You may know what you think is best for your child, and it may just be that that’s the case. Yet, to a young adult, specifically one embarking on their college journey, your role as a parent has shifted from being the person who tells them what to do to one who supports them in making the best decision. You cannot do this if you don’t listen — and really hear — what they have to say. Truly reading your child can be extremely difficult, especially if they have a hard time expressing themselves. This is made only that much more difficult throughout the college search and admissions process. Discussing future plans as a parent-student duo can bring about some conflict. For example, if your student communicates to you that they do not like a subject, is it really the subject matter that’s bothering them? Could it be that they need more support in that area, or do they just have a genuine disinterest in it? Similarly, when discussing preferences of their colleges, in be telling you they really want a small college setting instead of a big school, it may be because of the privacy and intimate support from professors. Identifying what it is it that your student is really telling you is imperative for parents throughout this process. For more information on how to prepare for it and the conversations that come with it, please see the resource accompanying this post.
The Parent-Student Relationship In College Searches for more information on the college search process, be sure to check out the Encourage App
