Transparency is important, particularly within the college search process. This can be said of both students and their parents alike. Students should be open about their aspirations with their parents throughout this process. Similarly, parents should be willing to reign in any dreams that are out of reach of their child. This isn’t to say they’d be limiting them personally, but rather there are forces at play that might stop them from achieving their goals. For example, a family’s finances. With how expensive the financial element of the college experience has become, it’s paramount to discuss financial boundaries with a child early on when building a college list. This can help a child narrow down which schools he or she should apply to and which ones to avoid. Parents and guardians should be honest about what they can afford. This can also be a great time to discuss financial aid options such as loans, grants and scholarships as these options are often what keeps students’ dreams alive when it comes to college. The parent-student relationship is fragile enough as it is without these discussions, so to learn more about how to have them without shattering any relationship, check out the resource paired alongside this post.
The Parent-Student Relationship In College Searches for more information on the college search process, be sure to check out the Encourage App
