The Parent-Student Relationship In College Searches

Talking about money with your prospective college student can be uncomfortable, however, not having these difficult conversations could result in frustration and heartache later. Taking a wait-and-see approach, where you wait to talk about paying for college until your child receives one or more acceptance letters, could mean your child’s dream school is out of reach unless they (or you) are willing to incur significant student loan debt. What’s more, your child may not have seriously considered other schools that would have been a good fit, both financially and within the realm of their goals and interests. This is why a parent’s involvement in the process of selecting and applying to schools is so important. Though the agency that develops as a result of the independence students grasp at throughout this process helps them grow in the future, it’s important parents are there to make sure they’re taking the right first step. This starts with conversations about tuition, specifically for reach schools that might be outside of the scope of budget and academic capability for your student. Having these conversations can be challenging, and it won’t be the only thing that challenges parents throughout this process. To better prepare for what’s to come, please continue reading on to the resource accompanying this post.