Beyond the School Desk: Watch the mail and e-mail

This is a time of change for us parents. Colleges consider your child an adult and thus all information will be directed to them.  You might agree and then start making a pile of mail they need to go through – however, this is a time to work more closely with them to ensure that everything is sent back and replied to in a timely manner. They could lose out on a monetary award, dorm assignment; student account set up and or class choices if the college does not receive the information by the date they specify. 

The majority of colleges will send information by the colege student email accounts. So make sure you set that up as soon as their instructions are received.  Your child will also be accepting and or declining financial aid through their student accounts.  Sit down with them and go through the process together - to make sure they understand the process and the reality of the cost of continuing their education. 

Like most parents, we have “hovered” over their education since kindergarten taking care of the school forms and paperwork.  Now it’s up to them – and it can be a stressful and confusing time. With all the other things going on as they approach graduation and summer vacation – they might just put it aside to think about later.  So when the mail comes for your child set some time aside to sit down with them and go through the mail.  This time will be well worth it as they approach the next stage of their education. 

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones but of moments.” ~Rose Kennedy (1890-1955)