MEET OUR PARENT COORDINATOR A GUIDE FOR PARENTS NAVIGATING THE BOUND WATERS COLLEGE
YOUR STUDENT IS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. MEET WITH HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE COUNSELORS TOGETHER TALK, TALK, TALK START RESEARCHING COLLEGES TOGETHER Here are some initial steps to get you both off and running. As much as it feels like you’re in the home stretch, this isn’t the time to coast. Your student needs your help now more than they might admit. You’ll play a major role in setting them up for a successful transition to a fulfilling college experience. • Highlight important dates and deadlines. Why not start with NSU Florida’s? November 1: Early Action/Early Decision February 1: Regular Decision and Premier Programs May 1: Honors College and Enrollment Deposit • Discuss initial thoughts and preferences (HINT: Do a lot of listening). • Align expectations. • Ask your student questions. Specific questions like, “Do you think you’ll want to participate in theater in college?” are less likely to overwhelm. • Share your own college experiences with your student. (Don’t worry if you didn’t attend college. You and your student can learn about the process together.) • The more short, casual conversations you have, the less stressed your student will feel. • Check out websites. Search based on geography, areas of study, sports, and clubs—anything that your student feels might be an important part of their college life. • Go to a college fair. Prep your student to have a few questions ready. (HINT: Encourage them to take notes. Neither of you will remember the specifics of each school by the time you get home.) • Look at materials from both small and large colleges, as well as public and private universities. YOU MADE IT!
5 STEPS TO FINDING THE RIGHT FIT Beyond geographic location and areas of study, there are other considerations in determining where your student will thrive. 3 5 CHECK OUT THE SUPPORT SYSTEM WHAT HAPPENS AFTER GRADUATION? 1 CONSIDER PERSONALITIES Your quirky introvert may feel lost in the shuffle at a large university. Likewise, a careerdriven go-getter may feel frustrated at an exploratory liberal arts college. Pay attention to the student life pages on websites and in viewbooks. 4THINK OF THE WHOLE STUDENT If your student likes to stay active, check out the intramural or club sports options. Look into other extracurricular interests like student radio, community outreach, student government, Greek life, and dance or music ensembles. (NSU Florida students can choose from more than 160 clubs and organizations!) 2ASSESS EXPECTATIONS Does your student want to spread their wings and attend college far from home? Or do they want to stay within laundry-doing distance? How important is it to them to see a few familiar faces when they pull up in front of the freshman dorm? Will your student have the same adviser for all four years? Is there a peer support system in place? What about tutoring? Career development? Are there resources available to your student postgraduation? It’s important to take a look at the graduation rates and outcome stats. Also, check out the support each school offers students for landing their first job or securing a spot in a graduate program. (NSU’s Center for Academic and Professional Success is a great example!)
HOW TO MAKE COLLEGE VISITS COUNT The best way to feel the vibe at a school—and to get specific questions answered—is to visit. Types of Visits INDIVIDUAL In-person, on-campus walking tours are often led by a student guide and provide opportunities to meet admissions counselors, see dorm rooms, and ask questions. VIRTUAL The next best thing to being in-person is to attend an interactive, virtual experience that includes campus tours and information sessions led by a professor or admissions counselor with the opportunity for Q&A. EVENT Open houses, in-person group tours organized by your student’s high school, and special visit days offered by college admissions staff are great ways to learn more about specific programs and departments. ADD A STOP TO ALREADY-PLANNED TRIPS SPREAD THEM OUT As tempting as planning a jam-packed fall break tour of campuses might be, it’s exhausting for your student (campus visits take a lot of emotional energy), and one school starts blending into the next. Take your time and enjoy the ride! Take a day out of your family vacation or business trip to tour a nearby college campus with your student. INCLUDE US ON YOUR COLLEGE VISIT CALENDAR
