How Can Parents Help? The College Search and Application Process Ann Boldt and Harry Pettibone, CHS College Advisors College and Career Resource Center September 5th and September 11th

Applying to College is STRESSFUL Our GOAL tonight: Identify Healthy Approaches to Reducing this Stress Provide Helpful Guidelines for Parent Involvement Preserve Relationships between You and Your Student TOP TEN WAYS PARENTS CAN HELP

#10 Support Ask Listen Encourage Self-Assessment Student Naviance Career Assessments Research Career Options Help Identify Passions Coursework Extracurricular Activities Facilitate Opportunities to Gain Experience Volunteering Job Shadowing Summer Internships #10 Support Ask Listen

#10 – Let your student follow their own path Uniqueness Discover and Rejoice in Your Uniqueness Determine How to Make Your Uniqueness Relevant Decide How to Relate Your Uniqueness in your Application #10 – Let your student follow their own path

#9 Commit to Finding Best Fit College Best College Fit should take into consideration for YOUR STUDENT: Academic Factors Social/Emotional Factors Financial Factors We are NOT fans of the U.S. News & World Report College Rankings

WHY ARE WE NOT FANS of USNWR? Rankings DO NOT measure OUTPUT, they measure INPUT Methodology is a collection of subjective measurements Encourages colleges to “behave” badly Increases student/family debt For more information: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/15-things-to-know-about-u-s-news-college-rankings/ #9 - Support your student when looking at other colleges not listed on the US News &World Report

#8 #8 – Help reinforce that the college a student attends Highly Recommend Frank Bruni’s, Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be Chapter Highlights: The Unsung Alma Maters Throwing Darts Beyond the Comfort Zone An Elite Edge? Strangled with Ivy #8 – Help reinforce that the college a student attends is a stepping stone not an end result

#7 Focus on the College Experience https://www.purdue.edu/checklist/college-planning-checklist.pdf

Engagement Matters ❏ Professors will excite me about learning Engagement Matters ❏ Professors will excite me about learning. ❏ Instructors will care about me as a person. ❏ Mentors will encourage me to pursue my goals. ❏ Projects may take a semester or more to complete. ❏ Internships are available to apply what I learned in class. ❏ Extracurricular activities are available to connect me with students with similar interests and with opportunities to try something new. #7 Remember the ultimate goal – a successful college experience to launch your student to a great job and happy life!

#6 Empower Student Ownership Student should be in the driver’s seat throughout this process Promote time management and organizational strategies Provide guidance and assistance when asked Assist with problem solving but do not solve their problems Encourage the use of all resources, including mental health resources #6 Students who take control of this process are more self-assured, proactive and prepared for the independence they will experience in college

#5 Importance of Creating a Balanced List With 4000+ colleges in the U.S., there is more than one good fit for every student Recommend Applying to 6-8 Schools 1/3 Highly Likely Schools (student’s academic profile is significantly stronger than that of the middle 50 percent of admitted students) 1/3 Likely or Target Schools (student’s academic profile is similar to that of the middle 50 percent of admitted students) 1/3 Reach Schools (less than 25 percent chance of gaining admission and/or student’s profile is not as strong as that of the middle 50 percent of admitted students) CHS CCRC Motto: “LOVE YOUR LIST” Do not apply “Just to see if you can get in” #5 Importance of Creating a Balanced List #5 – The goal of a balanced list minimizes household stress throughout this process

#4 College Admission Decisions Are NOT: Statement of a Student’s Worth A Parent’s Report Card In a Student or Parent’s Control Prediction of Future Success Indication that a Student did something Wrong Score Card for Students to Compare Themselves to Their Peers #4 Discuss these issues before your student submits their first application

#3 Facilitate Communication Communication between: Your Student & You Avoid “car creep” Allow them to express their frustrations, concerns/fears (be that safe place) Your Student & Family/Friends Assist your student in providing talking points of why or why not a college is on the student’s balanced list Your Student & Admission Representatives, Faculty/Staff and Coaches #3 Good Communication is essential in maintaining Healthy Relationships

#2 Stay calm and set the tone in the household

# #1 Be Your Student’s Biggest Cheerleader Celebrate their Efforts, Accomplishments and Successes (and be there to reassure them if/when there are disappointments)