We urge you to read this post. It is long, but it is important.
This is NOT a post to promote our business. However, we would be remiss to not say a huge “Thank you!” for all of your referrals over the past year. Our business has grown almost entirely from word-of-mouth referrals since our founding in 2010. Your spreading the word continues to mean everything to us.
This post is about your children’s college decisions. We invite you to share it with other parents as well if you feel so inclined.
For many students and families this month and next, decisions will cause many emotions. We all know the impact of the pressures of high school, let alone the admissions process, so thoughtfulness and sensitivity at this time are so crucial.
As parents, here are a few things we urge you to remember:
How to handle an acceptance:
Never take any college acceptance for granted. One person’s “likely” is another person’s “reach.” An acceptance is a testament to your student’s accomplishments. Do not tolerate any indifference towards any acceptance. Every acceptance is a reason for gratitude and celebration.
Admissions officers have an unenviable task. Many at the top institutions will say that they reject hundreds or thousands of perfectly qualified and deserving applicants every year.
That means that peers who are waitlisted or denied are not undeserving; it does not mean they did anything wrong. It simply means they will have to wait longer for their decision, or that they will not be attending that college this fall – but surely they will be attending another fantastic institution.
So to those students who are accepted…Celebrate, but do not gloat. Be proud, but not vain. Be thoughtful when posting on social media. You have achieved something special. It is now your responsibility to use that education to do something meaningful in the world.
How to handle a waitlist:
A “waitlist”—which is an increasingly popular decision in recent years—is not an inevitable rejection. It is incredibly frustrating. Even while continuing to advocate, your student and your family should begin to focus on the acceptances as you all make a final college decision.
If your child is waitlisted, there may be a few steps to take based on instructions the college provides. Some options may include:
Write a letter to your regional admissions officer. Thank them for their continued consideration of your application. If this is the case, reiterate that their school is your first choice college and you would attend if accepted. Update them on any recent significant achievements in and out of the classroom.
Have your guidance counselor advocate for you. Speak with them about reaching out to the college to fight for you.
Decisions on waitlisted students will be made in the coming weeks and months—past when you will need to put in a deposit at another school and even during the summer. Make sure you put down a deposit at a college your student has been accepted to by the appropriate deadline to ensure they have a school to attend in the fall.
Bad news is not personal.
If the news is not good, we know it is painful to watch your child deal with disappointment. For many, a “deny” shatters confidence.
Let your child process their emotions. They have worked so hard over the past several years, and they deserve time to process. With that said, remind them it’s not personal and that they should hold their head high, proud of everything that they have accomplished and all the ways in which they have grown. It’s competitive. It’s tough. And most importantly, no matter where they go to college, if they work hard and stay true to themselves, they will find happiness and success.
If you need to talk or have questions, please do not hesitate to email or call us anytime. We are here for your students and your families.
Pick the “best fit” college for your child (and family).
Once all of a student’s options are on the table, it can be difficult to make a decision. There are a few factors to consider.
It is a lot different revisiting a school as an accepted student. There is a fresh mentality – and sometimes honors colleges and merit money.
The highest-ranked school where your child is accepted may be the perfect fit for them. It also may not. Urge your child to think about where they will thrive the most academically, personally, and socially. Your child’s happiness is so important as they transition into college. They are not just choosing a school for the next four years – they are choosing a home.
Make sure the college is a responsible financial fit for your student and family. Every family’s comfort zone will be different, but it’s important to have these conversations.
If you are all feeling very stuck in choosing a school, here is a great tip: instead of making pros and cons lists, just make a cons list for each college. Eliminate the ‘most worst’ choices from the list until only one school (‘the least worst’) remains. While this may not give anyone warm and fuzzy feelings, it can be incredibly revealing. When we are focusing on the positives of an option, it can make that option harder to let go. Adopting a negative mindset can reveal the right path for your student. (This trick can be invaluable for making decisions on any scale in life.)
Once you pick your college, notify everywhere else you applied.
This is SO important. Once your student makes their decision on where to go, contact the other colleges where your student received acceptances and inform them that they will not be attending there. It is not fair to other students to hold a spot that your student will never use.
Please share with us where your student decides to go!
We were privileged to play a role in their college prep process, and it is so rewarding for us to celebrate their achievements with your family.
If you have younger children, we hope that you choose to work with us again, and that you spread the word to other families.
Again, do not hesitate to email us or call 267-888-6489 anytime. As always, we are here for your students and your families. We are happy to answer any questions you have.