One of the best ways you can support your teen in their college search is by
encouraging them to maintain (or develop) an open mind about their wide range of
college options. While it’s natural for students to have a dream school, focusing on just
one top choice is very risky.
Casting A Wide Net Will Increase Your Opportunities!
Why? If their top pick doesn’t pan out—whether due to admissions decisions or financial
aid packages—it can lead to significant disappointment. However, by helping your child
explore a diverse range of colleges, you’re preparing them for a smoother transition, no
matter the outcome.
A broad list of schools not only increases their chances of acceptance but also offers
more affordable possibilities, reducing the sting if their top choice doesn’t work out. This
approach makes intuitive sense to most families I meet, but I’m surprised by how many
families lose sight of that strategy as their college search develops.
Encouraging your teen to have an open mind is also important in steering them away
from making their college choices based on ill-informed rumors or the opinions of a
limited number of people. Too often, teens’ impressions about a college get shaped by
one person’s experiences or outdated information. Try to get your teen to look beyond
these anecdotal sources and research each college thoroughly. Encourage visits, talk to
current students, and explore each college’s programs and culture firsthand. This will
help your teen make informed decisions rather than relying on the sometimes
misleading impressions that circulate among peers or on social media.
So, support your teen in maintaining an open mind; that could make all the difference in
helping them find a college where they will thrive.
Fitz has dedicated the entirety of his 28 year career to encouraging higher education opportunities. He worked in the Vanderbilt, Duke Law and St. Lawrence admissions offices prior to serving as an enrollment management consultant for 200+ selective colleges around the country. He created Find The Right College to make trustworthy college counseling more accessible. Fitz is also the father of two teens so he also understands first-hand the challenges associated with a college search.
