Resources and tips for effective parenting - https://uw.org/211/family-strengthening/
Parent/Guardian,
I wanted to get this information out to you about some important "To Do" items as your child graduates. These items are specifically for students who are planning on going to college now or in the near future. Doing this can help alleviate some headaches.
I often get calls from parents when students are a couple months away from returning from military service or from a mission. They are trying to help so that college is set up when the student gets home. Often there are barriers that they are running into because the college can't or won't talk to the parent and information is needed. Sometimes colleges have registered students into the wrong classes because they don't have updated transcripts. Here are some steps that can be taken now so that things are set up in the future.
First, this step is for students have taken college classes in high school and are planning on attending a different institution. The student needs to go on and request a transcript of what they have taken and send it to the institution they are planning to attend. Colleges will not look at a high school transcript to award college credit. It has to come from an official transcript sent from the college. We do not have access to your students account and can not send their college transcript. This is best done now by you and your student so it is done and ready.
Second, make sure you know your students log in information to their college account that they have been taking so that you can log in and help look up information if needed. It is also good to know their log in information to the college that they will be transferring to for the same reason. Also a good idea to know how to log into their email account so that you can send and receive emails on behalf of your son/daughter.
Third, maybe the most important, if your student is going to be gone for any period of time it is to your best benefit to fill out a FERPA waiver form for BOTH you and your spouse. If this is not filled out the college can not and will not communicate with you regarding your students accounts, grades, classes or anything else. This is good to have for both the college your student has attended as well as the college they are planning on attending.
Fourth, make sure if your student has been offered a scholarship to the institution, they need to accept it. Often there is an email that they received (they may have lost it) with a link or directions on how to do this. If a student doesn't accept the scholarship now it won't be waiting for them when they come home.
Fifth, if your student is going to be going to the military or mission they need to make sure that they have deferred their admission so that they are "on hold". If this doesn't happen then the scholarship is often forfeit and they often have to re-apply.
Often when students are away on missions or military service some of the things that need to be taken care of can be done by you if you have done the above steps. This makes it so they can concentrate on what they are doing. If this hasn't been done then often your son/daughter will need to take time to do it themselves while they are there. This can sometimes be quite an inconvenience and distraction.
For questions it is best to call the college and get it set up now. Go to the college website and dial the number. Typically this is the college operator. Ask for "admissions". This is typically the best place to answer questions and they will direct you as needed. They are also typically the most friendly.
Best of Luck!
Gary Bennett
Counselor