The College Search and Launch for My Own Kid

By Jennifer Kunze, Ph.D.

Director of Ramp-Up to Readiness

A decade ago I started working as the Director of Ramp-Up to Readiness at the University of Minnesota’s College Readiness Consortium. At the time, my oldest child was nine years old, and college seemed a long way off for my second-grader. Well, as any parent will tell you, children grow up in what seems like the blink of an eye. Ten years later, my first-born has been accepted, enrolled, and has begun classes at the university of her choosing, and wow, did I learn a lot along the way! Here is some of that knowledge I gained that may be helpful to other parents and students. . .

1. Talk about college from the get go. Have conversations from a young age about what the purpose of postsecondary is and what the benefits are of earning a degree or certificate. Realize that expectations are a funny thing: People generally strive for reasonable expectations that are clearly communicated, especially when offered appropriate support to reach them.
2. Bring students to various campus events. Introduce children to colleges by visiting museums or art shows, attending sporting events or concerts, or registering for camps when possible. This way kids have a sense of what happens on college campuses and why. 
3. Visit a wide swath of local colleges long before decision making time. Most students do not have to travel far to visit colleges! Beginning around 9th grade, they should register for official visits at local colleges of all sorts to discern differences and to learn about programs and costs. If visiting in person is not an option, register for official virtual campus visits. 
4. During the 11th grade year, students can begin to narrow down a list of possible colleges of interest. While students can add colleges of interest if they discover new ones later, having a manageable, well-informed list early on can seriously reduce stress during application time. Reflect on the official, in-person and virtual visits made to help determine priorities among these factors:

• Degree type: Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, certificate, etc.
• Size: Small colleges tend to have less than 5,000 students, while medium sized schools have up to about 15,000, and large postsecondary institutions have even more.
• Locale: Does the student prefer a rural, urban, or suburban setting?
• Cost: What can the student and family pay? What kinds of financial aid will be sought and from what source? While it is impossible to know what kinds of financial packages a student will be offered in advance, families can fill out the FAFSA Estimator to get a sense of what kind of aid they may receive.
• Standardized tests: Take a practice ACT or SAT test in 10th grade and if results are underwhelming, use free or low cost resources such as test prep books or Khan Academy to study and boost scores. Take one or both tests in 11th grade. No matter what, keep scores in perspective since standardized tests are only one college readiness metric out of a multitude.
• Affiliations: Is there any particular mission or religious experience the student desires in college?
• College type: Does the student want to attend a public, private, or for profit college? Honestly, I would think hard before choosing a for profit college because results are often quite unimpressive.
• Acceptance rate: This statistic can be high, medium, or low, and can be determined by the College Scorecard website. Realize that many people pay far too great attention to this metric, which is easily manipulable. Hey, colleges that recruit to reject, we see you, too.🧐
• ROI: Look up schools’ return on investment, which can vary drastically.
• Grad rate: Use the College Scorecard to look up this important statistic. Look for colleges where most students graduate on time

5. Make a college decision that is right for the student and is a fit for the family’s finances. Many people will weigh in on what the best colleges are and what higher education ought to cost, but in my experience, those opinions are often based on flawed logic or no reliable data. Pay little attention to where friends are applying, and if for some reason the financial package does not work, talk to the school to see if adjustments can be made. If not, move on to the next best choice.

6. While students should take the hardest classes they can in middle and high school, they must be able to balance the demands of such courses with their mental and physical health. Students do not have to take every single A.P. course offered at their school, and they do not have to get a five on each Advanced Placement test they take. Some students excel in all the classes they take, but most do not, and that is fine. 

7. All students have strengths and gifts, and they should build on those areas in middle and high school. I recently had a middle school student ask me if colleges looked favorably on students engaged in debate teams. I said yes, but also added that if debate is not of interest, colleges will be impressed by other areas of passion and dedication, too. If your child has not yet found their “thing”, encourage them to keep exploring other activities and building relationships that may lead to a new pursuit.

8. Starting in middle school, dedicate time to jobs like babysitting and mowing, volunteering, and joining clubs at school or church, or in local communities. Consider adding part-time jobs in high school during the summer, too. When possible, students should consider taking on leadership positions in their activities that will stretch their abilities and skills. Applications ask for many types of information beyond GPAs and standardized test scores, and having these types of experiences will present a fantastic portrait of who a student is and what they prioritize. Oh, and one more thing related to student activities: Whatever students choose to do, they should do so with honest-to-goodness commitment. Colleges have caught on to the students who start non-profits solely to pad their applications. This is a tired phenomenon that reflects poorly when unsurprisingly, the non-profit becomes of little interest after college acceptances are granted. Students, be better than that.

9. Brainstorm and draft at least one solid college essay during the junior year. Students should work on a final draft during the summer before the senior year, and when possible, ask other willing adults or friends for feedback. Better yet, register for an essay writing class at school or at the public library. Having at least one essay done in advance, which can be modified for the Common App or for individual applications, will lessen a lot of anxiety and save a lot of time during application season.

10. Realize that there is not one perfect college out there. The U.S. is loaded with fantastic schools that launch students into rewarding careers, so keep your mind open to several possibilities. Many students will get rejected somewhere if they cast a wide enough net. If so, move on to the next best option. Be at peace with the final decision and be proud!

I also wanted to mention that for me, the college search was not nearly as hard as dropping my kid off at her chosen school. I rate leaving your child in a new place with unknown people as a painful, 0/10 experience, even though I was equally excited for her and all she would experience and learn. What made it tolerable was seeing how ready she was for postsecondary after many years of discussing and planning for college. Having kind friends, moreover, who thoughtfully checked in with me during move-in weekend and in the weeks following to see how I was doing cushioned some of the heartache of being separated from my child. I was so grateful for that support, and will pay it forward with others in the years to come.

Since dropping my kiddo off at her dorm, I have been trying desperately to not be a nosy, intrusive mom, but from the little I have heard, she has been living her best life meeting new friends and professors, joining inspiring activities, exploring her adopted city, and tackling her classes. I absolutely can’t wait to hear all about it when she comes home!

About the Author
Jennifer Kunze, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the College Readiness Consortium and the Director of Ramp-Up to Readiness™ at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. Ramp-Up is a college and career ready curriculum for grades 6 - 12 that strives to make sure all students have an opportunity to achieve social and economic mobility through higher education—whether it be at a two or four-year college, a trade school, or an apprenticeship.