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Parentpedia
Applying to College
What Experts Say
The fall of senior year in high school -- when most teens apply to college -- is a notoriously stressful time. But you can take some of the anxiety out of it if you help your teen get a head start and leave plenty of time for all the small details that contribute to last-minute panic.
Many families plan a trip during spring break of junior year or over the summer to visit colleges that their teen is considering applying to. That way your teen can narrow down her list before the fall craziness sets in. A good plan is to pick one or two schools that are long-shots, a couple that are good bets, and at least one that is likely to be a sure thing, so when the letters of acceptance come in your teen can be sure of some success.
After that, though, leave her final choices up to her -- after all, she's the one who's going to go there, says Debra Beck, a teen mentor and founder of Spirited Youth and author of My Feet Aren't Ugly!: A Girl's Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out. What you can do, though, is provide as much information and support as possible.
If she's aiming at highly competitive schools, have her take the SATs as early as possible, so there's time to retake them if the results aren't what she hoped. And if she feels anxious about a particular subject, ask if she'd like to take a preparation class or have some tutoring.
You can also help with scheduling, particularly if your teen tends to procrastinate. Be sure that she gives counselors and teachers adequate time to write recommendations, at least two weeks if possible.
When it comes to writing the essay -- one of the most important parts of the application and often the most stressful -- give your teen some tips to help her get organized and avoid procrastination. Have her pick a theme ahead of time and mull it over, so she's not chewing on her pencil and watching the clock. And have her write an outline to get her thoughts in order. Encourage your teen to allow time to show the essay to a counselor, teacher, or you for feedback and proofreading.
Finally, make a list of all the application deadlines and check each one off when it's done so your teen gets a sense of making progress.
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