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Parents Receive Tips To Help College Selection Process |
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Thursday, 08 October 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
MINSTER — Parents of Minster High School students attended an informational session Wednesday night that will help prepare them for the next steps of their students’ education.
Bowling Green State University Assistant to the Vice President for Enrollment Management Van Wright said he goes around to a variety of schools to inform parents on how to help students pick the right college for them.
“It is my second year doing this at Minster,” Wright said. “It is about finding the right school for yourself and committing to that. The process can be so daunting for first-time parents.”
Wright said for some parents, the process of helping a child find a school can be overwhelming.
“It brings extra value to parents and students to help make the transition a little bright and a little easier,” Wright said.
Minster High School guidance counselor Pat Gavit said she thinks the session is helpful for parents to clear out some questions they may have on the college application process.
“He does a nice job at letting people know what to look for on a college visit and the right questions to ask,” Gavit said.
Wright discussed a variety of aspects of applying for college and parents’ role in it.
“The college search process in the end is always the students,” Wright said. “Parents, you have to listen carefully. Listen because they are going to go and when you are closing the dorm room, it is going to be very very hard, but if you close the right door that process is a little easier.”
He mentioned a fact about students being happy at the university they choose and how crucial it is to receive a four-year degree.
“Students who receive a four-year degree will make $1 million more than a non-four-year degree student,” Wright said. “This is a life changing experience.”
He urged the parents of seniors to focus on their future and to get applications and visits in early.
“Narrow down the search process,” Wright said.
He mentioned four easy ways to narrow a search for a student.
“The size of the school, the size of the town, their major and the distance from home they decide they want to be,” Wright said.
He touched on the importance of good ACT scores and keeping grades up the final year of school while applying for a college and what that could mean in terms of scholarships.
Wright emphasized college visits and letting students follow the path to the school they decide to attend.
“Visit days, take the time to do it, we have to take the time to go on visits,” Wright said. “While you are on a tour, talk to students on the campus while you are there, ask questions, you will be amazed at the answers you’ll get.”
He also reminded the parents to think about different aspects of a college choice to make their children the happiest they could be at any school.
“Look at what they are interested in,” Wright said. “Economics are important and vital but it’s the rest of her life.”
After making a decision or narrowing the decisions down, Wright told the parents to do research and to not be afraid to ask questions.
Some of the literature he told parents to pick up included information on orientation, extracurricular activities, the student handbook and the course catalog.
Following Wright’s discussion, some parents agreed the information session was helpful and answered some questions they had on the process.
“I think it was beneficial with it being my first child,” Michelle Huelsman said.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 November 2009 )
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