For parents

Welcome parents! The time has come — your child is nearing graduation and is looking at potential colleges. Choosing and applying to colleges can be a daunting task for both students and parents, but at VCU we hope to make it as simple as possible and — dare we say — an enjoyable experience.

Below you’ll find a list of resources to help you learn about VCU and the unique opportunities and experiences it can offer your student. There’s also a useful checklist of what you can do to help your student stay on track throughout the college search and application process, as well as a list of suggested readings.

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Admissions. Thank you for supporting your student, and we hope you’ll have fun getting to know VCU together!

VCU resources

• Admission deadlines and instructions
• Honors College/Guaranteed Admission
• Freshman class profile
• Diversity
• Academic programs
• Visiting campus
• Financial aid
• Scholarships
• Campus safety
• University College
• Student health
• Athletics
• Housing (on- and off-campus)

Checklist of things to do during your student’s junior/senior years in high school

• Meet with a high school guidance counselor to make sure that your student is on track with his or her course schedule.
• Make a list of colleges that are of interest.
• Plan a visit.
• Narrow down the list of colleges to those that the student plans to apply to.
• Keep a calendar of application/scholarship deadlines.
• Begin applying — keep in mind that there may be additional requirements for certain programs.
• Contact teachers, counselors, etc., for recommendations.
• Request that transcripts and test scores be submitted to colleges where student has applied.
• Complete the FAFSA.
• Check application status online.
• Contact the Office of Admissions if you have further questions.
• Wait for admission decisions to arrive by mail.

Suggested readings

Bane Woodacre, M. E., and Bane, S. (2006). I’ll Miss You Too. An Off-to-College Guide for Parents and Students. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks.

Coburn, K. L., and Treeger, M. L. (2009). Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years. 5th ed. New York: Harper.

Delahunty, J. (2010). I’m Going to College — Not You! Surviving the College Search with Your Child. New York: St. Martin’s.

Hofer, B. K. and Moore, A.S. (2010). The iConnected Parent: Staying Close to Your Kids in College (and Beyond) While Letting Them Grow Up. New York: Simon & Schuster.