Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing! Or subscribe to my blog on the left and get email updates.

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from pocsmom.com to parentscountdowntocollegecoach and vice versa.

______________

A study conducted in 2010 of high school and college students showed found that “five times as many high school and college students are dealing with anxiety as youth of the same age who were studied in the Great Depression era. Students themselves point to everything from pressure to succeed — self-imposed and otherwise — to a fast-paced world that’s only sped up by the technology they love so much.”

If they were to do the same study today, I would imagine they would find the level of stress and pressure students feel has escalated. There is no greater stress than application stress. Every component breeds stress: standardized tests, GPAs, the essay, and even the recommendation letters. It’s no wonder students are feeling the stress when they start the application process.

As a parent, it’s difficult for you to watch the stress levels increase as it gets closer to application time. And when stress levels increase with your student, the family stress goes up as well.

Following are 5 tips to help with application stress:

Preparation prevents panic

I used to tell my kids that I worked best under pressure. It may be true but with the pressure came added stress. As with any task, preparation removes the stress and allows you and your student to avoid the panic that ensues and causes stress.

Get help before you need it

Before senior year, do your research. If you find there are some questions that you need answered or some help with the overwhelming amount of components in the application, get help. Help is available online and a good bit of it is either free or at a minimal cost. There are also other parents who are going through this or have been through it before and are willing to help. Ask for help–don’t flounder around when help is available.

Stay organized

Organization is key when tackling the college application. Look at the college sites and the Common App site for a list of application components. Gather all the necessary documents before starting and keep them in one place (either on the computer or in a folder). Use calendars, to-do lists, and emails to keep all the documents organized. Once your student starts with the application they should be able to complete it easily.

Give yourself plenty of time

One parent I know set aside one hour a day for their student to work on the application components: the essay, studying for the SAT, gathering recommendation letters, and compiling the necessary personal information. If you break these tasks up into segments the application isn’t so overwhelming.

Don’t wait until the last minute to pick the colleges

The application itself is not as stressful as choosing the colleges to apply to. Take time beforehand to do the research and when it comes time to apply, your student will know what each college requires to complete the application. Throwing a college into the mix at the last minute is a recipe for mistakes and errors. The choices need to be locked in by the fall of senior year. Earlier if your student decides to apply ED or EA.

All in all, the earlier you complete the applications, the less stressful the process will be. Senior year is already a crazy time for students and their families. Reducing stress around the college application is just one way to keep peace in the household and alleviate some of the senior year stress.

Check out Wendy’s blog: SOS Over Application Stress for more tips on how to cope and overcome the frustration of college applications.

]]> http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/10/23/wednesdays-parent-5-tips-help-application-stress/feed/ 0 http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/09/19/prepare-standout-college-application-book-review-giveaway/ http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/2013/09/19/prepare-standout-college-application-book-review-giveaway/#comments Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:00:29 +0000 admin http://www.parentscountdowntocollegecoach.com/?p=5720  

Recently I received a book to review about how to create an application that stands out from the others. The book, How to Prepare a Standout College Application: Expert Advice That Takes You From LMO (like many others) to Admit, is written by Allison Cooper Chisolm and Anna Ivey, both former admissions officers at top universities. They have drawn from their experiences and given parents and students a step by step process on how to complete a stellar college application that makes an impression on admissions officers.

According to Chisholm and Ivey,

Stellar credentials are great, but without a standout application, they are not enough. It really is as simple as that. So when people ask us, “What’s the secret?” our answer is always the same: The application is the secret.

The authors remind applicants that a stellar application requires time and effort. It’s not something you can complete in an afternoon. They believe there are 7 proven strategies that work:

1. Work Smarter, Not Harder
2. Think Like an Admissions Officer
3. Tell Your Story
4. Focus on the Core Four: Passion, Talent, Initiative and Impact
5. Sweat the Details
6. Make the Form Work for You
7. Show, Don’t Tell

Using these strategies, their book is a DIY guide to help your student produce a standout application. All of the stories and examples in the book are from personal experiences with real-life applicants and their families. The book covers all aspects of the application process from start to finish: how to get started; how to complete the application; and how to submit it and follow up.

