Post on 16-Dec-2015
in the College Admissions Process
With Parents
Moderator: Jeff Chiapello, Asst. Director of Admission University of Saint Francis
Presenters:Kris Donahue, Parent Naperville Central High School
Jean Childers, College & Career Assistant Naperville Central High School
Martha Stolze, Director of Admission North Central College
Parents – Goals
• Want the best for their child• Want kids to have opportunities they didn’t• Invest in their only child• Guide child through process with minimal stress• Long term success of the student
Parent’s Stress
• Does my student want to go to college?• Family & societal expectations• Parent’s report card• Will my student get a job?• Letting go of an unfinished child• Financial worries – can we afford college/loans• Loss of control & separation from child
Students - Goals
• Make money, be happy• Preparing self to look good for college• I just want to draw/play ball• Meet parent’s and societies' expectations• Career goal influenced by experiences
Students - Stress
• Increased homework; AP classes• What if no one likes me – on my application• Not getting into their first choice college• Look to quality of college for self-worth• Indecision of major/career• Fear of the future and next life transition• Strained parent relationships• Upcoming departure from home
Parents Seek Information
• Knowledge is power and cure for fear• College-educated may have tools to help student• Others can’t guide students who need most
help. • Internet• Family, friends, other parents• High School Counselor• College Admissions Counselor
What Parents Want From High School Counselors
NCHS Parent Focus Groups 2011
Timelines
College process timeline• Present timeline every year• Delineate tasks for students & parents
Counselor advising timeline• Freshmen – attention grabbers – “Jr. Joiner”• Sophomore – college & career exploration • Junior visits – college selection; course review• Early senior year – college application advising
Information Programs
• Course selection – college academic preparation• Extracurricular involvement – college
importance• Career planning• College admissions testing• College selection• College application process• Financial aid workshop
Workshops
• Generic information sessions• Workshops for special groups– Highly selective– NCAA– Career training– Illinois state college options– Engineering/business
• Parent forums – share experiences
Specialized Information
• Helpful hints – if you go to this college then…• College specific requirements for admission• Highly selective criteria – beyond ACT & GPA• Professional program information• Paint picture of college criteria• Parent Newsletter–information & calendar of events
Counselor Knowledge
• Broad knowledge of many colleges• Depth of knowledge of Top 50 colleges• Aware of special requirements for selectives.• Know where to find information requested
Things Counselors
Should Know
College Counseling
• Counselors suggest colleges• Apply their unbiased non-parent view • Recommendations – address glitch issues• Advocate for student in application & contacts• Don’t discourage student from reach schools• Parent comments for recommendation letters
Career Counseling
• Career counseling for all grades• Learning style assessment – college match• Use interest & personality data in career
counseling• Promote career training options• Pathways for careers – classes/majors
What Parents Want From College Admissions Counselors
NCHS Parent Focus Groups 2011
College Visits
• List of “smart questions”• Tour guides make or break visit• Enthusiastic tour guide• Informed tour guide• Major specific sub-tours
Information Parents want
• Return rate/grad rate/4 year grad rate• National survey - student engagement results• What is parent’s notification policy? • What is campus safety plan?• Timeline – notification dates/next steps• Paint a picture of life on campus
Website
• Campus service directory• Admissions & Financial Aid Contact phone #• Calendar of important dates & events• FAQ• Parent Association• Newsletter• Travel/ Hotel information
Parents want to know• Impact of HS course selection on acceptance• Which colleges superscore or unweight grades• Admissions data by major
Financial Aid
• Publish total cost on website• Publish minimum ACT/GPA for merit money• Transparency in scholarship requirements• Emancipation & residency requirements• Financial aid seminars
Government - Goal
US Department of EducationPromote partnership to increase parent involvement• Goals 2000 Educate America Act• Partnership for Family Involvement in Education• NCLB mandates• Title 1 School funding
School District - Goals• Form partnership with parents• Open communication with parents• Inform parents• Support parent involvement• Included parents in college process
Counselors - Goals
• Increase college readiness of students• Good match college choices• Continued support of family • Healthy graduate who can leave home• Foster independence of graduates
Parent Involvement• College educated parents are often very
involved in their student’s college selection.• First generation & low income students have
the most to gain/lose and may have little parent involvement.
