Your child’s senior year of high school is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming. Between campus visits, application deadlines, essays, and financial aid forms, it’s easy for important steps to slip through the cracks. As a parent, you want to support your student without adding stress or confusion.
The good news: with a little planning and tools like Red Kite, you can help your senior stay organized and confident all year long. Here are the key things every parent should keep in mind.
Deadlines Come Fast, and in Layers
College and scholarship deadlines don’t happen all at once. Many schools have early action or priority deadlines in the fall, while scholarship windows open and close throughout the year.
Creating a shared calendar with your student that tracks application dates, financial aid deadlines, and scholarship cutoffs can make the year feel more manageable. Red Kite’s dashboard makes this even easier by organizing opportunities around your student’s unique timeline, so nothing slips through the cracks
FAFSA Is Essential, Even If You Think You Won’t Qualify
A common myth is that families who earn ‘too much’ don’t need to file the FAFSA. In reality, many scholarships, grants, and even school-based aid require it. Filing as soon as it opens (October 1) can also improve your student’s chances of receiving more aid.
Balance Big Dreams with Realistic Options
Encourage your student to create a balanced college list that includes a mix of reach schools, target schools, and financial safeties. Reach schools are highly competitive colleges where admission is possible but less likely. Target schools are those where your student’s academic profile is a strong match for the average admitted student. Financial safeties are schools that are both likely to admit your student and offer affordable tuition or generous aid. By applying across these categories, your student will have more options to choose from while also keeping costs in check.
Scholarships work the same way: aim for some competitive, national awards, but don’t forget about local or specific opportunities. Those smaller, more targeted scholarships are often more attainable and still make a real difference.
Organization Is Half the Battle
Between essays, recommendation letters, and endless forms, the paperwork can quickly feel overwhelming. Creating a central hub, whether it’s a shared folder, spreadsheet, or a platform like Red Kite, will help keep everything in one place and prevent last-minute scrambles. Parents can play a key supporting role too, from proofreading essays and tracking deadlines to simply offering encouragement when the process feels stressful.
Your Support Matters Most
Senior year is a huge transition for your student. While it’s tempting to take over the process, they’ll benefit most if you act as a guide rather than the driver. Encourage independence, but stay available for questions and reassurance. Your involvement can give them the confidence to manage this new level of responsibility.
Senior year is more than a checklist, it’s a journey you and your student can navigate together, leading toward an exciting future.
The Red Kite Team
