Examples of Parent Statements - Any Suggestions?

Hey guys, my folks are working on their parent statements for my college applications. Does anyone know of some helpful examples we could check out? Also, what should they not include in their statement? They're feeling anxious and I wanna help them out.

Parent statements for college applications provide an opportunity for your parents to convey helpful information about you to the admissions department, especially aspects of your personality or experiences that may not be adequately revealed in the rest of your application. While it's difficult to provide specific examples without any context, I can certainly offer some general tips and guidelines.

Firstly, the statement should be honest, personal, and focused on you, not your parents. They should avoid making sweeping claims about your 'uniqueness' without backing them up with specific examples. Instead, they should highlight patterns of behavior, interests, or experiences which reveal your character or passions in a nuanced, grounded manner.

Regarding the subject matter, your parents can discuss your growth, accomplishments or resilience, but they should be careful to not overshadow your own personal essay or other elements of the application. A repeated theme will not only waste this chance to provide unique insights but also risk creating redundancy.

An effective parent statement often provides insight into your character through anecdotes. Stories or instances which highlight your qualities, personal progress, or contributions to your community can be very impactful. That being said, it's important for your parents to avoid turning the statement into an opportunity to just brag about your achievements.

Your parents should also be careful to avoid projecting their own ambitions or desires onto you. The statement should be about your goals and aspirations, not theirs. Additionally, they should try to avoid excessive criticism or explain away areas of weakness without clear evidence of improvement or positive effort.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, your parents should speak from the heart. Authenticity shines through and makes the statement more relatable and impactful. A story only they could tell, about a moment when they were very proud, or when they saw a glimpse of the adult you're becoming, can be very powerful.

Remember, a parent statement is just one aspect of the college application process and is designed to add depth and richness to your application. It's an opportunity to showcase perspectives that may not necessarily come forth in conventional application documentation.

I hope that helps! Best of luck to you and your parents during this exciting journey.