Parents
Dear Parents,
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Oxford College of Emory University. As a parent of two college students, I understand first hand how overwhelming the admission and financial aid processes can be - especially if it is your first child to attend college. We have created some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) we hope will help you as you guide and support your student throughout the process. I found that it is important to be realistic about expectations and help your student manage the excitement as well as the disappointments that may occur along the way. At highly selective institutions, there will be many students who are qualified based on the published statistics who will not be admitted due to the size and makeup of the applicant pool that year.
Please keep in mind that as important as parents are in offering support, it is crucial for the student to take an active role and accept responsibility for the application process and all that is involved in lining up the teachers and counselors for recommendations, listing activities and awards and writing the required essays. It is appropriate for you, as a parent, to proof the application and essays, but not to do the work for them. This will help your student take ownership of the process and make choices they feel good about and that work for them as they make this important decision.
Sincerely,
Jennie Taylor
Dean of Enrollment Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we organize all the admission information schools are sending us? Set aside a box to keep up with the information received in the mail and picked up at college fairs. As there is time, have your student go through the material and select those institutions s/he may want to review again later. Place those in a separate box so there is no need to look at everything again.
How do we manage the application process? We found it helpful to have a college calendar to keep up with all the deadlines (admission, financial aid & academic scholarships) for the various schools, as well as the campus visit events, college fairs, etc. In addition, a separate folder for each school with copies of everything you sent, including the date sent, was helpful. We also had a folder for all federal and state financial aid information.
Is it important to visit the campus? Yes, plan to visit each school your student may be interested in attending. If you are using the visit to determine whether or not to apply, plan those visits in the junior year when the student has a school break. Make sure the college or university is in session, so you can talk to current students. Plan your visit through the Admission Office, even if you know someone on campus. That way, your son or daughter will get credit for the visit since that is one of the best ways to show interest in a school.
Plan to eat on campus when you visit - either at the dining hall or student center - in order to interact with more current students. This allows you to talk to students and faculty who are not part of the admission tour and can help your student determine if the school is somewhere s/he will fit in.
Are rankings important? They certainly do not tell the whole story or even measure the things that your student may think are important. There are so many wonderful schools offering a variety of options that the rankings might help in the beginning but let the contacts with the admission office and the campus visit play the most important role as you go through the process. In addition to rankings, we recommend asking schools if they have completed the National Survey of Student Engagement. This comprehensive survey of undergraduate students provides great information about the true learning experience of current students at a college or university.
How do we determine what we can afford? Each school will have a different financial aid process, and it can be very daunting. Take it one step at a time, and it will be more manageable. As I mentioned above, make copies of everything and have a folder to keep all the information together. Do not wait for the admission decision to apply for aid or you may be too late. Financial Aid deadlines are very important so if a school requires prior year tax returns as part of the process, file early so you can meet the deadlines. Click on the Affordability tab above to learn more about the process at Oxford College and Emory University.