4 Do’s and 1 Don’t: How Parents Can Help with College Apps
Being engaged in your student’s admissions journey helps them turn their passions into purpose with a college degree. There’s a lot to keep track of, but your support makes the process run more smoothly for everyone.
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Whether it’s from teachers, counselors or their peers, it takes a village to help college applicants through the admissions process.
But perhaps most important during this time is the support they get at home.
Parents and guardians play a vital role in helping students craft the best possible college application, even if they themselves have never attended or graduated from university.
Though striking the right balance between encouraging your student’s independence while still making sure they have everything they need can be challenging.
So, how can parents help their students with college applications?
Here are four essential do’s and one important don’t to ensure your student submits the strongest college application possible.
GET IN TOUCH WITH AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR
DO Let Your Student Apply to Whatever College Interests Them
The Common App has made it easier than ever for students to apply to multiple colleges, greatly expanding their potential for higher education opportunities.
Importantly, applying to a specific college or group of colleges is not binding (except in cases of early decision), meaning that your student can submit a wide range of applications and then choose whether or not to enroll after receiving an acceptance.
More choices is rarely a bad thing, and by not limiting the amount of applications your student submits you empower them to explore different curriculum styles and campus lifestyles that fit their career aspirations.
Many universities can determine scholarship eligibility simply from what your student includes in their Common App, which can result in financial aid that may make certain schools more accessible.
While encouraging your student to search far and wide, do be mindful of application fees, which can be required by specific schools — the Common App itself is always free of charge.
Pacific University does not charge an application fee, so adding it to your student’s college list is as easy as including us in their Common App profile.
DO Give Them Everything They Need for Their Applications
There’s more than just the Common App required to submit a successful admissions packet.
While not playing a direct role in receiving an admissions decision, your student’s FAFSA and supplemental scholarship applications play a big part in choosing where to attend college.
While the materials needed for the Common App come primarily from your student’s secondary school (academic transcripts, recommendation letters) other aspects of a complete college application come from home.
Supplemental need-based scholarships and the FAFSA both require information that can be pulled from recent federal tax returns, something your student may not have access to without your help.
Talking about money can be uncomfortable in some scenarios, but it’s important to remember that your student needs this information so that they can get the most financial aid possible, enabling them to attend a school that may have previously been out of reach.
Getting your student what they need as soon as possible is the best way to ensure their applications get submitted on time, and that any limited financial aid makes its way to their inbox.
The FAFSA has recently been streamlined, meaning that less is required of both students and parents when it comes to finding tax and income info.
DO Visit Nearby Schools Together
There is no better way to get a feel for how well your student will fit in on a college campus than to schedule a university visit.
Whether visiting local schools for a one-day tour or embarking on a multi-college road trip, being an active participant in your student’s college visit can help you better understand the application process.
You and your student probably have different questions about what the college admissions process looks like, and taking time to clarify things in-person is a huge help.
Meet with admissions counselors, financial aid experts, campus healthcare experts and discover the things on campus that align with your student’s passions and interests.
Letting your student explore on their own is essential, as it allows them to find aspects of campus life that they can look forward to during their first year with a bit more privacy.
DO Use Your Alumni or Peer Network to Your Advantage
Just as your student’s future alumni network will be something they use to form connections, you can use your personal or professional network to help them perfect their college application.
Even if you don’t have direct connections to anyone at the schools your student is considering, inquiring with those in your network can facilitate relationships between your student and alumni, staff or community partners.
These connections can lead to informational interviews, advising on scholarship opportunities in your area or general advice on how to make the strongest possible admissions packet.
Everything from choosing a major to deciding on a school can be made easier by talking to those who’ve been in their shoes before, and you can help put those pieces together.
So take a look through LinkedIn or ask around your bowling league; you never know who might be an alum of a school on your list.
DON’T Complete Your Student’s Application for Them
While your involvement is important, overstepping can undermine your student’s ability to navigate the application process independently.
Don’t fill out applications, write essays or handle tasks on behalf of your student. Instead, offer guidance, support and encouragement through the ways listed above.
There are also numerous campus resources available to help students with the application process, so make sure your student is aware of — and takes advantage of — these opportunities.
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are open now! Apply before the early action deadline and get a fast response and greater scholarship eligibility.