Four Ways to Build Independence Through College Admissions

By Liz Jackson

The transition from high school to college is one of the most significant milestones in a young person’s life. In a matter of months, students move from a structured environment with familiar teachers, established routines, and close family support to a setting that demands greater independence, self-advocacy, and personal responsibility.

In USM’s College Guidance office, we have found that the college application process can actually provide excellent opportunities for students to practice the type of independent decision-making and task completion that college life will require. Keep reading for four ways you can help your student develop independence throughout the college admission process.

1. Write emails and make phone calls to admissions contacts

We often advise students to be in touch with admission contacts at the colleges that interest them, and sometimes questions arise about how to interpret information that a college has sent them. These are both fantastic opportunities for the students to sharpen their communication skills in a professional way. Encourage them to write polite, professional emails thanking admission representatives they spoke to at our college fairs, for example, or have them call financial aid offices to ask about whether certain forms are needed.

These are not only the types of communication that impress colleges and universities (they enjoy hearing from students), but they are also the types of communication that will be a necessary part of their routines as college students, and we want to make sure they know how to communicate without parental or counselor oversight. 

2. Schedule their own appointments

When students meet with their counselors at USM, they typically sign up for meeting times using Google calendar links. This is great practice for managing their time and appointments after they no longer live at home. And, while most families do the travel planning around college visits for their students, it is a great idea to have students themselves look up and register for the times of tours and information sessions at the colleges they want to see. 

3. Involve them in conversations about affordability and budgeting

Obviously each family will determine its own comfort level with sharing details about family finances and the affordability of college. For most students, living at a college campus means they will have significantly more responsibility for budgeting than they do when they live at home. Therefore, it can be helpful to have conversations about how much elements of the college experience cost—whether it’s developing a budget for monthly spending money, explaining how and why to take out a loan and what it means to pay it back, or comparing financial aid awards from different colleges they are considering. 

4. Complete enrollment tasks with minimal oversight

Most students and families discover that, once students submit their college applications, a lot of the communication with the college occurs in a student’s applicant portal. Encourage students to take ownership of these portals by checking them frequently and ensuring they are addressing any important tasks that pop up. This often means self-reporting grades to certain colleges or even checking to see that an admission decision has been posted.

Once a student has made their enrollment decision, they will also need to do things like fill out housing questionnaires or register for placement tests—all tasks they are capable of doing independently, and that will help them gain confidence as they transition into life away from home. 

Researching and applying to colleges has a lot of moving parts. This is why we structure our college guidance program at USM the way we do, and shepherd students and families through the various steps, to make sure nothing gets missed or overlooked. Many of the tasks associated with the process provide excellent opportunities to gain ownership and independence.

About Liz Jackson

Liz Jackson serves as the director of College Guidance at University School of Milwaukee. She has more than 15 years of experience helping students and families find the right college. With experience in counseling, higher education research, and school leadership, Liz enjoys getting to know students and matching their interests to the unique offerings of each college.