I did a seminar for our Collegewise parents on Saturday called "College Admissions Support for Parents." And I knew that one of the recommendations I was going to make might surprise them.
Accept that it is not your job to make all your student's college dreams come true.
I know that might sound harsh, but fast forward in time for a second. Imagine that five years from now, your daughter has a job interview after college and doesn't get hired. It's a job she really wanted, too, and she's disappointed. Sure, you'd likely be disappointed for her. But would it be your job to march down to the office and complain to the boss that she should change her mind and hire your kid?
Ten years from now, if your son and his (now future) wife put an offer in for a house from they are outbid by another couple, will you make it your job to intercede and demand that his offer be accepted because he's such a good son?
Fifteen years from now, if your daughter were vying for a promotion at work, will you make it your job to swoop in, talk to her boss, ask what would improve her candidacy, and coach her through the interview process?
No reasonable parent would expect to control those situations for your kids. At some point, your kids are out of your nest and in the real world. You'll always be able to support and encourage them, but you can't control every outcome in your kids' adult lives.
So why should a parent be expected to control the outcomes of the college admissions process?
Applying to college is a student's transition into life as an adult. This is hard for a lot of good parents to face, but you will make it easier on yourself and your kids if you recognize what your job is not.
It is not your job to get your kid into the school he wants to attend; you can't make Yale say, "Yes." It is not your job to protect your kids from the disappointment of college rejection. You don't get to make admissions decisions any more than you will get to decide whether or not your kids get promoted at work when they're older. No amount of parental love can control the outcomes of college admissions. And the more you try to control it, the more likely you are to experience stress, frustration and even alienation from your kids who may feel like you don't trust them to do this themselves.
So what is a parent's job during the college admissions process?
Cheer your kids on. Encourage them. Support their efforts. Let them know that you'll be proud of them no matter which college they attend as long as they try and give it their best. Be a sounding board. Help them seek out good information and advice. Celebrate their efforts independent of their achievements.
Those are all things you can and should do. They'll help your kids have more enjoyable and successful college application processes. And they'll help you worry a little less knowing that you're doing your job well.