Hi there,
This is Sherri with Imagine Scholarships. I am sharing our most -read article of all time. It is filled with links to your favorite 80s songs and how references to those songs can help you and your student find great scholarships in the college admissions process. For those of you who want to get straight to the details they are here. For those of you who are looking for some fun…. keep reading.
Remember the 80’s when you were graduating from high school? The landscape looked different then. So did the hairstyles, leg warmers and neon clothing. Applying to college required using the card catalog at the local library, looking up phone numbers in a phone book, requesting a paper application, filling it out and sending it back through snail mail. To say that the college admissions process has changed would be an understatement! Even the world of scholarships has changed. Drastically!
Each spring, I am reminded of the wonderful yet “thrilling” songs from the 80s. They have a way of taking me back to my own college acceptances and rejections, so I incorporated a few of them into some thoughts to help you.
“ How do I support my child in the college admissions process?”
Overall, the best thing you can do is to be there and support your student. Always have open arms to welcome them and let them know you believe in them. Our team at Imagine Scholarships is here to support you in any way we can.
If you are the parent of a high school student, the final countdown is on.
It can take what seems like 10,000 hours to get through those turbulent years we call high school. The balance of supporting, guiding and encouraging your child during their teen years can be daunting, especially during the college choices. What can we say? Love is a battlefield.
Oh, sweet child of mine, I can’t go for that! One minute, they are ready for college, the next they are directionless. It spins me right round. It is important to remember to take your time, do it right. Take the time to apply to the scholarships, take them on college visits and let them explore.
Don’t rush them to make decisions until they are ready. Be patient, listen and know that they will likely change their mind many times before making big decisions about their future. Before you know it, they will be like a Rocket Man, running down the Yellow Brick Road to live out their exciting future and you’ll be saying… I’m Still Standing while you’re Walking On Sunshine.
80s Songs Offer Words of Wisdom in the
College Admissions Process –
Let’s take a look !
Here are some helpful things to remember as you and your student navigate the college admissions process.
How will I know
How on earth will you know how to navigate this crazy process? Be sure to equip yourself with valuable resources like this. The process is exciting but can be a bit overwhelming; it is best to get started early.
Livin’ on a Prayer
Bon Jovi 1986
This is how I felt each day during the Spring. I never knew what to expect from my teen. The constant stress of waiting and wondering where they would be accepted sometimes took its toll on their emotions. These are the days I tried to give extra patience and offer encouragement; I wanted them to know I would be proud of them no matter what decision they made, realizing this was their “journey,” not mine.
Celebrate Good Times / Kool and the Gang
When the acceptance letter comes, DO NOT OPEN IT! Your student earned it, let them have the joy of opening it and telling you the good news. Then take the time to CELEBRATE! This is a huge accomplishment.
Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
Help your student learn to deal with rejection in a healthy way. Resist the urge to overprotect and shield them. Understanding disappointment will help them be better prepared for adulthood. Realizing they were rejected because of statistics, rather than personal character may be comforting. This is the time to remind them of their incredible value. Every teen has such a bright future ahead!
Don’t Stop Believing / Journey
The “Journey” ( no pun intended …….. well maybe) will get long. Keeping things organized, continuing to visit schools, making contact with admissions counselors and keeping grades up will all prove to be helpful disciplines to have in the process. Don’t give up! It will be worth it in the end.
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KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. Knowing how your GPA, class rank and most importantly, test scores and how they stack up in the competition will give you a realistic view of which schools are a good fit for your student. I recommend having safety schools where your student should easily be admitted, realistic schools and stretch schools all on their respective lists.
This has nothing to do with anything, but sometimes you as the parent just need to take a break and do something you enjoy to keep your sanity so you can better encourage your student through this process.:) Take a few moments, let your hair down and practice those 80’s dance moves.
Working for the Weekend / Loverboy
Scholarships are important if you don’t want to feel like you’re Working for the Weekend. Imagine Scholarships is the “Go To” source for many parents and students who are looking for an easy way to keep track of relevant and quality scholarships. A small investment of $16.99 per month can have a huge return for your student. Join the thousands of others who are finding scholarships today!
There is no need to spend “money for nothing”.
Money for nothing / Dire Straits
There is an excellent resource called “TuitionFit” that helps you get the absolute best price for your school of interest. You can learn more here. Seriously, keep money in your pocket using TuitionFit and Imagine Scholarships – Both excellent resources to help you make wise college investments. We also have a blog with great information that is updated frequently, our database of scholarships and internships and a store with more amazing resources.
“To help Parents even more, we have a scholarship just for parents”
We could go down memory lane for days ….
When it comes to parenting through the college admissions process, the final advice I have is to HAVE FUN. This season will go by quickly and I want you to enjoy each step of the journey.
Our time down memory lane is coming to an end but remembering the 80s would not be complete without mentioning ………….. my favorite song, by Steve Perry.