| 1. Be realistic about this process. 2. Understand the difference between a 2 year and 4 year. 3. Look for the “right fit” – chemistry between your child and a college is critical. Your best friend is through research into a variety of schools. Please consider schools about which you may know little at this point. Please do not limit your research to schools on just the east or west coast. Please remember that schools have changed drastically since you were in college. 4. Listen to what your child is saying. Be a sounding board to your child. 5. Listen to what your child is not saying. Often fears are not verbalized. 6. Let your child take ownership of this process. Find a comfortable place between running the college search process yourself and remaining at an uninformed distance. Keep in mind that colleges do not generally want to hear from parents; they want to hear directly from students. After all, your child will be on his/her own in less than two years. 7. Check many sources. For 4 years, go well beyond U.S. News and World Report and other media sources. Check the accuracy of your information. 8. Set limits from the beginning that are important to you (i.e., cost, distance from home, etc.). 9. Press to get straight answers from admission and financial aid officers, so there are fewer surprises. 10. Help your child to think about who he/she is. What does your child value? How has he/she changed during the high school years? 11. Communicate. This is a family decision on several levels. 12. Be honest about your aims and aspirations for your child. Agree to disagree in some cases. 13. Please try not to get sucked into the rumor mill. It is most often inaccurate. When in doubt, check! 
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Malibu High School
TRANSITION SERVICES
Malibu High School
TRANSITION SERVICES
Tips for Parents
for College Bound Students