The "Safety." The "Reach." The "Best-Fit." Percent Admitted. Ivy League. State. Private. Jesuit. If you are familiar with these terms, you have delved seriously and thoughtfully into the college application process. Helping your child get into college isn’t merely about another phase of academics, many people treat it as a character/life defining occasion. Parents are eager to help, but often do not realize how the process is ever-evolving and multifacted. This misled mindset results in making many key mistakes when helping in the college process. By knowing a few essential facts, you can make the process much less painful and smooth for you and your child.

1. Depending on the student’s high school to guide the process.

High school resources (especially guidance counselors) are not a major factor in the process. Most guidance counselors do not take a very involved roll in the application process. They are almost always required to give a recommendation and help with some paperwork, but they do not provide in-depth analysis and suggestions when it comes to choosing a school. A guidance counselor has many students to take care of and while they may try to help, they simply cannot provide well-educated suggestions as they do not know your child very well at all. Most junior and senior year meetings between guidance counselors and students last no longer than three minutes! They are primarily concerned with whether or not your child will even graduate. These meetings typically consist of merely telling the student that they have enough credits to graduate. Making an extra meeting with a counselor and your child will not yield much better results. While a meeting may be somewhat informative, it does not change the fact they do not know the student very well. Calling a counselor often for tips, advisement, etc., is generally a poor idea as it merely stresses the counselor and leaves the parent and student with fuzzy ideas.