The transition from school to college is a vital part of the teenagers life. And entry into the college is preceded by the application procedure. This process seems like a lot of paperwork and nothing else. But it is much more than that and that is why all the schools have adopted it. The process in fact tests many other abilities of a child. Thus, a good application is the first step a child can take towards collegiate success. Being a parent, it is definitely your responsibility to ensure that your child submits a winning application. And here are 5 ways to ensure that:
1. Start with the end in mind
It is not simply that often, the statement is made – Well begun is half done. The same applies when your teen is applying for college. Start even before schooling ends. Think of your top five or six college choices. Don’t zero in on one for that makes the challenge very stiff. At the same time, do not flood yourself with options. This will make it confusing. It goes without saying that this must be done by taking the teen along in the choices made. Download the targeted applications and carefully study them. Note the deadlines, rules and provision for any financial aid packages. Though there may be many similarities between schools and colleges, there will be some differences in the application forms. So, delve into the details completely.
2. Religiously collect all the required data
Any standard college application form will have at least six parts. The main form to be filled out, the essay that has to be composed, the exam results of the teen till date, his/her transcripts, the ‘brag sheet’ to list out the achievements and the various letters of commendation and recommendation. As you start filling in the details you will be surprised at the amount of data that you need to complete the whole process. Note all the necessary addresses and telephone numbers and keep them handy. This will be of great help to your teen to fill in the details. It would be useful to download the common application form that has a list of all the details that would be required irrespective of the school that you wish to attend. More than 400 schools make use of the common application form.
3. Find and utilize the right kind of help
While it is good that you offer all the help possible for your child, it is not advisable to do his/her work. Instead of heavily editing the essay or worse, writing it yourself, encourage the teens to write it on their own. When you do their work for them, it will not help them. The experienced examiners at the school will find out anyway. It will also set a bad example and precedent for the child. This reflects badly on you as a parent. But, there is nothing wrong in seeking advise and help from experts. There is also a wealth of information and knowledge on the internet. Downloadable workbooks, expert articles and other informative insights will be available online. You could also utilize this opportunity to educate your teens on researching on the net.
4. Prepare the child well by making them read up on the apps and the essays
There is a lot of literature available on preparation to fill the application forms and write the essays. For instance, you will be able to obtain expert advice from a book written by Katherine Cohen who worked for Yale University in the admissions department. There are many other such books that have been written by those who have been in the admissions field for decades. In the same manner there are books on better essay writing too. For instance, Harry Bauld has written a helpful book about composing essays – On Writing the College Application Essay – for Ivy League colleges. It has been considered a classic in its field. Many such classics are available and it will be your responsibility as a parent to get your child the best.
5. Do a complete and thorough check to complete the procedure
A study of the most common application errors has identified the root cause of errors as carelessness. The only cure for carelessness is carefulness! Mistakes creep in because of spelling mistakes, grammar errors and because of not following instructions. It always pays to check and re-check the application. And it would be a good idea to make your teen do the checking. It will make him/her more responsible and it would be valuable training for the future too. Once that is done, you should run through the whole thing once to check for spelling and grammar errors. Applying for a college is a once-a-lifetime job if done properly. So there is no harm in having a third person check the same after you. Submit only when you are completely sure.