MAKE A LIST OF IMPORTANT FEATURES It’s easy to get caught up in the day and forget to ask key questions. Making a list will also help your student identify priorities (even somewhat obscure ones) and compare schools later. OPEN YOUR EYES While you’re walking around campus, pay attention to the students around you— how they interact with one another, how they interact with professors, what the general vibe is. These are valuable first-person impressions you can’t find anywhere else. DEBRIEF TOGETHER You think you’ll remember every detail—you won’t. Whether you use an oldschool binder or a file on your laptop, take a minute at the end of the day to capture your student’s impressions. EAT LUNCH ON CAMPUS Let your student lead the way. Are there plenty of food options they like? Do the students around you seem friendly and engaged? Are there students you could picture your student eating with next year? MAKE THE MOST OF ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH YOUR COLLEGEBOUND STUDENT Campus visits can be wonderful bonding opportunities and an important step to make the upcoming transition easier (for both of you). Lace Up Your Walking Shoes TAKE THE COLLEGE TOUR TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Calculating Affordability Look beyond the sticker price at the actual cost of attendance and the real value offered. What you discover may surprise you. THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS Direct costs are set costs paid to the university, like tuition, fees, meal plans, and on-campus housing. Indirect costs are the variable costs of attending college, like off-campus housing, books, supplies, and transportation. Consider both. STUDENT FOCUS Do the colleges your student is interested in support their students? Check for robust advising and student services. PROFESSORS WHO LOVE TO TEACH Whether they’re working professionals, industry leaders, or career academics, look for professors who are gifted instructors dedicated to mentoring their students. GIFT AID VS. STUDENT LOANS VS. WORK-STUDY A scholarship or grant is money your student can use to pay for college and never has to pay back. A student loan must be paid back, with interest. Work-study funds are earned through part-time campus jobs. STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO With smaller class sizes, your student will receive more personal attention. ACADEMIC SUPPORT The more academic and career support that’s available to your student, the greater benefit they’re getting from their tuition dollars. OUTCOMES Consider each college or university’s four-year graduation rate and employment statistics. ACTIVE ALUMNI NETWORK Active alumni can become important connections who can open doors to internships, work-study programs, and even job opportunities. NSU’S NET PRICE CALCULATOR
Take A Closer Look At Private Education A SMALL, INCLUSIVE CAMPUS COMMUNITY Sure, there are a few elitist holdovers, but the vast majority of private college campuses are friendly and inclusive. JOB-READY GRADUATES Many private schools offer career-focused academics; strong career-preparation resources before and after graduation; and active, wellconnected alumni networks. AN AFFORDABLE EDUCATION Often, private institutions offer larger scholarships and grant awards to more students, offsetting higher tuition rates. Attending a private university may end up being more affordable than a state school. (At NSU, we also offer a variety of payment plans to meet your student’s needs.) STUDENT-ATHLETES THRIVE If your student wants to play college sports, they will likely spend more time on the field at a private college. And, special bonus: they’ll be held to the same high academic standards as the rest of the student body—with greater academic support resources. SMALL SCHOOL, BIG OPPORTUNITIES With smaller class sizes and student-focused professors, it’s possible to forge more personal relationships that can lead to bigger workstudy, internship, and professional opportunities. Smaller colleges also offer better access to on-campus leadership experiences. Private colleges offer students more options. But there are a lot of misperceptions surrounding them.
