Four Mistakes Parents Make in the College Application Process, Guest Post

Whether you’re just beginning to think about your student’s college plans, or you’re deep in the throes of SAT/ACT prep, school research, filling out the FAFSA, etc, you already know that the college application is stressful for everyone involved.

Even more so when you turn to the black hole of the Internet for guidance. Sure, there are a lot of really knowledgeable people sharing really great information (you’re reading some of it right now!) but this is the Internet, and unfortunately for you, someone doesn’t need to be really knowledgeable to share their thoughts or advice. And that leaves you, a well-intentioned parent, on the receiving end of some really BAD information.
We’ve seen it all and once we stopped screaming at our computer screens (true story) we decided it was our duty to call out that bad advice, break down why it is so wrong, and share the truth so you can guide your students effectively.

So let’s get to it, shall we? Here are the four most egregiously bad/wrong/misguided/awful pieces of advice we’ve found on applying to college:

Tuition – The Cheaper the Better
The cost of college is certainly no joke, and sticker shock is natural when you’re looking at all those tuition zeroes. BUT that doesn’t mean that the cheapest option is your student’s best option. In fact, ninety percent of American families would pay the same or less in tuition at a school like Harvard as they would a state school. And actually in the top five of the list of schools with the lowest average student debt: Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.
Schools with high tuitions usually means large endowments and hefty financial aid. So when applying to college, make sure to explore your options, and don’t get scared away by sticker price! If a school is a great fit but seems too expensive, apply anyway, and decide once you’ve seen your financial aid offer.

Extracurriculars – More, More, More!
For some reason, people seem to think that the more “stuff” you have in your college application, the better your chances are at getting in. This is not true. (Especially in light of the recent “Making Caring Common” project out of Harvard.) In fact, admissions committees can always spot a stuffed resume, and it’s an instant red flag. So stop signing your student up for (or forcing them into more) extracurricular activities. Pick two or three that your student can really excel at, through which they can gain leadership experience and make an IMPACT. It’s not about breadth of activities, but depth.

Advice – All Hands on Deck
When parents have a student applying to college, there tends to be an “all hand on deck” mentality, where they bring in every counselor, family friend, and distantly related relative who might have gone to the school where little Johnny is applying. This is bad. Too many cooks in the kitchen, folks. The application (and especially the essays) will become muddled, and your student’s unique profile may get lost in the mix. It’s better to stick with one or two experts to keep your application focused.

Forget the Ivy League
When did we start telling kids to “stop reaching for the stars”? “Follow your dreams… realistically.” We’ve seen a dozen articles about why you shouldn’t bother with top schools with their brand names, high tuitions, and low acceptance rates. We’ve seen a dozen more articles about why you shouldn’t bother with college altogether. Now we’ve talked about the value of a college education at length, so we won’t go through that again. But we do want to remind everyone to go to the best school you can get into.

Sure, applying to top schools is stressful. It’s a lot of pressure for students AND their parents. But college is the first move in a long game of chess. If you can get that first advantage, shouldn’t you? Yes, apply to a range of schools. Yes, explore ALL your options. But don’t count yourself out until you’re actually out. And go to the best school you can get into.

Have additional questions? We've got plenty of advice to share.  Get in touch with us!

This blog post is from our friends at Admissionado, a premiere MBA and college admissions consulting company. Jon obtained an undergraduate degree from Brown University, and his MBA from Harvard.  Passionate about the transformative power of education, Jon (and the Admissionado team!) has helped thousands of college and MBA aspirants get into top schools since 2008.