Responsibilities of Students and Families
While working with the college consultant, families and students have certain responsibilities in order to help the process run smoothly. The consultant’s job includes guiding the student and family through selecting colleges, applying to those college, through the financial aid process, and to assist with college essays and scholarships. It is not within the consultant’s services to write essays, complete applications or submit any required pieces of the application for the student. The consultant guides the student, but the student must do the actual work to apply to colleges.
Student Responsibilities
It is expected that students will:
- Attend all scheduled meetings.
- Communicate your wishes and desires honestly with your parents and college consultant. Be actively engaged in the college admission process.
- Students must write and edit all essays; the consultant will be available to proofread and to provide suggestions on how essays may be improved.
- Be prepared for standardized testing (SAT and/or ACT). Complete a testing plan with your college counselor, register for tests on time, and participate in the test preparation best suited for you (e.g. tutoring, self-paced lessons, classroom instruction).
- Complete applications honestly and accurately. Meet deadlines by submitting your applications early.
- Begin your college essays during the summer before your senior year (prompts and suggestions will be distributed by the consultant).
- Keep your college consultant up to date on all of your plans, progress, and results. Communicate regularly with the consultant.
- Monitor and respond to communications from colleges whether it be email, phone calls, online portals or regular mail.
- Ask for help! Your college counselor is happy to answer questions as they develop. The students who get the most out of the college process, ask lots of questions in order to make informed decisions.
- Students must inform all colleges which have offered them admission of their final decisions, including those colleges that they do not plan to attend. That notification should happen as soon as a final decision is reached, but no later than May 1st of the senior year.
Parent Responsibilities
It is expected that parents will:
- Discuss college plans—including the financial picture and any restrictions—openly and honestly with your child early in the process. Share these thoughts with the college consultant either by phone, in writing, or at a meeting.
- Assist your child with standardized test registrations (a credit card is required for online registration).
- Be aware of deadlines and other requirements as supplied by the consultant.
- Assist your child in visiting colleges of interest. They will need assistance making trip arrangements.
- Complete your portion of the application by providing your personal information (educational background, employment, etc.) and provide a credit card number for application fees.
- If applying for financial aid, fill out financial aid forms and submit before the deadline. Families are responsible for filing all required financial aid forms by the required deadlines (FAFSA, College Board Profile, etc.). Failure to submit these forms may adversely affect potential financial aid awards. Financial aid will be discussed with the family members as part of the college consulting process, but clients should realize that there are no guarantees of admission to colleges or financial aid awards.
- Communicate with your child’s college counselor. If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help. Please remember that we all want what is best for the student.
- Submit enrollment deposit fee at final choice college by May 1st.
- Offer support to your son or daughter throughout the college admission process, but please remember that your child should direct the college application process.
- Parents should not be writing or overly editing college essays.
- Parents should not be completing or submitting college applications.
