Helping your child through the college admissions process can be exciting, as they are preparing to live independently and start their higher education journey. However, the process can also be a little overwhelming, especially as a parent.

The good news is that Full Sail University and members of its admissions team are available via phone, email, text, or live chat to answer questions, discuss Full Sail’s application process, and guide you when making important decisions about your child’s future.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating your college admissions timeline.

Research Schools

Researching a college doesn’t just involve looking into the classes it offers. You should also consider the college’s culture, schedule, and most importantly, its application deadlines.

“The number one thing that parents and students want to take into account is application deadlines and early application deadlines,” says Meghan Furrie, the Operations and Analytics Manager at Full Sail. “The earlier that you are able to apply, the more benefits you can usually get."

Keeping track of the colleges you’re interested in, along with the relevant application deadlines, is a great way to kick off the college admissions process in an organized manner. Unlike Full Sail, some colleges may have application fees, so take that into consideration, too.

Campus Visits

Visiting and touring a campus is an exciting way to learn more about the school and visualize your child’s day-to-day routine on campus. Like with many important visits, it’s essential to come prepared. Writing down a list of questions for the college admissions representative or tour guide is a proactive way to make the most of your visit and leave feeling educated and prepared.

“At Full Sail, we have several overlapping areas of study, so, looking at that on paper, it's hard to tell what it is that a student is actually going to want to do. So, having that conversation with an admissions rep is crucial to narrowing that down,” advises Meghan.

Complete Application Paperwork

After you’ve reviewed college options and toured campuses, it’s time to complete all the relevant application paperwork. Full Sail’s admissions reps are an excellent resource for this step.

Most of the information required to complete college applications is pretty straightforward. Just make sure your child has their previous education information on hand. You may also want to go over the information before sending it in. There is no fee to apply to Full Sail, and the entire application should take about 15 minutes to complete.

Because of Full Sail’s rolling starts – new classes begin every month – students are given a little more flexibility regarding when their application is due and when they want to start their studies.

Fill Out FAFSA

The Free Application for Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, is key to your child receiving adequate financial aid. The FAFSA must be completed by a student each year they're in college in order for them to continue receiving federal financial aid. A new FAFSA application opens each year and must be used during that specific award year. The good news is that there is now a shorter, less complicated form to complete.

“Keep in mind that the information is correct as of the day you first submit the FAFSA. That's super important. If you're getting married in two weeks, and you submit the FAFSA today, you're submitting it as a single person,” says Meghan.

“With the FAFSA, you just want to make sure that you have your information in front of you. For your tax information, it's going to be looking two years back, so hopefully you'll already have passed the filing deadline so that everything's already filed.

”Check out Full Sail’s Financial Aid page for a step-by-step guide on completing the FAFSA.

Research Scholarships

As far as scholarship applications go, help your child research relevant scholarships – but let them submit the application themselves.

“It's not the kind of situation where you should be applying to those scholarships for them. It is really crucial that they are playing an active role in their own education,” says Meghan.

However, you should take the time to sit down with your child and show them how to find scholarships from legitimate sources. Not only will this give them a sense of independence throughout the college admissions process, but it will also teach them valuable research skills they can take into the real world. Check out the Scholarship Guide for Parents to learn more about the various types of scholarships.

To view a list of Full Sail-specific scholarships, check out the Full Sail Scholarship Guide.

Speak to College Prep Professionals

Carve out some time to speak to the college counselor at your child's high school. This will give you and your child a better idea of how to approach the college application process, and the counselor might have some helpful application tips tailored specifically to the schools you’re interested in. Plus, many high schools already have established relationships with colleges.

“If you're focusing on specific schools, you can try to tailor that resume for that school as opposed to trying to check all of the boxes for all of the schools,” says Meghan.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Throughout the entire process, Full Sail is available via phone call, text, or live chat to help answer your questions. Sending your child off to college is a big deal, and Full Sail is committed to helping you and your child feel supported and informed.

“We know that a lot of this is new, and we want to be there to support that,” Meghan concludes.