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Hi guys my name is Kishore Rao and I’ll be attending the University of Michigan next year. This if for the parents of a lot of students; just some general tips, advice—what to do, what not to do—and really, what’s the most important thing a parent should do is just keep really on top of what you’re students are doing, especially in your student’s busy senior year lives including schools, academics, colleges. 

Things get really hectic and it’s really important that parents give not only a lot of academic and moral support, but you really need to be there and help your student progress throughout the entire process, for it’s not just the student who’s doing it, but you should too. 

For example, you should play some role in the colleges that your student is applying to. At least talk to them about the reasons they’re applying here, why these schools, etc. so you both can have a bigger picture and understand it together. It’s not completely your choice, or completely the student’s choice, but there needs to be a certain compromise, or at least discussion to be going on. 

Parents also need to keep on top of the financial aid stuff like FAFSA, and sit down with your student and work through that and college applications. It’s not just paying the bills, it’s playing an active role in the process, knowing what your students are doing, keeping tabs on when things are due, making sure they submitted this and that. 

It sounds tedious, but it’s really helpful, and I would not have gotten where I have gotten to without my parents’ constantly keeping tabs on everything that I’m doing. Of course, there’s always a limit as to what parents can do. I do have to say you have to let the students live out their dreams, what they want, and their hopes. You can’t really domineer what colleges they’re going to, but you really do want to play an active part in the process.

Another thing, especially a lot of students talk about this in the essays section, it’s vital to proofread your students’ essays. Look through them, make some suggestions, but you don’t want to remove the voice and the true quality of the students’ essays by putting in too much information. 

You guys provide the most support and that’s what students really need in the college admissions process.