avoid scrambling before deadlines, move the process along faster, and reduce stress when colleges request certain information. Where families can get documents: • Immunization records: Pediatrician’s office or state health department • Transcripts: High school counseling office •Test scores: College Board (SAT/AP) and MyACT • Birth certificate: State vital records office • Social Security card: Social Security Administration COLLEGE ESSAYS College essays aren’t just writing another school paper. They’re personal, reflective, and time-consuming. We recommend starting the writing process early. This will help give time for the student-to-be to really brainstorm what they want to express, sim- mer on it post-writing for a few days without feeling rushed to submit, and even share the essay with another person for feedback. This is especially great for when the prompts change for each college. Reviewing Common App essay prompts and college admissions guidance early can help students better understand what schools are looking for. Starting early, or pre-writing at the very least, gives parents a welcome reprieve from the added stress when their child seeks
out help because they “don’t know what to write about.”
application deadlines, and financial aid due dates can help everyone stay on the same page. HELPFUL APPS If this has taught anyone anything, it’s that there are a lot of pieces to this college plan- ning puzzle. There are multiple systems to keep up with, and each one serves a different purpose. Luckily, there’s an app (several, actu- ally) that will help bring everything together and keep it simple. Common App: Apply to hundreds of colleges easily. Simply fill out the application once and send directly to multiple schools. College Board: Organization is the name of the game with this app. Keep up with the SAT, AP exams, financial aid profiles, and schol- arship information. There are even college search tools. MyACT: Registration for the ACT is available through this app, and students can view scores, send scores to colleges, and manage test dates. Scholarships.com: Students can create a profile and get matched with scholarships based on grades, interests, backgrounds, etc. College prep isn’t just about getting into college; it’s also about reducing stress, building independence, and teaching life organization skills.
ACT VS. SAT These tests can send people into a tailspin at times, but they’re oftentimes a major component of the college application process. Utilizing apps such as College Board and MyACT (more on that in a moment) helps choose the right test for the student, avoid duplicate or unnecessary registrations, track scores, and even send them directly. If possible, signing up for a tutoring class can help improve scores, and students can take the ACT multiple times. Be aware though that each attempt comes with a fee. TEAMWORK There are a lot of websites to log in to for applications, including that Gmail account we already advised to create. However, teaming up to navigate through all the chaos is what will make the process run smoothly. That means parents teaming up with their kiddos! When parents understand what their child is experiencing, conversations will shift from “Did you do this yet?” to “What’s next on the list?” It’s collaborative instead of confron- tational, which makes this already stressful process a lot easier. High school counselors and college admissions offices can also serve as helpful partners throughout the process. Keeping a shared calendar of testing dates,
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