“I don’t think I’ll get anything, is it even worth it?” I receive that question often this time of year. Financial aid applications have been compared to a root canal so it’s not exactly something one would choose to do unless it was going to have some benefit.
From time to time, I like to tap into the wealth of college counseling and admission counseling experience of the staff at Campus Bound and ask them for the “inside scoop” on a particular topic. For this month, I asked them:
“What is one thing parents can do to help their child during the college admission process?”
The college application process is complicated, and it’s understandable that families would want to seek as much information as they possibly can. But, we have learned over many years of doing this work that too much advice can actually work against you. Here are a few examples when it makes sense to cut down the outside advice and maybe even trust your own gut.
Bear with me while I share a quick personal story. The other day my son’s teacher called me to tell me that he had been wearing his hat in school. He’s only in first grade, and it’s not a hard rule that hats can’t be worn. She called him to her desk to ask him to remove his hat. However, rather than the typical, “Please remove your hat,” she had the consideration to ask a very important question: “Why are you wearing your hat in the classroom?” Read More
It’s tough to be a parent of a teenager. Period. We get it! Most Campus Bound counselors are parents ourselves, and many have been through the college admissions process with our own kids. Even those of us who haven’t gone through it ourselves have been working with teens and families long enough to know how stressful this time can be.
The New York Times recently published an opinion piece titled, Why Applying To College Is So Confusing, which can be found by clicking the picture below. As College Counselors, who have helped thousands of students navigate the college application process, we have some thoughts on the article.
We hear it all the time from parents, “Oh, we have been through the college process with our son or daughter, so we already know what we are doing.” Maybe it’s true, but maybe not. You are probably going to be more informed than a family going through it for the first time, but here are some reasons why you should be weary of thinking you’re going to know exactly what to do.
There used to be these things called books that were filled with helpful information. Just kidding… we know that many people prefer to use the internet, but don’t overlook some really fantastic books that can help families through the college admission process. And, yes the internet is great, and usually free, but you get what you pay for, and purchasing a book from your local bookstore, or from Amazon, or even borrowing one from your local library can be a really good idea.
The staff at Campus Bound has well over 100 years of combined experience, in fact, it’s probably closer to 200. About once a month I like to tap into that vast knowledge and experience to bring you a recurring blog called Advice From Inside. We know what it’s like to work in Admissions, so we’ll share some of our secrets. Read More
Words like “stress,” hassle,” “craziness” are frequently used when referring to college application season. But why not “joy”? Why can’t this be a good experience, with excitement, optimism and good memories? We believe that there is joy to be found in the college application process, and here are some ways to find it.