What I liked about the book

It’s hard to summarize such a wealth of information in a review, but as I read the book, I thought about the things that I liked from a parent and a college coach standpoint:

• The book gives easy to understand parent tips throughout, giving parents the information they need to help their student with the application process.
• Seeing the application through the eyes of an admissions officer is invaluable.
• The book walks the student through each step of telling their story and how it helps them stand out from other applicants.
• The insider tips on how to get the application in the right pile by answering questions related to your student’s admissions chances.
• Sample resumes and other application components.
• They address the nuances of home school applicants.
• The book addresses the issues of following up, handling questions, and dealing with deferred admission.

This book is an invaluable tool for parents who are helping their student navigate the college maze. You can purchase it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/How-Prepare-Standout-College-Application/dp/1118414403). But, if you’re lucky, you might just win a FREE copy of the book provided by the authors. Just enter my Book Giveway below, win, and it could be on its way to you when the giveaway ends on September 26, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Paul is quoted on SmartMoney.com as an admissions expert. You can read the entire article “The Error-Free College Application” by clicking here.

You can contact Paul online at:

PreCollegePrep.com

His blog: College Blogaversity

Twitter: VideoCoach

Facebook: PreCollegePrep

Summer

1. Start refining your college list by viewing college tours online and deciding which schools you would like to pursue further by visiting and requesting an admissions interview.
2. Do some online practice tests of the SAT and/or ACT to determine your weaknesses. Spend time over the summer studying and improving your vocabulary, math skills and essay skills.
3. Start writing your application essays and refining them so they will be ready for submission.

August-September

1. Register for the SAT and ACT
2. Meet with your high school counselor and make sure your courses are on track for the colleges you have chosen and review your academic record for accuracy.
3. Meet with admissions representatives who come to your school and attend the college fair. Make sure you get business cards so you can follow up during the application process.
4. Plan college visits and schedule admission  interviews while on campus.

October

1. Take SAT and ACT tests
2. Give teacher recommendation forms to your teachers and the school report form to your counselor to provide ample time for completion as a part of your college applications.

November

1. Register for SAT Subject tests to be taken in December.
2. Begin preparing your college applications and make sure you have all components completed and ready for submission.

December

1. Submit your financial aid CSS/PROFILE to the appropriate colleges.
2. Obtain a copy of the FAFSA and begin preparing to complete it in early January. Make sure you are familiar with the form and necessary financial records required.
3. Take your SAT Subject Tests
4. Mail your college applications BEFORE your winter break. Keep copies of everything you mail and send the applications and forms via certified/return receipt mail. If you apply online, send the additional forms via the mail.

January

1. Complete the FAFSA online the first week of January. Remember that Financial Aid depends on completion of this form and you MUST make it a priority.
2. Study hard and do well on your mid-semester exams.

February

1. Check to make sure that your mid-year transcript is sent to all the colleges you have applied to. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Your awards, aid and scholarships rely on the receipt of this transcript.
2. Contact your colleges to verify receipt of the transcript and ascertain if they are in need of any additional information.

March

1. Watch for your SAR (Student Aid Report) in the mail and review it carefully. Make any corrections that might be needed and return it immediately.
2. Submit your SAR and required tax forms to the financial aid office. Contact each college’s financial aid office to verify your application is complete and they have all the forms they require. This is also VERY IMPORTANT.

April

1. College acceptance letters start to arrive. Review your financial aid award packages and compare the colleges.
2. Make your final decision on which college you want to attend and mail the acceptance form along with the deposit. Also contact the colleges you will not be attending and notify them to take you off their list. This will open up spaces for students who are wait listed.

May

1. May 1st is the absolute LAST DAY to decide on your college choice. You MUST let the college know by this date. There are NO exceptions!
2. Write thank you notes to every person who helped you: recommendations, counselors, family, and friends.
3. Take AP exams to get college credit.

As you can see, there are many tasks to complete during your senior year. If you’ve planned ahead and done all you should have, you should be able to walk across that stage at graduation breathing a sigh of relief that you planned and executed every step to get into the college of your choice.