College Admission Process- How to avoid messing it up for your child?

Do not talk colleges or the process into the ground. Give them space and time to process it on their own. As an adult, you will learn things to consider 100 mph faster than they can because they are young and inexperienced. Don’t expect them to keep up with your speed. Downshift to their speed.

Besides financial things that need to be laid out, have minimal opinions on a school or your will create bias that is hard for them to erase in their mind. This can work against you - they will like what you don’t, and will hate what you like etc, bottom line is, all your opinions create a cloud that prevents getting a good read on what they truly think. Go on college tours and basically say nothing, let them do the talking during and after. Leave room for their questions.

A few weeks ago, I saw the tipping point in my D’s eyes when I brought up something about college. So we went into the silent zone at our house until the rest of the decisions come out (unless she brings something up which is unlikely). We know what we know for now, won’t do any good to discuss it anymore until we have all the results. We are trying to enjoy these last months at home and enjoying talking about other things that aren’t college! Good luck, it’s quite a ride.