3 Things Parents Need to Prepare for College Application Season

Photo above: Neonne Ameer, Director of College Counseling, introduces the college application process to families at Senior Family Night.

Settling into the back-to-school fall season, we feel a buzz of energy surrounding the journey to college among our high school seniors and their families. While much of the process may be driven by students, their adults also have a role in supporting their exploration, securing financial documents, and discussing options. Our CollegeBound Initiative’s directors of college counseling are hosting parent workshops throughout the fall to inform and support parents and guardians with the process. Here are three things that parents/guardians can do to prepare for college application season!

1. Stay involved by asking questions about your child’s college research.

You may have colleges in mind from reading the news, talking to family or neighbors, or you might hold a soft spot for your own alma mater. Keep an open mind to hearing about your child’s interests, potential areas of study, and what their counselors recommend. Even if you do not have direct experience with attending college in the U.S., your child will find value in having you as a sounding board and coming up with questions and a list of colleges together.

Bonus Tip: Add your child’s college dates to your calendar to keep track of opportunities. For example, free college application periods are available for City University of New York (CUNY) from October 21 to November 15, 2024, and State University of New York (SUNY) schools from October 21 to November 3, 2024!

2. Let your child visit colleges in person, even when you can’t go.

We recognize not every family has the resources, time, or transportation available to visit colleges. Encourage your child to plan visits with friends by signing up directly with local college admissions offices for free tours to see different college environments. Your child’s school or a trusted community organization may also organize group visits, such as day trips or overnight trips to different states. Parents of our CollegeBound Initiative students make use of college trips planned by our experienced directors of college counseling.

Bonus Tip: If you can make time, consider volunteering as a chaperone with the school so you can tour the campus alongside your child.

3. Ask for help to figure out the finances.

At Student Leadership Network, our CBI directors of college counseling are prepared to assist students and families at our partner schools with a variety of circumstances on their journeys to college, including supporting households with lower incomes and mixed-status families.

Every family should file taxes, whether their income is six- or seven-figures or zero, because tax forms are crucial for financial aid applications. Colleges take a range of factors into consideration when calculating the final cost of tuition. The number you see on their brochures or website is often not the amount that you’ll have to pay. Depending on the family’s circumstances, income, and scholarships, the final cost of going to college can be much lower! Work with your school’s college counselor or other trusted staff member to identify the documents your child will need to fill out various financial aid forms and scholarship applications.

Bonus Tip: Start to explore common sources of college financial aid with your child and counselor, such as:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile
• New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
• Say Yes Buffalo – for Buffalo, NY students

Finding the right college for each student involves a mix of academic, financial, and social considerations. We hope you’ll follow along with our Journey to College this year and get tips from our directors of college counseling for a successful college application season!

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