Your Kid Got “In.” Now What?
The moment your child gets into college is supposed to feel triumphant—and it does. For about five minutes. Then your parent brain kicks in, scanning for the next problem to solve, and you realize something unsettling: no one ever explained what happens after the acceptance. If this happens to you, you’re not alone. Parents spend years preparing families for applications, essays, testing, transcripts… and then once a college says yes, everyone just assumes parents magically know what comes next. But they don’t. How could they? However, never fear—the College Admissions Collective has you covered. Because if there is one thing [...]
What to Pack for College: What Your Teen Really Needs (and What to Skip)
It was move-out day at the University of Chicago, and the iconic gargoyles kept watch on the chaos below. Convocation weekend meant no parking. The new off-campus apartment was on the fourth floor (no elevator, naturally). The SUV was packed with a bed, mattress, desk, and chair, impossibly, but thankfully, packed into boxes courtesy of the geniuses at IKEA. This all had to be delivered to the new off-campus apartment so there would be space in the SUV to move the dorm items, including approximately 27 hoodies, out. The day was filled with emotions. Goodbye to cozy dorm life and [...]
How to Read College Financial Aid Letters
So, your student got into college—congrats! But now you’re staring at a financial aid letter that looks more like a puzzle missing a few pieces. Grants, loans, work-study… and where exactly is the part that tells you how much you are actually paying? You’re not alone. Colleges aren’t exactly known for making financial aid letters easy to read. But don’t worry—we’re here to help you decode them like a pro. Start With the Total Cost of Attendance (COA) First things first: Find the college’s Cost of Attendance (COA). This includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, and sometimes a generous [...]
College Tours for College Admissions: Why Do the Prospective Applicants Look So Miserable?
When I went to tour McGill last summer with my two kids, ages 15 and 11, I had two very different experiences. While waiting for the tour to start, my eleven-year-old son read the course catalog, picked his major, and decided on his dormitory. My fifteen-year-old avoided sitting next to me, seemed very unhappy, and repeatedly glared at me whenever she thought I might ask a question. It wasn’t just me–another mother was struggling with her own seventeen-year-old daughter. Because this was her oldest child and their first college visit, the mother was shocked at her daughter’s behavior and kept [...]
Choosing a College – Without Being Overly Influenced by “Branding”
The concept of branding has invaded our culture. Not only do brands have brands, but people, including students, are encouraged to promote their “personal brand”. Soon, my dog will start working on one–his brand will probably be “well-behaved but quirky,” so he gets more treats, although his behavior will undoubtedly remain problematic despite his campaign. Colleges, of course, have been cultivating their schools’ brands for years. US News and World Report has certainly contributed to this as well, with their list of rankings based on gobblygook and reputation. Many schools work hard to move up in the rankings, so they [...]
How Parents Can Help Kids to Protect Their Self-Esteem During College Admissions
I have a wonderful friend, who has a wonderful son. As her oldest child, the college admissions process took them both by surprise. Although he was an excellent student with excellent extracurriculars, he was rejected by all the colleges in the Ivy-Plus world. Although he did gain admission to a top-notch public flagship in the Honors College, he felt terrible about himself for the rest of high school and the first year of college, comparing himself to other friends and classmates who did manage to be admitted into the Ivy world. Thankfully, this didn’t last forever. Four years later, he [...]