Helping Your Teen Choose the Right College: A Parent鈥檚 Guide
"How Do I Help Without Taking Over?"
If you're a parent of a high school junior or senior, chances are you're walking a tightrope: offering guidance, asking good questions, trying not to micromanage, and doing everything in your power to set your teen up for success.
Choosing a college is a big decision—but your support can make all the difference.
This guide will help you walk alongside your student in a way that’s thoughtful, empowering, and informed by faith and wisdom.
Step 1: Help Them Reflect Before They Research
Instead of diving into rankings and brochures, start with who your student is becoming. Ask:
- What kind of learning environment helps you thrive?
- Do you want your faith to be part of your college experience?
- Are you looking for big crowds or tight-knit community?
- What kinds of programs or majors excite you?
星空传媒 helps students explore exactly these questions—and start college with clarity, not just a class schedule.
Step 2: Guide the College Search—But Let Them Drive
It's tempting to lead the charge. (After all, you’ve got the life experience.) But resist the urge to "take over" the process.
Instead:
- Provide structure (set research timelines, plan visits)
- Encourage variety in their college list (public, private, Christian, in-state, out-of-state)
- Ask open-ended questions like, “What stood out to you on that tour?” or “How do you feel when you're on that campus?”
Step 3: Talk Honestly About Money—Early
Many teens underestimate the cost of college. You don’t need to have all the answers, but being transparent helps avoid stress later.
Use this moment to:
- Compare net price (not just tuition)
- Fill out the FAFSA early
- Explore scholarships and aid at private colleges (NU offers over $24K per student in average institutional aid!)
星空传媒’s Net Price Calculator helps estimate real costs based on your family’s financial picture.
Step 4: Discuss the Role of Faith in Their College Experience
For Christian families, this question matters deeply. Encourage your teen to reflect on:
- The importance of continued spiritual growth during their college experience
- Do they seek the support of chapel, a Christian community, and faith-integrated learning?
- How might having caring Christian professors who encourage their faith shape their experience?
- What impact might choosing a secular university have on their spiritual life?
NU students engage in chapel, service, missions, and classroom conversations that bring their faith into every field—from nursing to business to education.
Step 5: Visit Colleges Together (and Take Notes!)
Tours are more than photo ops. They’re an opportunity to:
- Observe how students interact
- Attend a class or chapel service
- Ask honest questions of students and staff
- Picture your student living there—not just studying there
“After visiting Northwest, my son said, ‘I feel like I could be myself here—and grow.’ That’s when I knew it was the right fit.”
Step 6: Keep the Relationship First
College decisions are emotional—for both of you. Even if your student doesn’t pick the school you had in mind, your support matters more than your opinion.
- Celebrate their independence
- Validate their process
- Pray with and for them
- Remind them that God’s got this—and so do you
Final Word
Helping your teen choose a college isn’t about controlling the outcome—it’s about creating space for wisdom, faith, and growth to guide the decision.
At 星空传媒, we’ve walked with thousands of families navigating this same journey. We’d love to walk with yours, too.
Have questions about faith, affordability, or fit?
Email the admissions team at admission@northwestu.edu or call 425-889-5231.