June 28, 2021
As an enrollment management professional and parent to a son who is entering his junior year of high school, I’d like to share some helpful tips that will make this summer very productive – especially as the coronavirus restrictions are lifting and life seems to be returning back to a sense of “normalcy.” I hope you and your family find these tips helpful!
Map Out the 5 Colleges You Could Experience During the Summer
Colleges and universities across the country are continuing to handle their visit experience in their own unique way whether it be virtual, on campus, or a combination of both. At Assumption, we are currently offering both on-campus and virtual visit opportunities.
Some colleges may be near your favorite vacation spot, others within driving distance of your home. I encourage you, with your child, to take some time to research the colleges your child is interested in – purposefully choosing schools with different characteristics (size, location, religious denomination, program offerings, etc.)
Research the on-campus/virtual visit opportunities and register to attend. If possible, schedule your visits to these schools and include enough time to explore the surrounding communities. Remember, your child will likely spend time off-campus and seeing the area will give you a sense of the location and the safety of the community in which he or she could spend the next four years.
Keep a notebook with you so, after each visit experience, your child can comment on what he or she liked best and any concerns he or she may have. It will be difficult to remember the details of each experience, so be sure to take good notes.
During an on-campus visit, take photos or videos on your smart phone, especially if you visit multiple colleges in the same area, as this will help remind you of the schools’ unique features.
Encourage Your Child to Begin the Common Application
The Common Application opens on August 1 for the Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 enrollment terms.
- Completing the basic information now will eliminate one step during an exciting and hectic fall.
- Have your child read through the essay questions and begin to formulate ideas or a rough draft of an essay. Starting the essay in the summer allows your child enough time to have a teacher review the essay and provide helpful feedback at the beginning of senior year, when many are just starting to write their essays.
- Visit www.commonapp.org.
Have Fun
Regardless if your visit is on campus or virtual, enjoy each experience and embrace the college search process. As I go through this process with my family, it has brought every emotion from laughter to tears. Try to really listen to each other, as you are partners in finding the best college to match your child’s needs. Remember, what you may find to be interesting or even important in a college may be dismissed by your child.
I hope to see you on campus this summer. Please know that the entire staff here at Assumption is excited to work with your family throughout the college search process.
We look forward to getting to know you!
Karen Stoyanoff ‘99
Director of Graduate Admissions
Assumption University