We polled the admissions team for their best college search advice. What was their most frequent choice? How to deal with your parents!
Mom and Dad mean well... so here are a few tips to help you and your parents successfully navigate the college search together:
1. Don't let your parents call us for you. Actually, our favorites are the parents who call and PRETEND to be you. Ha! We can tell. ;o)
We're not that scary and we think it's awesome when a student calls for the answer to their own question - so ask away!
If you have to leave a message, don't forget to leave your full name and phone number. Speak slowly! Spell your name if it isn't an easy one. Want a laugh about this? Check out Kevin James' skit below - start at 5 minutes and 30 seconds!
2. Don't let your parents fill out your application. Sorry boys, but it's even more obvious for you when Mom's pretty script is on every line. YOU are applying to college, not your parents, so make sure you do the work.
3. Don't let Mom or Dad write your essay! Seems obvious, right? You'd be surprised. Mom and Dad are great editors and give awesome feedback - but you should be the author. Keep in mind that aside from a visit, your essay is the best way to let us get to know you - the real you behind the GPA and SAT scores. So pour yourself into your essay so that we get to know YOU, not Mom or Dad.
4. It's OKAY that you don't know what to major in. It's OKAY that you don't know "what you want to be". REALLY! Parents want the best for their kids, and sometimes they translate "best" as "really high-paying job" or "doctor" or "lawyer" or "CEO". College will prepare you for a job or grad school and you will end up being exactly what you want to be, but sometimes you need more time to figure it out and we get that. College is about trying new things, learning new concepts, and expanding your mind, so take your time and don't stress!
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