Feeling Behind on College Planning?

"I feel like we're late to the game."

"Everyone around us seems to be further along than we are."

"Are we too late to get started? How do we even know where to start?"

Can you relate? If so, you're not alone- and you're in good company. In my initial consultations with families, parents and students often express concerns about being "behind" on college planning. Families mention that college planning feels more complicated than it used to, and finding time to manage it all is the biggest challenge. Then there are the comparisons that fuel anxiety- we all know parents who started planning for college before their children were born, or students who finished their ACT/SAT testing in sophomore year.

So... are you behind?

The good news is you're probably in better shape than you think- and if not, it's definitely not too late to get back on track. Every student's path is different, so what's "early" or "late" for one family can be "the right time" for another. Of course, there are general timelines to be aware of (see my post: College Planning Timeline by Grade), but there's always something you can do right now to make progress, and ways to catch up or pivot.

Where to start?

The first task is to just take inventory of where you are in the process. Once you understand your starting point, you can determine next steps. Families often feel much better once they have a plan and timeline in place.

A step-by-step approach is far more effective than trying to tackle everything at once. Families often hear me say, "No need to worry about that right now...that's tomorrow's (or next month's, next semester's, or next year's) problem." The right step is always the next step- not every step all at once.

A few stress reducers:

You don't have to have it all figured out by 9th grade, or even be interested in figuring it out by 9th grade.

Sure, some students have known what they "want to be when they grow up" since they were toddlers, but there are also a lot of adults close to retirement who still don't know. It's perfectly ok for teens to be unsure, change their minds, or even not care too much yet.

Students thrive and find success and happiness at colleges of all levels of selectivity. It's absolutely okay to want to attend a highly selective college, but there are also many compelling Reasons to Love Less Selective Colleges and Universities.

One last thing: It's always ok to ask for help

College planning isn't just about deadlines and documents- it's also a very emotional journey for students and for parents. It's exciting, overwhelming, fun, frustrating, and inspiring-it's definitely a roller coaster.

You don't have to navigate the college planning process on your own. Whether you're just starting to think about college or feel bogged down by a million decisions, I'm happy to help. Reach out when you're ready, and I'll meet you wherever you are on your college journey.

At Growing2College, we support families with all aspects of high school and college planning. Request a free 20-min consultation to learn more about how we can be helpful.

Kate Pedigo, M.Ed, CEP, NCC is a Certified Educational Planner and founder of Growing2College. Join us on social media for college planning updates, tips, and resources: Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn