College Admissions: The Essential Guide for Busy Parents

THIS BOOK IS YOUR MAP FOR NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS MAZE! Frustrated or overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Imagine how confusing it may be for your college-bound teen. It's important for your maturing high-schooler to be in the driver's seat of applying to and choosing the right school. But, how can you support and guide your teen without taking over? This book explains each step in the process and provides clear, concise tips on what your student should be doing, when they should be doing it, and why each step is so important.Find quick-reference guidance on building and balancing the college list, making campus visits, requesting letters of recommendation, and weighing the options of standardized testing. Discover strategies such as "demonstrating interest" and why that's critical at some colleges. Learn how financial aid works so you can calculate college costs before your student applies. This lets you maximize need-based or merit-based financial aid to avoid the crushing debt that weighs so heavily on many college graduates and their parents. Trade in the strife, nagging, and conflict of the college applications process for a positive, collaborative experience with your soon-to-be-launched college freshman. A successful college application journey is possible when you follow the simple steps found in this essential guidebook!