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Parenting is not for the faint of heart! It is simultaneously the best and most challenging job I have had. When my children were born, I took a hiatus from my job as a college counselor and admission officer to stay at home with them for three years. Now, 20+ years later, they are in college and I have learned a lot.
Along the way, I relied on the wisdom of other parents, not those with children my kids’ age but rather from parents a few steps ahead. Whether potty training, learning to drive, or applying to college, the reflections of veteran parents were much more valuable than those trying to muddle through it like me.
It is in this spirit that I asked fellow admission professionals who have lived experience in this process with their own kids, to share advice with parents of college-bound students. Here is what they had to say:
“As you enter the college search process, before you even begin the conversation of what your child is looking for and where that might be found, let them know that you are proud of them and want them to land at a college or university that is right for them. High school kids carry a heavy weight at this stage and they want to please their family and others and that is typically done by being admitted to colleges and universities that carry a strong and known reputation. Let them know early that they are loved, that you are proud of them, and that you have every confidence in them in finding the next academic home that will be right for them.” –Chris Gruber, Vice President & Dean Of Admission & Financial Aid, Davidson College
“Schedule a time to talk about college with your child. Setting aside some planned time allows everyone to just be a family without ‘college talk’ clouding over every activity.” –Scott Mayer, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Christopher's School
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