WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP YOUR STUDENT?

Have a direct conversation with your student about their college search. Support the development of the list of colleges they plan to apply to, but don’t write the list for them. Remember, this is their college search. It is important that they pursue the colleges that meet their needs.

Listen to your student and consider what you know about them as a person and learner. Don’t worry about what you hear from other parents, family members, or neighbors. Your student’s college search should be unique to them.

Every part of the application should be completed by the student. Don’t be tempted to write or alter any part of your student’s work. Admission counselors want to see the applicant’s voice and ability come through in the way they complete the application. You can help by proofreading for spelling and grammatical errors.

Have a conversation with your student about which teachers might be the best choices for recommendation letters. You can help them think about who has helped them grow, who has seen them grow in an area of strong academic interest, and who knows them best.

Support your student by encouraging campus visits. It can be an investment of time, money, and energy to visit colleges, but at some point in the process it is critical to do so. Your willingness to join a campus visit, to listen along with your student, and to give honest and supportive feedback will be important to their ultimate college choice.

Remind your student of the importance of connecting with their admission counselor. The college search is a time of forming relationships with an institution, and it often involves both asking and responding to questions. Help your student to understand the value of engaging with university staff throughout the process.

Application and financial aid deadlines are important and it is the responsibility of your student to make sure they get things done on time. You can help them stay on track and even stay ahead of deadlines with calm, kind reminders.

Application Review

Willamette uses the Common Application and there is never a fee to apply.

We consider all aspects of the application - courses, grades, activities, essay, and letters of recommendation when making both the admission and merit scholarship decisions. It is important to present a carefully prepared and thorough application to maximize your chances for admission and aid.

Submitting SAT or ACT scores is completely optional for both admission and aid.

An admission interview is not required but highly recommended. This relaxed conversation with an admission counselor allows the student to ask questions and helps the counselor to better understand the applicant. Interviews can be arranged on campus or virtually.

The admission counselor is a resource for the student and parent and can be contacted with questions at any time throughout the application process.