What the Books Don’t Tell You about Helping Your Child Get into College
by Melanie Rome
Chances are if you, as a parent. are reading this article, your childwill probably go to college. At this point, you are probably thinking
to yourself, “How does she know—she doesn’t know my kid!” Well,
you’re right. I don’t know how well your child is doing in school.
But, I’m willing to bet that you care about your child’s education
and you have probably been keeping an eye on the situation since
preschool. And, I know all about those magazines you see in the market and on the news stands that
tell you about the colleges your child must attend to succeed in life and how only they can give you
all the inside tips about how your child will get admitted. But, let’s face it, what they really want is for
you to become so-o-o anxious about the college admission process that you think you must have their
publication in order for your kid to go to a good college. What a great sales pitch! However, what I want
is for you not to go crazy with worry about whether or not your child will get an education after high
school. No, I don’t know the secret to getting your child into Harvard. But, I do know a few things that,
hopefully, you will find useful as you begin the process of helping your child get into college.
Counselors
Have you and your child get to know his/her guidance counselor as soon as possible which means
Have you and your child get to know his/her guidance counselor as soon as possible which means
beginning in the 9th grade. At some schools your child will have the same counselor all through high
school and at others; the counselor’s caseload may be determined by grade. This doesn’t mean you call
and bother them for a weekly progress report on your kid. But, what is important to understand is that
this hardworking and dedicated individual is in charge of your child’s schedule of classes, the completion
of which, can dramatically affect his/her chances of not just going to college, but which college. In
addition, a lot of colleges require a letter of recommendation from a counselor or counselors as part of
the application. The more the counselor knows your child the easier it is for him/her to write the letter.
In addition, it is good for your child to get know the school’s College Counselor. This person is a wealth
In addition, it is good for your child to get know the school’s College Counselor. This person is a wealth
of information and expertise on the college admission process, so have your child make it a point to
frequent the College Office from time to time during lunch or nutrition or may be even become a TA.
College Counselors are usually the first people at the school to find out about scholarship opportunities.
Generally, college counselors are some of the busiest people at school, and most schools only have one
of them, so that is why it may be so difficult to get an appointment for a one-to-one meeting. But, they
also can write a letter of recommendation for your child, which most will do if they are asked. But don’t
wait to the last minute to get whatever you might need from the college counselor. They are only too
happy to help out. Just give them some time to do the work.
Extracurricular Activities
Have your child choose at least one extracurricular activity in ninth grade and have him/her stick with
Have your child choose at least one extracurricular activity in ninth grade and have him/her stick with
it for four years. Don’t have your child wait until senior year to start volunteering at that hospital.
Colleges like to see that your child is capable of making and keeping a commitment. Colleges also like to
see demonstration of leadership. So, if possible, have that extracurricular activity be one where there is
room for advancement, such a club where your child can be an officer or one in which there is an
increasing level of responsibility.
Resources
One of the most important things you can do is to empower yourself. Learn about the college admission
process. There are some wonderful and high credible sources for information and a lot of them are free.
I urge you to check out the following:
• Websites: www.collegeboard.com
www.nacacnet.org (The National Association for College Admission Counseling).
• Books: The Fiske Guide to Colleges (2009 ed).
Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope (one of my favorites).
Getting Ready for Life After High School, 2008-09 (This is a great booklet put out by the Los Angeles
County Office of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District. It is FREE. Just request a
copy from your school’s College Counselor.
The Good News
Finally, take comfort in the fact that that the new buzz word in college admission circles is the “less than
perfect” student. They want a well-rounded freshman class that just might include your child; the one
that may have earned a couple of “B’s,” has an extensive collection of comic books who works part-time
at Blockbuster and who maybe has written a few quirky and funny articles for the school newspaper.
Just One More Thing
When it comes to actually filling out the applications for colleges, this is NOT the time for your child to
learn a lesson in responsibility. Keep in mind that the frontal cortex of your child’s brain is not fully
developed yet. That is, certain executive functions like making the connection between getting an
application in on time and being accepted to college may not connect. This is not to say that your child
is not brilliant. It just means that they need your help. Now, more than ever.
Melanie Rome, B.S., M.A., is a private College Admission Counselor in Tarzana, CA.
You can e-mail her at melaniemrome@yahoo.com or visit her website: www.melanierome.com
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