Parents: Start Here (Get Support Without The Stress)
Most parents I know want to be involved, but they have no idea where to start. Let me help you plan smart so you know what to focus on before the deadlines pile up.
🏁Start Here:
✅ Step 1: Understand the Big Picture of College Costs
Before FAFSA, scholarships, or decisions, you need to understand how college pricing actually works.
Learn the difference between:
- Sticker price vs. real cost
- Need-based aid vs. merit aid and who gets it
- What the FAFSA does (and doesn’t do)
✅ Step 2: Get Organized as the Support System
A lot of what your child needs will come from you.
Parents often keep documents needed for completing financial aid or answering college application questions.
Find a place to keep and track:
- Schools your child is interested in
- Passwords and usernames in case anyone forgets
- Financial info (tax forms, bank statements, asset reports, etc.)
- Notes about next steps and supports
📘 Get my On Track For College Parent Workbook for additional information, questions to ask, and graphic organizers to keep you and your child organized and On Track.
✅ Step 3: Know When to Lean In (and When to Step Back)
Planning smart doesn’t mean micromanaging. It means supporting decisions at the right moments and getting help to push your child forward.
Identify:
- When your student needs structure or support
- When they need space (because they got it)
- When decisions might affect costs long-term
📘 Hint: The On Track For College Parent Workbook provides guidance and question prompts inside to keep you both on track, communicating, and accountable.
✅ Step 4: Prepare for Financial Aid Without Panic
Waiting until FAFSA opens is where stress starts. You have to plan ahead of time to get your college finances right.
Make sure you:
- Know the rules before you play
- Understand how financial aid works and what you get
- Recognize how certain types of aid will affect your child’s choices
✅ Step 5: Use the Hub as Your Reference Point
You don’t need to memorize everything. Keep checking the On Track Hub for info when questions come up.
🎯 Start Here If You Want More Support
🧠Schedule a pick my brain session to ask all the questions you want
📘 Use the On Track For College Parent Workbook to stay organized
💰Check my website for my scholarship list
🧭 Visit the On Track Hub every so often for updates.
👉Learn more about the author Mizz P. and her offerings here: www.mizzp.nyc