach for last: Mom doesn’t have to be the nag! You’ll be able to find that balance between offering your student support and giving them independence: exactly what they need to help prepare for college.
10 Things We Wish We’d Known
- Learn about the high school’s policy regarding weighted GPAs before registering for freshman classes
- Encourage your student to get involved early in a few activities they love
- Connect with teachers or mentors to form a relationship, and they’ll be more comfortable writing letters of recommendation
- Start a document to track all your student’s activities, awards, jobs, volunteering, etc., with dates to make it easier to complete that section of the application
- Tour every college campus your student is interested in before applying
- Be mindful of the future major(s) included on the application
- Learn about the different application options: early action, early decision, early application, early admission, and what they mean
- Create a shared calendar with all the deadlines and due dates and set it up to send reminder notifications
- There’s more than one “right” choice for every student
- Consider using a college coach to have access to expert advice
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us or leave a comment below.
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