I feel like after saying that its necessary to add "The Final Frontier", because honestly, even being launched out an airlock or finding out that Darth Vader is your father isn't as terrifying as realizing that your next decision will probably be one of the most important you will make in your entire life. Maybe even the most important.

There comes a time in every parent’s life when they have that flash realization that their child is growing up. I know this happens on more than one occasion, being party to numerous “Look at my baby!” and “I remember when you were this big.” comments from my mother and father.  These moments become more common when a child reaches his or her senior year of high school.

Imagine this: Its early August and your child is preparing to go into their 12^th and last year of school. Soon, it will be time to begin the college application process. I know my gut reaction to this realization was unadulterated fear- the panic that a 17-year-old girl experiences when she remembers high school doesn’t last forever. There are so many things that can be done to help your child survive this difficult and daunting process- it doesn’t have to be as stressful as everyone can make it seem.The first (and possibly most important) step to helping your child complete the college application process is to talk about it. Where does she want to go? What does he want to major in? Does she want to stay in state or go out of state? All of these questions need to be answered and discussed before the beginning of the 12^th year. In addition, be supportive. I can assure you that your child is just as scared (probably more so) as you are. If they are unsure of a major, consider their interests and make suggestions. If they’re a rare soul, that like me, knows exactly what they want to major in and have for a long time- encourage them.

Getting there is half the battle, so start early! I know people that waited until November to get started and were scrambling to get finished before the December and January deadlines. Remember, deadlines for applications are permanent- but transcripts and SAT scores can come later. *

Secondly, make yourself available. Your student is going to have to write at least one essay for the school of their choice, and they may want you to read it before they send it off. Please don’t demand to see their college essays; it puts incredible amounts of stress on the students if their parents are too involved (yes, that can happen) in the process. You aren’t going to college, your child is- so don’t do all the work for them. The college application process is a wonderful lesson in responsibility! Ask if your child needs any help, and if they’ve asked their English teacher to look over their essays for them. One of the most important parts of this process is staying informed. The terror a teenager can experience during the fall can be totally incapacitating- I would know considering I didn’t do a single application for an entire month because I got too scared to get started.

Make sure your child has at least one Safety School. I know no one ever wants to think about not getting into his or her first choice but unfortunately, sometimes it happens. Safety Schools are important; I suggest applying to one that has rolling admissions (such as West Virginia University) because when you start second guessing yourself- it helps to know that you got in somewhere. The waiting is the worst part; I did this for my own sanity.

Colleges often send out free “V.I.P Applications”, fee waivers or waive the application fee if you apply online as incentive to send in your application, so before you apply see if you can find one of these offers and avoid the often expensive application fees. Never rule out a school just because you don’t think you’ll be able to afford it. There are thousands of scholarships and grants available to the college bound student; it also helps (this is a must) to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to see if you qualify for assistance from the federal government.Of course there are several other contributing factors to this process, but I believe that these are the most important. Encourage your child to be on time and always offer your help; do your best not to micromanage the whole experience for them. I know its difficult- especially for Mothers- to let their kids do things on their own, but this is a necessary learning experience. I wish the best of luck to you and your child when the time comes.

*Always, always check a college’s application policies and procedures. Though this is the general rule, some colleges may differ!

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Madison Kane is a 17-year-old aspiring writer. She has written over 400 short stories and poems under the pseudonym Lone Writer. She is currently writing a blog about her senior year of high school entitled Four Shattered Stars. She lives in Loudoun County.