3 Things Parents Should Be Scared Of in the College Admissions Process

As parents, we’ve all been there, trying to guide our teens through the college admissions process while wondering if we’re saying or doing the right things. On this Halloween, I want you to be scared, but in a productive way.

There are three things every parent should be afraid of during this process. Not because they’re spooky, but because they can quietly derail your teen’s success if ignored.

1. Be Afraid of Not Communicating with Your Teen

Communication is the foundation of a successful college admissions journey. If your child has one vision of college and you have another, tension will build quickly.
Talk about the big questions:

• What do they want in a college experience?

• Why does it matter to them?

• What can your family afford?

• How do cost, location, and major factor into the decision?

Getting on the same page won’t make the process stress-free, but it will make it manageable. When families communicate, they collaborate. When they don’t, the process becomes a battlefield.

2. Be Afraid of What You Don’t Know

If you’re approaching this process like it’s still 1995, stop. The admissions landscape has changed dramatically. Acceptance rates are lower, testing policies are shifting, and misinformation spreads quickly.

Be afraid of relying on outdated advice or hearsay. Instead, seek current, relevant, and specific information for your child.
Here’s a quick truth: any school with a 25% or lower acceptance rate is a reach school, no matter how great your child’s grades are. That’s why understanding today’s data and trends is critical.

Knowledge is power and protection.

3. Be Afraid of Limiting Your Options

Too many families only consider a handful of “name-brand” colleges. But there are hundreds of schools that could be the perfect fit for your child academically, socially, and financially.

Keep an open mind. Explore schools you may have never heard of. Great education and opportunity are not confined to a few famous campuses.

At Strategic Admissions Advice, I take pride in introducing families to schools that align with their teen’s values, goals, and learning style.

Yes, I want you to be a little scared because fear can be a great motivator.
Be scared of not communicating.
Be scared of what you don’t know.
Be scared of limiting your child’s options.

Then take that fear and turn it into action. Let’s make this process something that strengthens your relationship with your teen and leads them to a college where they’ll thrive.

👉 Schedule a free Discovery Call today at www.callwithsaa.com  to get started.