Ask a rep-My parents want to come with me on college visits.

Q: My parents want to come with me on college visits. What is their role in this process?

A: You may think that choosing colleges to apply to is stressful. Then you get through that process, and you think filling out the applications is even more stressful. You finish filling out your applications, and you think waiting for the answers is the most difficult part. But the most stressful part of the admissions process is choosing which school to attend once you’ve received your acceptances. This is the stage when your parents can come in handy.

Once you’ve received your acceptances, you’ll need to decide which college will be lucky enough to have you on its campus. Even just the thought of trying to remember everything you learned  on your campus visits can be frightening.

Right around May 1, you can turn to your parents and ask what they remembered about those visits. Which school was it that had the ivy-covered buildings? Which school had the new recreation center?

During campus visits, your parents can play a very important role. But be sure you are the lead role. When you enter the admissions office, introduce yourself. Don’t let your parents introduce you to the admissions staff. Spend some time with the admissions counselor alone. Be sure the counselor has some time to get to know you before inviting your parents into the room. Be prepared with questions—if you aren’t, your parents will be, and then it becomes their interview rather than yours. The same holds true during the campus tour. Have questions prepared for the student tour guide.

If you don’t take control, your parents will. This is not a very good impression to make on an admissions counselor. We are trained to work with the entire family during the admissions process but are always most impressed with the students who take ownership of this process. It shows us you are very interested in our school.

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