Parents of Prospective Students

In the News

President William G. Durden '71 defines and defends the notion of a "useful" liberal-arts education in "A Useful Liberal Arts," Inside Higher Ed, November 2012

The Office of Academic Advising hosted an event to discuss the myths and realities of choosing a major.

Saving for College

Dickinson is proud to be a member of the Private College 529 Plan (formerly the Independent 529 Plan), the only nationally sponsored plan that is owned by the participating schools to help families control the cost of tuition and avoid market risk.

As parents, we are deeply invested in our child's success. Of course, we want the best for them but today's college-search process might be unfamiliar. We're here to help! This page offers perspectives and suggestions on some important steps in the process and we would welcome your questions at any time. We wish you and your student the best as you move forward in the college search!

Congratulations to the first families of the class of 2017!

We are pleased to welcome you and your student to the Dickinson community. Learn more on the Admitted Students page.

Value

How do you measure the value of an educational investment? Hearing from former students about what the opportunity enabled them to do is an important first step. Dickinson alumni speak loudly and proudly to the value of the Dickinson experience.

Ask-a-Parent

Parents of Dickinson students are available to answer your questions as you help your child make the right college choice. Search the Ask-a-Parent list, and e-mail a Dickinson parent from your area or whose child is pursuing a field in which your child is interested.

Application Tips

We asked our admissions counselors for their top tips for parents on helping their student make the most of a college application. When your student is ready to apply to Dickinson, you'll find helpful information on our apply page.

Connecting with Us

We are eager to meet you and your student! Campus visits provide an important opportunity to learn firsthand about Dickinson. We offer a variety of options for visitors to discover more about and connect with the Dickinson community. Our online visit scheduler permits you to select from options available on any particular date. Information on visit programs is available online.

We also look forward to meeting you and your student during our travels around the country and the globe. Our staff's travel plans and our regional receptions are posted online. Additionally, members of the Dickinson Admissions Volunteer Society are available to conduct off-campus interviews.

Our Dickinson counselors have been assigned to work with various regions both in the United States and overseas. These counselors play important roles in serving as advocates for prospective students and are available to answer your questions throughout the process.

Please encourage your student to provide contact information to us so that we can notify them and you of opportunities to connect.

Is Early Decision Right for Us?

Students have several choices of how to apply to Dickinson. Early Decision can be an excellent option for some students.