The college admissions process is one of the most stressful periods – for both student and parent. When big projects are started by any organization, there is usually a kick-off session where all the players discuss action steps, objectives, and budgets. Well, here’s a suggested Kick-Off strategy for college admission for parent(s) and student.

1. Set aside some time for an uninterrupted conversation about finances. It will make the whole process less stressful to deal with money issues up front and set expectations in advance. Then, complete the FAFSA application together. It’s a great idea to do that as a group – four or six eyes are better than two!

2. Next, have a conversation about everything that needs to be done. The student might create a college admissions timeline with important deadlines and post it on the refrigerator. This way everyone is aware of the process and important dates. Much of the stress comes when an important deadline is...