Parents – Helicopter Defined
• Parent’s obsessed with kid’s success• Success requires parental involvement• Hover over students ready
to intervene on child’s behalf• Rescue student or attack their enemy• Living their lives through students• Parents micromanage students • Unwilling to let children make
independent decisions
Causes of Helicopter Parenting
• Control – lack of faith in system; parent knows system• Time management – student’s time, parent’s patience• Doubt – student’s diligence & capability• Relive youth – athletics & academic potential• Protective – fewer children, societal danger• Anxiety – fear of failure, past experience with child• High Expectations – from parents & society; prestige• Access – 24/7 instant communication• Competition – highly selectives
Helicopter Parents Enable
Drop off:•lunches•Gym clothes•Homework•Sports equipment
Wake-up calls
HomeworkRegister for ACT testsWrite college essaysFill out college applications
Helicopter Parents Monitor & Problem-Solve for Students
computer espionage Facebook creeping cell phone usage
gradesteachers & counselors
Friends Coach from sidelines
Helicopter Parents Make Decisions
Parents control college interview Parents choose student’s major
Parents choose student’s college
Unintended Consequence of Hovering
• College academics suffer without parent’s help• Dependency; student doesn’t develop independence• Irresponsibility; trouble taking on responsibility• Incompetence; tell child they can’t make it• Family conflict & lack of trust• Poor self esteem; more self conscious & vulnerable• Low motivation; anxious adults who take few risks• Can’t make decisions or deal with problems• Failure to launch; immaturity
Counseling Helicopter Parents
• Assess parent’s needs• Address parent’s fears• Sensitive to cultural differences• Encourage parents to mentor with other parents • Help parents know when they are crossing the line• Facilitate appropriate parent involvement• Provide welcoming environment for parents
High School Counselors Role in the process
•Counselors serve all students & plan all programming unassisted•College Counselor leads College & Career Center & program planning•Several Post High School Counselors serve class & plan programs•College & Career Assistant with all Counselors sharing program plans
College & Career Center Partners with Parents•Thursday night services for family advising•Answer student’s & parent’s questions and address their concerns•Advise families throughout the college admissions process•Focus groups for parent input to improve Student Services
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Parents Assist College & Career Center•Prepare handouts•Research information•Copy info for students•Collect info from college visits
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Benefits of Parents Volunteering in the College & Career Center•gather information •oversight of college visits•promote center and spread information into community
Photo omitted to be able to upload to website
e-CounselingWEBSITE• Post info on website• Podcasts or post recorded programs on website
NAVIANCE• Naviance for all grades • E-mail contacts/info• Electronic survey of students
SOCIAL NETWORKING • College & Career Center Facebook page • No counselor to student social networking
What: College Information NightWho: Junior Parents When: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7PMWhere: NCHS Auditorium
Counselor’s Career Advice to Parents
• Listen to understand your student’s needs• Help your student assess their abilities,
interests, goals, and personality• Be realistic about student’s interests & skills• Let your students pursue own passions – not
yours
Counselor’s College Search Advice to Parents
• Talk about college planning early - 9th grade• Engage help of friends, coaches, relatives• Research colleges best suited for interests• Help develop criteria for selection• Let student take the lead in choosing college• Work college trips into family vacations
Counselor’s Financial Aid Advice to Parents
• Parents greatest involvement – college cost • Communicate financial limitations early• Explain the debt students may incur• Don’t initially rule out a college only on cost• Utilize net price calculator on college websites
Counselors Advice to Parents Interaction with their Students
• Listen to your student and observe struggles• Support child. Encourage without acting• Roll back over-protectiveness• Guide rather than pressure• Be patient – keep lines of communication open• Understand importance of friends in process
College View
Helicopter Horror Stories
• Defending their student• Doing the work for their student (essays, etc)• Dictating their student’s choice• Over-protecting their student• Spying on their student
Positives of Involved Parents• Increase applications, name recognition, etc. for
your school• Potential long-term financial support for your
school• Increase student retention and graduation rates• Give their student confidence and support
Fostering a Positive College/Parent Relationship
• Educate About Process• Inform With Data•Collaborate
Educate About Process• Provide tools such as “smart” questions to ask• Be as transparent as possible about
Admission, Scholarship and Financial Aid processes and timelines
• Help parents understand from early on how FERPA impacts them
• The safety of their child is key – explain emergency notifications, etc.
Inform With Data
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Inform With Data• Make Information easy to find on the web• “NSSE” National Survey of Student
Engagement results• Retention and Graduation rates• Important contact information• Dates to know (orientation, siblings weekend, etc.)• Area visitor information
Collaborate• Build relationships with high school side• Work with other campus areas such as
Student Affairs, Athletics, Parent Office• Engage parents of current students in
programming and communication
Best Practices
• Remember that this is a time of excitement, but challenge and change for most parents
• Include parents in the communication flow• Provide positive venues for parent enthusiasm
in the College Admissions ProcessWith Parents
QUESTIONS?