4 6 3 7 Tips For A Smooth Application Process ASK EARLY CREATE BITE-SIZE TASKS PAD THE DEADLINES Early in the school year, your student should ask their influential teachers and mentors for letters of recommendation. They’ll appreciate the consideration for their time (and likely craft a more thoughtful letter). Once they’ve narrowed their list, help your student review ALL the tasks they’ll need to complete for each school, program, and scholarship. Set up a master calendar that comfortably spaces out to-dos into small, achievable assignments. (Remember, they’ve still got schoolwork to keep up with.) 2 1 Double-check deadlines for applications, housing, financial aid, special programs, and scholarships. Make your student’s deadline a week earlier. Life happens, but the goal is no application all-nighters! KEEP THE NUMBERS MANAGEABLE Spend more time narrowing your student’s list, so they spend less time cranking out endless applications. Start with three to six schools that are a solid fit, then consider a reach school and a safety. ASK QUESTIONS If there’s a school on your student’s list that seems like an outlier, dig a little deeper. There are lots of great reasons to apply to a school. However, a friendship, romantic interest, or private bathroom probably shouldn’t rank very high. 5SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS Some colleges and special programs require supplemental applications and interviews (like NSU Florida’s Premier Programs). Get your student on the calendar as soon as possible. Once you and your student have set up a task schedule, it’s up to them to stick to it. You can help them set reminders on their phone and review drafts if they ask you to. But treat the application process as college prep. 7STAY IN YOUR LANE
IT’S NOT ALWAYS APPLES TO APPLES Add up all direct (tuition, fees, meal plan, and on-campus housing) and indirect (books, supplies, travel to and from campus, and rent if your student will live off campus) costs. Between loans, work-study, grants, and scholarships, how much financial aid is each school offering? Check all scholarship requirements (like maintaining a certain GPA) and the duration (first year only, or all four years). Take your student’s cost of attendance (COA) and subtract the total gift aid offered (do not include loans, since those funds must be paid back). Use this total for your apples-to-apples comparison. What if your student’s top choice school doesn’t offer as much aid as other universities? If the cost of attendance will make it impossible for your student to attend, contact the financial aid office or your student’s admissions counselor to discuss your situation. How to Compare Offer Letters Once your student has heard from all the colleges they applied to, sit down together to review. Each offer of admission will be set up a little differently, so it’s important to carefully compare them. CALCULATE COST OF ATTENDANCE REVIEW AID COA – GIFT AID = OFFER WHEN TO REACH OUT MEET YOUR ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR
GRADES ARE STILL IMPORTANT! Yes, second-semester senior year MATTERS! Your student’s spot in college isn’t secure until their final, official high school transcripts are submitted. IMPORTANT DUE DATES Pay close attention to the due dates for accepting enrollment; paying the enrollment deposit; paying the housing deposit; submitting final, official high school transcripts, etc. MONEY MATTERS College students get bombarded with highinterest credit card offers! Discuss responsible spending with your student. SMOOTH TRANSITION If your student takes any regular prescriptions, contact student health to see what steps you’ll need to take for a seamless transfer. WHERE TO BANK If your student doesn’t already have their own bank account, now’s the time to set one up (preferably at a bank with a branch on or near campus). REALITY SETS IN Now that the pressure of applying to schools is off, the reality of going away to college will start to set in. Expect some angst, especially when it’s time to start packing boxes. CHECK THE LIST Most universities supply a helpful checklist of what to bring and things to do before arriving on campus (like registering for classes and new student orientation). YOU’VE PAID THE ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT WHAT’S NEXT?
TIPS FOR MOVE-IN YOUR FIRST WEEK BACK HOME THEIR FIRST WEEK AWAY • Make plans with your partner, family, or friends. • Tackle a new project. (Busy hands don’t send endless check-in texts.) • If you’ve got younger children at home, enjoy some one-on-one time with them. • Send an upbeat postcard to your student. • Put together a care package of forgotten items and favorite treats to mail at the end of the week. • Allow your student to become fully immersed in their new environment. A couple of encouraging texts are okay, but for the most part, wait for them to initiate communication. • Expect some panicked texts or calls as they find their footing. (Try not to swoop in to solve problems for them, but be a sympathetic ear and help them find the best on-campus resources.) • By the end of week one, a little something in their mailbox will make them smile! There’s a lot of planning that goes into move-in day. But what about the day after? GET READY FOR TAKE OFF If your student is flying, look into ship-ahead options for all but a couple days worth of necessities. Several economical options cater to the college crowd. Check with housing or your parent coordinator for more details. START SHOPPING NOW Shop ahead as much as possible (NSU provides an excellent “what to bring” list). The fewer loose ends there are on move-in day, the better! WHEN TO PACK Your student’s participation in packing will set them up for smooth unpacking and organizing independently (or with their new roommate). But don’t be surprised if they drag their feet. Packing makes it very real. CALM WATERS MAKE HAPPY SHARKS No drama! Emotional speeches are best delivered the night before. Keep move-in day upbeat and task-driven. THEY’VE GOT THIS Try not to linger on the big day. You’ve done a great job setting your student up for success! THE BIG DAY!
undergrad.nova.edu (954) 262-8000 or 800-338-4723 admissions@nova.edu Nova Southeastern University 3300 S. University Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004
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