Preparing for college means you’ll need to plan for—and make—some of the biggest decisions in your life so far. For college, it is always better to kick off these preparations as early as you can, in order to give yourself enough time. Students and parents alike recognize that the competition for college acceptance gets steeper every year, and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic only compounds this pressure. The sooner you’re able to start working with an expert counselor towards your goals, the less time you lose later on.
These students have to first choose a course they wish to major in during their time in college. This is sometimes tricky because students may need to decide between their dream major and what their skills most support. Then they still have to select a college afterward; all these can be overwhelming.
As a parent, your duty towards your high school seniors is to ensure that you walk them through the college application process and help them get ready for college. This concept may be new for some parents, especially if it is your first time preparing any child for college. However, the steps to prepare high school seniors for college are not as demanding as you would imagine, especially if you go about it the right way. Here are some expert tips on how you can prepare your high school senior for college.
1. Encourage Them to Start Planning Early
It has always been said that the earlier you start planning for something, the better. The importance of kicking off any preparation as early as possible can not be emphasized enough, and it even gets more crucial for significant events like going off to college. Yes, every student should know to start planning and preparing for college as soon as they become high school seniors. But as a parent, you are advised to remind your young student of the benefits of early preparations and encourage them to start planning their college application.
2. Assist Them in the College Search
As much as you would want your high school child to select a major and institution of their choice, it would be wrong to leave them to figure this out on their own. You are advised to lend a hand of assistance to them by walking them through the process and explaining complicated terms. You can also help by introducing them to professional high school counselors or attending college admission counseling with them. These professionals can help ease the task of selecting an ideal college by showing them ideal colleges for their skills and selected majors.
3. Help Them Practice for Their SAT/ACT and Essay Writing, and Other Exams
There are various ways through which colleges screen admission applicants, but most colleges often utilize SAT/ACT as their entrance exams. Indeed, most students take these tests in their junior high school year, but the majority of them often retake them in their senior year for a chance to score higher. You can help your child prepare for these tests by studying with them and providing them with all the necessary materials to succeed. Regardless of whether your student will need to submit SAT/ACT scores, having the skills necessary to perform well on exams is a useful tool.
Many colleges also demand that students submit an application essay and letter of recommendation along with their other documents while applying. You can also help them through this process to ensure that they do it right and avoid any complications.
4. Plan A College Tour With Them
Many universities operate a rolling admission system, while others utilize the regular system. But did you know, some applicants may be required to visit the school in person to observe the school’s academic system and programs firsthand? This demonstrates interest in the particular school, which adds to what you learn in college counseling. For those schools where a visit is inevitable, it would be a lot better and more cost-effective if you plan for a college tour with your high school senior. This way, you can avoid last-minute preparations, unplanned expenses, and you get to be with your child for support.
5. Prepare Them For College Life
College life is often considerably different from high school, and you would not want your kid to step into this life unprepared. Therefore, the final step to getting your high school senior ready for college is to help them be as comfortable as possible right from their first day in college. You can achieve this by providing all the necessary materials and items they will need to fit in perfectly among other college students.
With this solid foundation, your high school senior will be ready to fly!
