| Your college search is a major production, and | | | | - Making sure that you are aware of the financial |
| everyone you know has a role to play. For the show | | | | assistance they can provide so that you can make |
| to run smoothly, all the players must know their roles | | | | educated decisions about options. |
| and receive proper direction. Your parents, friends, | | | | Your friends should: |
| teachers and mentors can all get into the act, but | | | | - Be there for you. You will sometimes need |
| you are the director. If they try to hog the stage in | | | | emotional support. |
| your college search, they will do more harm than | | | | - Celebrate successes, and not dwell on |
| good. | | | | disappointments. |
| Your parents should: | | | | - Remember that the college admissions process is |
| - Be the "back seat" drivers in the college search | | | | not a contest. |
| process | | | | Your high school counselors should: |
| - Know that things have changed since their college | | | | - Build your self-esteem and self-confidence by |
| days | | | | helping you understand the differences between high |
| - Not compare you with others | | | | school and college. |
| - Be realistic and non-judgmental | | | | - Identify and develop your college expectations and |
| - Not overemphasize their alma maters | | | | help you explore college majors and career interests. |
| - Help you understand the college search and | | | | - Assist in your college search and help you complete |
| admission process | | | | your applications. |
| - Stay focused on your search and be aware of | | | | - Assist in your college funding and help you apply for |
| deadlines and fees | | | | scholarships. |
| - Be open to dialogue and responsive to questions, | | | | - Monitor your four year academic plan and help you |
| but keep heavy discussions to once a week, max | | | | access information that is essential to the college |
| - Understand you are not a product to be marketed | | | | search and financial aid process. |
| - Move quickly past disappointments, like rejection | | | | - Serve as an advocate for you in the college |
| from a certain college, but rather look forward | | | | admissions process. |
| - Celebrate all successes, big or little | | | | - Write recommendations. |
| You can help your parents by: | | | | Your college admissions officers should: |
| - Helping them to "let go" so that they can deal with | | | | - Recruit students to the college. |
| "empty nest syndrome" when you go off to college. | | | | - Respond to inquiry emails sent to the college. |
| - Sharing information with your parents, and getting | | | | - Know all there is to know about their colleges and |
| their opinions as you travel the college search road. | | | | be honest about this information. |
| - Having them develop a list of questions they would | | | | - Read applications and be involved in making college |
| like answered by the various colleges. | | | | admission decisions. |
| - Showing them the admitted profiles of last year's | | | | - Meet with students and their families on campus, at |
| class so they understand the competition. | | | | college fairs, high school programs and college |
| - Inviting them to accompany you to college fairs and | | | | receptions. |
| on college visits. | | | | - Look for reasons to admit not reject. |