You’ve researched majors, toured campuses, and built your balanced college list—great job! But before you dive headfirst into applications, there’s one more important step: sit down with your parent(s) or guardian(s) and get their final approval.
Why? Because college isn’t just an academic decision—it’s also a family decision.
💬 Why This Step Matters
Avoid Surprises Later: You don’t want to fall in love with a college only to find out it’s not financially realistic or logistically doable.
Get Support with Confidence: When everyone’s aligned on the schools you’re applying to, you’ll feel more confident and supported.
Ensure Financial Fit: Tuition, travel, living expenses, and scholarships all matter. Discussing these now prevents stress later.
✅ What to Discuss With Your Family
Is the list balanced?
Does it include Likely, Target, Reach, and Far-Reach schools?
Are all the schools affordable?
Use each college’s Net Price Calculator to estimate actual costs. Don’t forget to talk about out-of-state tuition, merit scholarships, and need-based aid.
Would you be happy at every school on the list?
If not, time to revise it!
How many schools will you apply to?
Agreeing on a number helps manage application fees, essay workload, and stress levels.
✏️ GradMap Pro Tips
Have this conversation before application deadlines approach. That way, you’re not rushing or feeling pressured last-minute—and you’ll avoid spending time on schools that aren’t truly options.
Build a financially balanced list in advance.
It helps to group colleges into three categories:
Schools your parents/guardians can definitely afford
Schools that are within reach of their outlined college funding plan
Schools that are likely outside the budget—but could still be worth applying to just to say “I got in.” (Just make sure everyone knows up front that they may not be financially feasible.)
Use your GradMap dashboard to review your categorized list together. You can even add notes or mark schools as “approved” to stay organized.
Your college list is your future—but your family’s support is a huge part of that journey. Taking the time to talk things through now builds trust, confidence, and clarity for the rest of your application season.
Let’s make this a team win! 💪