| Getting into college and the whole college application | | | | sheet. It is usually the first time they have to actively |
| process can be a stressful journey for both students | | | | search out a person to serve as their reference |
| and parents alike. From 1999 through 2005, as a | | | | through the required letter of recommendation. It |
| mother of four, I spend endless hours helping, | | | | may also be the first time for many that they have |
| advising and consoling our children as they were | | | | to really think about their future, their goals, and their |
| applying to colleges. Each of our four children are | | | | life experiences and then put all those into a written |
| unique individuals who needed different things from | | | | document.. "the college application essay". So show |
| us as parents as they were applying to colleges. We | | | | some patience and nurture them along the way as |
| had self-directed child, who virtually did it all himself. | | | | they may struggle with some of these tasks. |
| We had a procrastinator who required more guidance | | | | Whenever possible encourage them to keep their |
| and prodding. We had the adventurer who wanted | | | | options open and try not to set their heart on just |
| to go far from home and explore another part of | | | | one school. My private mantra throughout each |
| the country. We had the over achiever who was | | | | college application journey was that each of them |
| intent on applying to a multitude of schools, just to | | | | would end up where they were meant to be and if |
| make sure she had lots of choices. For each one of | | | | not... they could always transfer. |
| the kids, the college application process was different. | | | | Finally, be honest about what you can afford. We set |
| As a parent, you want to help them but not take | | | | a college cost range for the oldest, knowing that |
| over. You want to assist them with their quest of | | | | while we perhaps could have afforded more, we had |
| getting into the college of their choice but keep them | | | | the other 3 lined up like planes on a runway. We |
| grounded. | | | | wanted to be fair to each of them and not end up |
| My first piece of advice: Stay calm, bite your tongue | | | | with the youngest being unable to have the same |
| sometimes, be supportive and offer assistance but | | | | options as the oldest. Are we independently wealthy? |
| don't be overbearing. Above all, do not do it all for | | | | Absolutely not, planning for college financially took a |
| them. As a head's up, you will also be receiving many | | | | lot of work and preparation and sacrificing. In addition, |
| solicitations from college consultants, who for a fee | | | | we expected that each of them would really put in |
| will assist your student in getting this process | | | | an effort to investigate scholarship opportunities |
| completed. However, it is my personal belief that if | | | | locally, nationally and with the schools to which they |
| they really want to go to college, they should be | | | | were accepted. They all knew the expectations early |
| willing to put in their own time and energy to get the | | | | on. It would be a partnership, where we would help |
| application completed. There is a wealth of free | | | | and they would too. So to all parents and students |
| information all over the Internet, as well as at their | | | | preparing to apply to college now, relax and try to |
| individual schools and on all college websites, to help | | | | enjoy the journey as you enter this new stage of |
| them through the college application process. Save | | | | life. |
| your money for all the expenses that will come once | | | | For free information on how to write a college essay, |
| they are accepted and enrolled in a school. | | | | construct an effective extracurricular college activity |
| Next, keep in mind that the college application | | | | resume, ask a teacher for a letter of |
| process may be the first time that they have to | | | | recommendation, find scholarship moniesand apply for |
| really highlight themselves with a resume or activity | | | | those funds. |