Preparing Your Child for College

Being the parent of a high school student is a demanding job; not only do you have to deal with dating, driving, senior pictures, and graduation parties, but you also need to think about preparing your child for college.

Helping your children prepare for and get into college is a very important task, and not one that should be taken lightly—it can be difficult, but it’s crucial to find a balance between letting them be independent and take care of their own responsibilities and helping them out when they need it.

Everyday Tips

• Do: Remind your child that although ACT and SAT results are important to post-secondary schools, achievement as a well-rounded student counts just as much, if not more. Students’ GPAs, extracurricular activities, application essays, and volunteer experiences are all important factors in demonstrating success in school on college applications.

• Don’t: At the same time, don’t forget that standardized test scores are also an integral part of the application! Whether your child is struggling or doing well in school, consider enrolling him in a test-preparation course.

• Avoid the Senior Slide: Many high school seniors experience the “senior slide,” a tendency to put forth less effort. Remind your child that it’s still important to do well in school, because many colleges may be hesitant to accept a student that exhibits falling grades during her senior year, even if they’ve been very successful in school over the previous few years.

• Make Trips to Campuses: Accompany your child on campus visits to get a feel for the different colleges that he or she is looking at. If you get the chance, talk to both professors and students to gain insights into campus life. Many colleges also offer students the opportunity to spend a night in a dorm and attend a class to “get a feel” for the college. If your child is interested, encourage her to take advantage of these opportunities.

• Get Help: Help your teenager with his college applications by asking someone with strong writing skills to proofread admission essays and look over application forms. You can also help him think about who might be able to write strong recommendation letters—teachers or counselors who are familiar with your child’s school achievements, and mentors or work supervisors who know your child well and can attest to his potential for school success, may all be good candidates.

• List Achievements: Encourage your child to keep a list of her school achievements throughout high school. Then, when it comes time to fill out college applications, she won’t have to try to remember things she did three or four years ago. This makes filling out applications much easier.

• Remember: The most important thing that your teen can do to prepare for college is to concentrate on doing well in high school—not just during her senior year, but through all four years. Encourage her to take challenging classes. Success in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can show a college that your child is ready for the rigors of university-level coursework.

Just like helping your child prepare for his first school experience, it’s crucial to do what you can to build a foundation for college success, starting long before senior year. By letting your teen handle most of the college preparation and application processes, you can encourage him to be responsible—and by helping when it’s needed, you can increase his chances of success in college.