by Paige Cerulli

Created on: December 28, 2008

The college application process is a complicated and often stressful one, and many parents find themselves standing by and watching their child take the lead. Such was the situation with my family when I began applying to colleges: neither of my parents had attended college and they knew very little about what was involved in applying. Luckily my mom tried to help me as much as she could, and with some hard work I was accepted to many schools and had my choice of where to go. In this article, I hope to show parents that even if they are unfamiliar with the college world, there are many ways that they can support their child through their journey.

1. Start talking to your child early

Bring up the topic of college during the beginning of your child's Junior year of high school. Ask them what areas of study they're interested in, but be prepared they probably won't know. This is when your help can be highly valuable. You know your child better than most people, and you know their interests. Point these out to your child, and help identify their strengths. If your child is naturally organized, tell them that. Maybe they're artistic, or have great communication skills, or have an interest in subjects like music or history. Sometimes students overlook these traits, and having someone else point them out can make a huge difference.

2. Come up with some ideas and start visiting

Find out what your child is looking for in a school big or small? Close to home or far away? 2 or 4 year program? You don't have to have all the answers right away, but use what decisions your child has made to select a few schools to visit. The summer before their Senior year is a great time to do this. And do make the time to visit schools. Often a tour can quickly weed out what schools won't make a good match, and using that information you can then go on to find schools that are more appropriate for your child.

3. Find out requirements early!

As the list of possible schools narrows, find out what materials those schools will be requiring. Many schools require SAT scores, and oftentimes it is beneficial for your child to take those tests more than once. Find out the dates that those tests will be held, and when registration for them is due. This information is likely available through the high school guidance office or online.

Letters of recommendation are also common requirements. Help your child come up with a list of people they feel comfortable going to for such a recommendation. Remind them

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