Applying to college in uncertain times

 

Figuring out the what, where, and how of applying to college is challenging enough. But when colleges are facing operational uncertainties that make it difficult to predict what to expect, it can be altogether overwhelming.

Here’s how we encourage you to move forward in the college process in times of uncertainty –

Refocus: What truly matters most to you in the college you call home?

In chaotic times, sometimes we see with more clarity. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unclear about how to move forward in navigating college selection and planning, this is a good time to sit down and talk as a family, taking stock of what matters most in the college options you want to create. It is crucial for this dialogue to be open and transparent between parents and the student who is heading into the application process themselves. If priorities have shifted around distance from home, specific supports on campus, college costs, or the desire for particular experiences or opportunities, it’s important for these priorities to be named out loud and worked into the planning and college list before decision time rolls around.

It is not uncommon for a student who was once considering college options all over the country to focus on a region within driving distance or a shorter travel time from home as they move through the process. Defining some parameters can be a good thing; this helps to shape how you move forward with more focus and clarity. It’s okay to let some options go, and hone in on the options that are best for you. Maybe you’ve decided that investing in SAT or ACT preparation is not the way you can allocate your time, effort, or financial resources right now. That’s a reasonable choice to make, and it will require a student to pay close attention to colleges’ changing testing policies, while being adaptable to build a test optional list as new information unfolds. In other cases, students and families may be realizing that they need to add colleges to their list, such as more affordable options where a student may qualify for in-state tuition, or be eligible for merit scholarships that will provide a safety net if other college costs are out of reach. Identifying these priorities now can avoid regret and disappointment later, helping to ensure a student has the right mix of choices for their needs.

Tune in: Pay attention to how colleges communicate and make decisions that respond to the circumstances they face.

Your college is not only the place you earn your degree, but importantly the place you will call home for the first independent stage of your young adult life. Students who find community and belonging are significantly less likely to transfer. For most students, it’s important to be able to identify some alignment of a college’s values and priorities with their own. This is a good time to be tuned into a college’s communication with their student body, prospective students, and the general public. Start by signing up for a college’s email list for prospective students and their parents. Follow the college’s official social media accounts, and see what students are posting outside of official channels using hashtags for their school. One particularly insightful way to learn about what’s happening on a campus in real time is to regularly read or follow the social accounts of the student newspaper or other student publications that are reporting on campus events. This will give you a good sense of the climate on a campus, the challenges and issues that come up, and the decision making and communication process of the college’s administration as well as its engagement with the faculty and student body. Information like this can help to assess if this campus and the values of the college are a good match for your priorities.

Listen to your gut.

Take some time to check in with yourself, and really consider what type of learning experience will best support your goals, your well being, and your growth. At the end of the day, it is critically important that a student is empowered to take ownership over their college decision. As our kids make this big transition into adulthood, they need their trusted adults to be honest about the parameters, while also creating lots of space for listening and support. We want to help them turn down the volume on all of the external voices of peers, family members, other adults, and even our own expectations so that they can choose well for themselves.

TBU Advisors are experienced in supporting students to navigate their college choices and personal best fit, and TBU Essay & Application specialists are experts at supporting students to craft their most compelling, authentic work. If you’d like to explore working with a TBU Advisor, now is the time. Get in touch here and we will look forward to connecting with you.
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