Five Steps to Navigating the College Application Journey
Hey, everyone, and welcome to a deep dive into college prep with not one but 2 guides by Josh Roman. We're looking at 5 steps to navigating the college application journey and the parents' guide to college preparation. Now we know this whole process can feel overwhelming, like trying to climb a mountain, but that's why we're here.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Think of us as your trail guides, helping you navigate each step of the way.
Speaker 1:Love that. And speaking of steps, these guides surprised me right off the bat. You'd think it'd be all about junior year. Right? All those big test scores and whatnot.
Speaker 1:But Roman throws a curveball and says freshman year actually matters.
Speaker 2:He's right. You know, it's not about pressuring 9th graders to have it all figured out. It's more about building those good habits early on.
Speaker 1:Right. Like laying the groundwork.
Speaker 2:Exact So
Speaker 1:instead of freaking out about AP classes, it's more about, like, making sure they're actually doing their homework. Right?
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's about establishing a solid work ethic and really just just exploring their interests.
Speaker 1:Which reminds me, Roman talks a lot about summer planning, and he doesn't just mean summer camps or family vacations.
Speaker 2:Right. It's not just about keeping them busy.
Speaker 1:He's talking about strategic summertime.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Like, aligning those lazy summer days with, you know, their passions.
Speaker 2:It's all about connecting those early explorations to the bigger picture of college and even beyond.
Speaker 1:That's such a good point. It's never too early to start thinking that way. But okay. Let's be real for a second. Things definitely shift gears once junior year rolls around.
Speaker 1:Right?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Junior year is where things get serious.
Speaker 1:Roman even calls it the engine room of the application.
Speaker 2:He's not wrong.
Speaker 1:The engine room.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Think about it. You've got your GPA, those standardized tests, and maybe the most important piece, starting that college list.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It feels big.
Speaker 2:It can be a lot. But remember, each piece is crucial.
Speaker 1:And that's where Roman throws another curveball. Right?
Speaker 2:Let me guess. Starting those essays early.
Speaker 1:He wants those essays started the summer before senior year. And, honestly, part of me is, like, shouldn't summer be, you know,
Speaker 2:summer? Sure. But think of it this way. Spreading out that workload can really help prevent that senior year meltdown.
Speaker 1:Okay. That's fair. Nobody wants a meltdown.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:So we're talking strategically tackling those essays over summer break.
Speaker 2:Precisely.
Speaker 1:Genius. Strategically tackling those essays over summer break.
Speaker 2:I like it.
Speaker 1:Okay. So we've laid the groundwork, explored our passions, survived the engine room of junior year. Bring on senior year. Right?
Speaker 2:Senior year is less about, you know, building and more about steering the ship you've already built.
Speaker 1:That's a good way to put it. It's
Speaker 2:all about execution.
Speaker 1:And I imagine having that road map knowing what to expect each month, that's gotta feel like a lifesaver for families.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1:No more flying by the seat of their pants.
Speaker 2:Right. Roman lays out this clear month by month breakdown of all those key tasks, finalizing applications, navigating the, shall we say, exciting world of financial aid.
Speaker 1:Oh, don't even get me started on financial aid. Speaking of which, there was something in the guide about that. It really surprised me.
Speaker 2:What's that?
Speaker 1:Roman says you shouldn't just accept the first financial aid package that comes your way. He says you should actually appeal it.
Speaker 2:You're right. That does sound kinda I don't know. Almost taboo. Right?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, we're taught to be so grateful for any financial help. But he has a good point. Colleges sometimes, you know, they have a little wiggle room in those budgets.
Speaker 1:Okay. So we're not talking about storming into the bursar's office demanding a blank check or anything.
Speaker 2:No. Not at all. Oh. But he does provide these sample letters in the guide, templates you can adapt to kind of explain your family's financial situation.
Speaker 1:Understood.
Speaker 2:Maybe your income changed or there's some, you know, extenuating circumstances. Right. The point is it never hurts to advocate for yourself.
Speaker 1:I love that. This is why I love these deep dives because I learn something new every single time. But, you know, it's so easy to get caught up in all the logistics, the GPA race, the essay deadlines that we forget there's a whole other side to this college thing.
Speaker 2:You're talking about life beyond the acceptance letter.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Like, getting into college is a huge victory. But being ready for college, it's a whole other ballgame. Right?
Speaker 2:Completely agree. That's where those life skills come in. Right. And, no, I'm not just talking about doing laundry, though. Let's be real.
Speaker 2:That's a big one. Huge. But Rowan talks about budgeting, time management, even self advocacy Mhmm. Skills that are super crucial, not just for, you know, surviving dorm life, but for navigating the real world after graduation.
Speaker 1:So true. And he doesn't sugarcoat things either, like those gut wrenching moments of waiting for acceptance letters or even the rejections.
Speaker 2:It's tough.
Speaker 1:What does he say about handling those moments as a family?
Speaker 2:He really emphasizes this idea of reframing rejection.
Speaker 1:Oh, I like that.
Speaker 2:So a no from a college doesn't diminish your child's worth or their potential. Mhmm. It just means it maybe wasn't the right fit. And you know what? Plenty of successful people have faced their fair share of rejection letters.
Speaker 1:That's a good point.
Speaker 2:JK Rowling, her first Harry Potter book was rejected, like, a dozen times.
Speaker 1:No way. Yep. Wow.
Speaker 2:See, rejection builds resilience.
Speaker 1:It does. It really does. Okay. But what about the acceptance letters? We're popping champagne, doing the happy dance, and then Roman throws in this curveball.
Speaker 1:He says, even after you're accepted, you should still revisit those colleges.
Speaker 2:Interesting. Shouldn't
Speaker 1:that be step 1?
Speaker 2:Well, think of it as confirming your gut feeling. Okay. You've done all the research toward the campus,
Speaker 1:but
Speaker 2:now you're seeing it through a new lens, the lens of a future student.
Speaker 1:I like that. It's like you're not just looking at the menu anymore. You're actually tasting the food. Exactly. Making sure it's something you're gonna enjoy for the next 4 years.
Speaker 2:I like that analogy. And that actually brings us to Roman's final point, which I think is so important.
Speaker 1:Okay. Lay it on me.
Speaker 2:It's okay to feel a whole mix of emotions during this whole college application thing.
Speaker 1:Oh, for sure.
Speaker 2:Like, excitement, of course. A little bit of anticipation about the future. Definitely not. And maybe even a little, you know, little trepidation about what's to come.
Speaker 1:Right. Like, that feeling of what if
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Which is totally natural, by the way. Absolutely.
Speaker 2:This is a huge transition, not just for the student, but for the whole family.
Speaker 1:It really is. It's like that feeling of standing at the edge of a forest. You've got your map. You've got your compass.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But there's still that element of the unknown, that sense of adventure.
Speaker 2:And that's part of what makes it so exciting.
Speaker 1:Exactly. So for everyone out there listening, everyone navigating their their own college prep journey, what's the one big takeaway you're walking away with today?
Speaker 2:You know, if there's one thing these guides have really taught us, it's that this journey isn't just about reaching the destination. It's about all those steps we take along the way.
Speaker 1:And those steps, they start today. Maybe it's having that conversation with your kid about what they're passionate about.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Maybe it's finally digging into those financial aid forms.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Or maybe it's just giving yourself permission to feel all the feels without judgment.
Speaker 2:Whatever that step looks like for you, just take it. Embrace the adventure. And remember, you don't have to climb Mount College Prep alone.
Speaker 1:We're here with you every step of the way.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:Until next time. Happy exploring, everyone.
