Every year about this time, parents start calling or dropping by my office experiencing some level of panic.

The conversation usually goes something like this: Their child is starting senior year, wants to go to college, but hasn’t done a single thing about it.

Hasn’t visited any campuses. Doesn’t have a clue about a major. Hasn’t written a single essay or asked for a letter of recommendation. Sometimes, they haven’t even taken the SAT or ACT.

What they all want to know: Can I do anything to help get things on track? And, is it too late?

Having worked with students for over a decade, I always answer the same thing: Yes, parents can help get the process rolling, although they can’t, or shouldn’t, actually do the heavy lifting. And no, it’s not too late – yet. But with most applications deadlines approaching sometime between Dec. 1 and Feb. 1, the time to get moving is now.

The first thing parents can do? Help determine why the student hasn’t gotten started. Yes, sometimes, it’s just that your child is a world-class procrastinator.

(For these kids, a deadline staring them in the face is often all the motivation they need. A few weeks or a couple months from now, they’ll finally finish all the work you’ve been nagging them about since junior year.)

But more often, it’s because the student has run into a roadblock that has left them paralyzed.

With many of the students that come to see me, they may have no idea how to match their interests to a major. Maybe they’re overwhelmed by the lengthy application process and don’t know where to start. Or maybe they’re simply scared of leaving home or starting something new, so they’re simply ignoring the looming deadlines. Once you’ve identified the problem, it’s easier to solve.

Students who can’t choose a major may need to take an interest inventory or work with a career counselor, to identify careers that capitalize on their strengths and interests. I also still recommend books like the classic “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles, to jumpstart the thinking process. Once a few fields of study have been selected, it’s easier to narrow down a list of possible schools.

Those who are overwhelmed by the whole process may need help organizing the process into bite-size chunks and prioritizing deadlines. For instance, these students may respond well if tasks are organized into “buckets,” such as SAT prep, essay writing and document gathering. The actual applications can be prioritized by both the institution’s application deadline and how high the school ranks on the student’s wish list. Once applications have been prioritized, the student can create a list of tasks that must be completed for each one, such as providing test scores and transcripts, writing essays and actually completing the online application.

Finally, students who have been paralyzed by fear of the unknown often just have to be encouraged to make that first leap. Arrange a quick visit to a campus that an older friend or relative already attends, or one that the student has always admired. Investigate schools close to home, so that the student can either live at home the first year or can be within an hour or two of family and friends.

You might also offer to sit down and work on the first application together. It may seem counterintuitive, but for students who are overly anxious about the application process, it may be helpful to choose a school lower down on the wish list, rather than start with the No. 1 choice. Often, once they’ve gotten that first application under their belt, the others seem much less daunting – and they’ll be prepared to submit a stellar application to their dream school.

 

Donna Spann is CEO of Capstone College and Career Advising in Tyler. A college adviser for 14 years, Donna leads a team of professionals who take a personal approach to advising that helps students navigate through career exploration and the college application process.