Parent Participation
in College Admissions
Parent Involvement
As a parent, plan on attending
college visits, college information nights,
and financial aid seminars with your student.
Get informed and help with important decisions.
Types of Admission
Students have 6 options for college admission. MyCollegeCalendar
highly recommends students use the Early Application
process and schedule; corresponding tasks, details
and deadlines are provided throughout the MyCollegeCalendar
online admissions system.
Volunteer and Summer Activities
Admission offices want college communities composed
of diverse and interesting students - nothing would
be more boring than having a campus filled only
with academic geniuses who spend 100% of their
time studying.
Campus Visits and Interviews
Plan to visit your 7 selected colleges and universities. Seniors – plan
to visit college campuses in June, July or August
2008 or in fall 2008, and possibly in spring 2009. Juniors – plan
to visit campuses in spring 2009 and/or summer
2009.
Calculating the Cost of College
A good starting point for discussion is the evaluation
of your Expected
Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC the
amount of money your family is expected
to contribute toward the cost of college as calculated
by the U.S. Department of Education.
College Search
Searching for colleges and universities that are
a good fit for you may sound difficult, but it’s
relatively easy. Begin by knowing that you should
apply to 6 or 7 colleges and universities and MUST
apply to no less than 3.
E-mail Etiquette
Proper etiquette must be
exercised with E-mail correspondence. In E-mails,
students typically use language that has no
place in professional correspondence.
College Application Essays
Start early on your college applications and application
essays. This is a lengthy, involved process
in which many colleges require multiple essays
and supplemental forms.
Letters of Recommendation
Your teachers, counselors,
coaches, employers, and community leaders receive
numerous requests for recommendations and with
their busy schedules, they have limited time. So
don’t wait until the last minute to ask.
Financial Aid
Students, and especially
parents, should understand all aspects of financial
aid process. Detailed discussion of scholarship,
grant, and loan application processes, common
pitfalls to avoid, and all-around practical
advice are provided.
FAFSA
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
is required by virtually all colleges for students
to receive need-based financial aid.
Scholarships
If you haven’t registered
for free national
scholarship search services, do it now. Learn
what scholarships
and grants are offered by foundations,
clubs, businesses, and organizations and receive
e-mail reminders of when to apply.
Social Network Sites
Clean-up any personal information you and your friends
have posted on all your internet social network
websites. Many colleges and universities
will review these social networking sites (such
as MySpace.com and Facebook.com) where students
who are applying to their college have posted information.
Student Athletes
One of the biggest mistakes high school athletes
make is waiting for college coaches to notice
them. If you’re serious about playing
college sports, there are steps you can take
to get college coaches to notice you.
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