Parents of Senior Class of 2017 -- now what happens?

Parents Forum
1

OK, the current senior class is receiving acceptances–soon it will be our kids’ turn! I have a few questions:

  1. I’m not an extreme helicopter parent, but I am interested and involved. Sometimes my kid needs a push, like, “Send that nice admissions counselor at Tulane a note thanking him for his time at the meeting.” How involved should I be without being obnoxious?

  2. Will some colleges come looking for my kid? She has a high ACT and most probably will be NM semi or finalist. She has gotten some really “nice” letters and other looks like mass mailing. However, our counselor says certain schools ask for kids with “X” ACT score and target them. For instance, she has been inundated with info from NYU and Vandy – weird. The strange thing is the LAC she really loves (and where she sent her ACT score) has NOT sent a thing!

  3. Should she work on applications this summer?

2

3), definitely, YES!! (after 8/1)

3

You might want to join this thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/class-20xx-community/1479899-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2017-p1.html

4
  1. All of us parents face the same dilemma as our children become more independent: when to foster that independence and “let go” and when our support is still needed and/or valuable. Take the cues from your child. Leave her in the driver’s seat; it is her future, her choice, her application. That said, share your thoughts gently for her consideration when you think they’d help. If she bristles, back off.
  2. The mailings are not really so personal. They are based on the info she provided on her testing forms and her name is purchased from the testing companies along with other students who meet whatever criterion they specified. Some schools send more mailings than others. This site is full of complaints from students who were bombarded by mailings from a certain school inviting them to apply and then rejected by that same school! The mailings should not be taken as a reflection on the potential strength of her candidacy, just additional information about each school for her consideration.
  3. Yes! It is time for her to start to explore and narrow the field of colleges, visit some colleges, interview at her favorites this summer or fall if they offer interviews, and start playing with the applications in August.
5

I would also try to visit some colleges if you have not already done so. That will help a lot for essay subjects. If you read the 2016 topics in advance she will have a good idea of what to write. Also, look at college requirements (e.g. ACT w writing or not. SAT II subject tests) to make sure that she has all requirements completed.

6

Definitely have her

  1. write down all her ECs and hours spent on them and what year she did them
  2. Draft of her common app essay this summer…Fall of senior is so busy!

Re: scholarships…you need to look at colleges that provide them. Here is a good place to look: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html

7

Make sure that you know your financial situation and tell your kid what the cost constraints are before s/he makes the application list.