Many high school counseling offices host college-related events like Junior Parent Night, PSAT Scores Back nights, and college readiness workshops. They often take place in the evenings so that parents can join with their students. I know that families are busy, and you want to get the most of it when you add yet another commitment to your already jammed calendars.  So here are five things you can do to make these events as valuable as possible.

1. Just show up.
I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. In spite of how legitimately tired and overworked and overscheduled you may be, just show up. It’s low risk, it sends a great message of commitment to your student and your counselor, and the chances are that you’ll learn something valuable to help your kid get to college.

2. Say hi to the counselor(s).
You wouldn’t show up to a dinner party without saying hi to the host. And the counselors are hosting these evenings for you and your kids. So if you can say hello without being intrusive, stop and say hi to your student’s counselor. Take a moment to introduce yourself if you’ve never met. And make sure to thank them for inviting you. Then let them get on with their work. This is not the time to ask about why your student isn’t in AP English. But if you need to have that conversation at some point during their work hours, at least now you won’t be talking to a stranger.

3. Be a treasure hunter.
Not everything you hear in these presentations will necessarily be applicable to your family. The presenters are often trying to convey large amounts of information about a complex process to what can be a very diverse audience. In those cases, savvy families are like treasure hunters, staying on the lookout for those few nuggets of valuable information that are applicable to them. If you take back even just one or two things that will help your student have a more successful ride to college, it’s worth your time. And if you follow the advice in #1 throughout high school, those tidbits can add up to a wealth of knowledge.

4. Take notes on paper.
Yes, I know. You might feel like a dinosaur if you’re the only one not writing things down on your phone or iPad. But the old fashioned way is still the most effective.  And for the presenters in front of you, it’s impossible to distinguish who’s using their electronics to take copious notes and who’s just bored and looking at the latest celebrity gossip online. You’ll take better notes, and you’ll send the message that you’re legitimately interested, when you actually put pen to paper. If you just can’t leave electronics behind entirely, scan your paper notes later and file them away electronically.

5. Save—but write down—your specific questions.
When we present at these events, many of the questions tend to be specific to a particular student. A presenter who’s never met you can’t tell you what your student should write her college essay about, or whether she should take the SAT again, or whether Georgetown is a good fit. Ask questions to clarify material that you might not understand, just as you would do if you were attending a class. But save your specific questions for later. Write them down as they come to you, then ask them after the presentation (either immediately in person or later by phone or email).