Don’t Buy The Sweatshirt And 4 Other College Admissions Advice Tips

College admissions advice tips can be found everywhere. But I have realized most people giving them to you are trying to sell you something. Or they are trying to get your child to come to their school. This college admissions game is a test of mental and psychological fortitude. I want to share what I have learned so far on this journey with my daughter, and I hope it helps other families.

5 College Admissions Advice Tips

1. Don’t buy the sweatshirt

I wish I had known this advice three hoodies ago. They were just so cute, and my daughter really liked the school, and I couldn’t resist. I’m telling you to resist. Even if they give you a 15% off coupon (I’m looking at you, University of Chicago), resist. Your child might not get accepted or might change her mind. One thousand things could happen that would make that sweatshirt an expensive souvenir that feels a little silly to actually wear.

2. Ask questions

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Reach out to parents who have been through this process before. My tennis friends told me about all the things I didn’t know I was supposed to know. I asked them questions and got invaluable feedback. I also reached out to people I know who have kids at the schools my daughter was interested in and asked lots of questions of the college counseling staff at her school and at each of the colleges. Ask all the questions you can of anyone you can.

3. Accept that you cannot control everything anything

You cannot control if your child gets into a school. Stop. Now, repeat that again. You can do everything right, and your child can do everything right, but things may not go as you had hoped. Do your research and have your child apply to a variety of schools, including smaller, local schools and hope for your best. Do what you can. Connect. Read. Engage. And then let it go. What will be, will be.

4. Visit the coffee shops

Going on an official campus tour is important, as you can learn much about what to expect at the university. However, my daughter found sitting in the campus coffee shop much more informational. She said it let her see the “vibe” of the place. The feel of the campus can be a massive difference-maker for many students. Does your child feel like he/she/they belong there? Could these be his/her/their people?

If your college tour plans take you to DC: 15 Reasons Kimpton Hotel Madera is One of the Best Washington DC Hotels

5. Make a college checklist to compare colleges

Start by figuring out which characteristics matter most to you and your child. My daughter narrowed her schools to large universities in big, urban centers. What’s essential to your child? You can then compare things like proximity, cost, study abroad opportunities, internship programs, dorm culture, on-campus activities and the weather. Once the acceptance letters start rolling in, include any merit scholarships or program acceptances on the checklist, too. Use Google Sheets (or something similar) so everyone can add information and opinions. Having a simple tool with all the information in one place can help evaluate all the options more clearly.

Throughout the whole process, I have had to remind myself that this is my daughter’s life. It is her choice. Also, I recognize that at 17 years old, she may not have all the tools to make the most informed decision. I know I wasn’t! So, I am trying to breathe, be patient, ask lots of questions and pray. I choose to believe everything will turn out the way it should.

Where is she going? As of February 2025, she received acceptances from 7 schools. She is still waiting to hear from three more schools. I’ll share more as the year unfolds.