After weeks of enjoying Christmas break, returning to your usual classrooms may trigger the dreaded senioritis. But your journey toward higher education continues, with a few critical steps remaining before you officially finish high school. As you meet with your counselors and discuss your future goals, they’ll likely start asking about potential college choices.
Choosing a college is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make, shaping both your education and your overall experience. That’s why it’s essential to research admissions requirements and ensure the schools you’re considering offer the programs and career opportunities you want. While this process can be exciting, it can also be emotionally challenging—especially if you grew up with strict or protective parents.
If your parents often enforced limits on unsupervised activities, the idea of leaving for college may already make them anxious, prompting suggestions for nearby schools. Many parents feel a strong urge to influence their children’s career paths, whether out of personal preference or concern about distance. This raises an important question: Is there ever a “right” time for parents to interfere in their children’s college choices?
While it’s natural for parents to struggle with letting go, it’s important to consider the dynamics at play before drawing conclusions. Some parents fully fund their children’s college experience, covering dorms, meal plans, and other expenses. While financial support can feel like leverage over your college decision, it doesn’t give parents the right to control it.
In some cases, parents push for their children to attend a personal favorite or alma mater. You may remember when former Pensacola Escambia wide receiver Jacaob Copeland committed to Florida over Alabama and Tennessee. The moment went viral—not because of his achievement, but because his mother, wearing an Alabama shirt and a Tennessee hat, subtly signaled the schools she preferred. While she later corrected herself and celebrated her son’s choice, some parents remain upset if their children don’t follow their recommendations.
Should parents have the right to decide which college you attend? Absolutely not. Their opinions can be helpful and should be considered, but the final decision is yours. After high school, every choice you make is a step toward becoming the adult you want to be.
It’s crucial to take ownership of your future and make the executive decision about the school that best suits you. Keep in mind, however, that rejecting your parents’ choice may, in extreme cases, affect their financial support. Even if this happens, there are ways to secure a successful college experience. Leveraging resources like grants, scholarships, and student-funding programs can help you build a strong financial foundation and pursue the path that’s right for you.