For Parents

Navigating the college admissions process as a parent and knowing when and how to help your student is a huge challenge at this point in parenthood. To help you, we have surveyed recent alumni parents about the advice and wisdom they might share for parents going through this the first time.

ADVICE FROM TRINITY ALUMNI PARENTS

We seek to find appropriate ways for parents to come alongside their student while letting them lead. Some parent expectations in our work together are outlined here. We appreciate your partnership in this process. Below are some resources and ways you can support your student and here is a full family handbook that may be helpful as well.

Terms, Timeline, and all you need to know about College Admissions

Tangible ways to support your student

Ask questions to prompt self-discovery and encourage agency.
Help them learn how to research schools. You will be able to suggest schools to them through SCOIR. Encourage them to think broadly and not just about the school names they are familiar with or "know" because a friend or family member attended. Learn more about the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) group (ask Karman about her amazing undergrad experience at one of them!).
Look at the school calendar to determine days where your student (and you, if you're able) can attend a college tour and empower your student to be the one to register. Here are some tips that can be helpful in this process.
Brainstorm potential college essay topics with your student and think about how you can to encourage them to start drafting.
Complete the FAFSA and CSS profile if required by the schools where your student is applying. You can learn more about financial aid here. If finances will play a role (at all) in your student's college options, have open conversations early and often. You may want to help your students identify institutions that are known for their generous financial aid packages.

Need more guidance? Check out:

20 Ways to Support Students Applying to College

Testing timeline and registration

Testing overview

September 20th - Compass Prep webinar offered for students and parents to give an overview of the SAT vs. ACT. To register, click here.
October 12th - 9th-11th graders take the PSAT at Trinity during the school day. You do not need to register your student for this PSAT.
November 12th-13th - Compass Prep offers the practice- ACT through their Online Testing Center. To register, click here.
Stay tuned for more resources about how to analyze the results of the PSAT and practice ACT and compare the two tests!

Testing policies are varied and school-specific. For a quick overview of the difference between schools that are test optional, test blind, and test flexible, click here to read more.

Test registration

One way you can help your student is to create a testing plan. Once your student receives PSAT and practice ACT results, sit down and ask how they felt about the tests to determine which one they preferred and would like to invest time in studying for when they take the actual tests typically beginning in the spring of junior year. You can help them with the registration process by going to act.org to register for the ACT or collegeboard.org to register for the SAT. If you think your family my qualify for a testing fee waiver, please contact the Director of College Counseling who should be able to provide you with one.

Required Junior Parent Survey

Special admission situations or circumstances

If your student is interested in attending a military academy, participating in college athletics, taking a gap year, receiving disability or learning support services, or would identify with a race other than white, there are some wonderful resources available here. Please feel free to contact the Director of College Counseling if there are specific ways we can support your student and family in navigating these circumstances.

Recommended books and podcasts for parents

Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni

Who Gets In and Why by Jeffrey Selingo

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope

The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education, by Eric Furda and Jacques Steinberg

College Ready 2021: Expert Advice for Parents to Simplify the College Transition, by Chelsea Petre

The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make, by Ron Lieber

Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree, 2022 Edition, by Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro

Six Qualities of a Successful College Parent

Eight Ways to Support Your Child Through College Admissions

Additional fee-based support and services

In addition to the services offered through Trinity's College Counseling services, some families hire an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) to help their child/family navigate the college admissions process, build a college list, etc. IEC's can provide additional one-on-one support that is helpful for some students and families but often comes at a great cost and/or time commitment. This can be nice but not necessary If your student is proactive in utilizing and leveraging services already offered at Trinity. There are many ways (and benefits) to learn to do this research on your own.

The test prep industry is bustling and in addition to free resources, many Trinity families utilize outside services to help their students learn the test taking strategies and content covered in the SAT and ACT.

Additionally, some parents use essay writing coaches to help their students brainstorm, draft, and get feedback on their personal statements and supplemental essays. Here's a podcast that explains the pro's and con's. The Matchlighter Scholars Program is a wonderful free resource for those who qualify. Also be sure to check out these FREE college application tools!

If you think your student would benefit from additional support in navigating these or other parts of the college admission process, here is a list of area tutors used by Trinity families in the past. If you have worked with an Independent Educational Consultant, test prep company, essay writing tutor, etc. and would recommend that their information be added for other families to reference if needed, please email the Director of College Counseling.

School Name

Main Menu

More