What Happens When Parents Become Too Involved In The College Application Process

If you are a parent helping your child to navigate the ins and outs of selecting a Bachelor's degree program, you may be overwhelmed by the many steps you and your child must take to both decide on a college and prepare for the next four years. It is great to be actively involved in your child's education. Sometimes, however, parents make the mistake of taking over the college search and application process for their kids. You should know that in order to make a mature college decision, there are some things your son or daughter should do independently.

You likely have some ideas of what you would like your child to become and what major you would like him or her to pursue. The fact is, your son or daughter may not share your same opinion about what he or she should be doing. The questions of what major and future career to pursue are ultimately an individual's personal decision but make this topic a family conversation. Every prospective college student needs some guidance on how to select a course of study with maximum value. If the guidance you offer is on the dictatorial side, however, it may backfire.

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Similarly, a student should choose the Bachelor's degree program that he or she feels is the best fit. You may wish to steer your child towards a local, nearby college or even your alma mater. Keep in mind that colleges, like shoes, come in different shapes and sizes and with different features and benefits to fit various needs. Talk to your son or daughter about what he or she is looking for in a college and accompany him or her on college visits, but ultimately allow the final decision to be made by your him or her.

Of course, if you are paying for your child's education, it is only fair that you will have to approve of the choices. You may have a limit on what you can pay each year for tuition. You may also prefer that your son or daughter lives at home and commutes to classes at a local college to save on living expenses.

What you are able to contribute to your child's education is up to you, but at the same time, keep in mind that your son or daughter should have a say in his or her future as well. Have a talk about the options, perhaps suggesting that if he or she wants to attend a more costly school than what you are comfortable with, he or she will have to make up the difference in tuition.

As a parent, you may be tempted to do much of the work of researching colleges, talking with admissions officers, and filling out applications yourself. In fact, admissions officers are noting an alarming trend where parents conduct much of the early communications with colleges on behalf of their children. This is a mistake.

The prospective student should take the most responsibility when it comes to his or her Bachelor's degree. This means finding out the answers to any questions on his or her own, and filling out any application forms himself. Your role is to guide and support your child in the process.

What Happens When Parents Become Too Involved In The College Application Process

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