The Fear Factor in College Admission: Halloween Edition

When I was in elementary school, the extent of Halloween decoration was usually a carved pumpkin on the porch with a glowing candle inside. Since then, the scope and indulgence of Halloween as a decoration-worthy holiday seems to have blossomed into a multi-million dollar industry. Much of modern suburbia is decked out in two-story skeletons, inflatable goblins and giant, hairy spiders scaling porches with tarantula legs. And while the fright factor might be disturbing to preschool parents, moms and dads of high schoolers are surely feeling a different type of scary hype this Halloween season.

For college bound teens, it is difficult to discern decoration from sound structure. And while your teen is feeling stressed about the 16ft skeleton that is the college essay, parents might be equally freaked out by the eight legged spider that is college cost. Fear not! Though the college landscape has changed since the days of Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, let me provide a few facts that will prove that there really is nothing to fear this Halloween.

Fear Factor #1:

Overwhelming choices

There are over 4,000 colleges in the United States alone, and it can be overwhelming to narrow that down to the perfect balanced list. Start by determining your ‘deal makers’ and ‘deal breakers’ - which often have to do with social fit first. How far away from home do you want to be, do you want proximity to a larger metropolitan area, or is a college town more your style. Are you interested in Greek life or a strong sports culture/school spirit? Would you prefer a smaller campus where class sizes are similar to high school and your professors know your name by the first week?

If you know what you want to study or are narrowing it down to a few choices, check out the academic fit of the university. How does their program in that major differ from other colleges? Do most students study abroad? What work based learning opportunities are there?

Once families nail down their must haves, creating a balanced college list of safeties, targets and reaches seems less overwhelming. Don’t rely on colorful brochures or flashy websites. Dig deep into what makes each school unique. Then, when you visit campus, you will know exactly what you are looking at.

Fear Factor #2:

Financial concerns

There are at least 12 colleges in the US where tuition has topped the 100k mark. Yes, you read that right. College costs are scarier than any spider, but there are plenty of things that families can do to make wise decisions. Most importantly, consider return on investment for the degree your student will pursue. What is the earning potential for the intended career? Next, have a family discussion on debt tolerance, as this is an important driver of the balanced list. If your family will not be eligible for need-based financial aid, juxtapose the potential for scholarships at a university with your student’s profile. Colleges will court top students with good financial aid/merit aid packages, and ‘top student’ is relative to the college they are applying to. 

My best advice is to run a net price calculator for every school you research, then look at the financial aid/scholarships page at each institution and discern whether you will be eligible for scholarships based on your student profile.

Fear Factor #3:

Prestige pressure

Let’s pull the plug on this inflatable in the yard. Parents, do not put pressure on your student to get into that 3% admit rate school. Not only will it create undue stress and possible mental health consequences for your student, it will also encourage a performative high school profile rather than an authentic one. Remember that a college education is not a bumper sticker or stylish sweatshirt, it is a means to the end of a fulfilling career. When students are inauthentic in their activities or college admission writing, it shows. All colleges, top 20 or not, want students who have cultivated a course trajectory, extracurricular activities, and experiences for which they have a genuine interest. This will shine through in a student’s application, where everything comes together to paint a genuine picture of who the student is as an applicant and scholar. 

Making admission to a reach college the goal of the high school years is an unfair goal. Instead, focus on finding a balanced college list with safeties, targets and reaches.

The high school years are supposed to be a treat for families as they watch their teenagers grow into young adults who will succeed in college. Don’t let college hype trick you into inflating your fear like the giant ghost in your neighbor’s yard. To take the fright factor out of college planning, sign up for your DISCOVERY CALL today to learn more about how Access College America can help!