College preparation can be a daunting task for both parents and students. There are so many factors to consider, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, standardized tests, college applications, and financial aid. How can you help your child navigate this complex process and achieve their goals? Here are 5 essential tips that can make a difference.
Tip # 1: Encourage your child to take challenging courses
One of the most important factors that colleges look at is your child’s academic rigor. This means the level of difficulty and variety of the courses they take in high school. Colleges want to see that your child is willing to challenge themselves and learn new skills. Encourage your child to take honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses that match their interests and abilities. These courses can also help your child earn college credits and save money on tuition.
Tip # 2: Help your child explore their interests and passions
Another factor that colleges look at is your child’s extracurricular activities. These are the things that your child does outside of school, such as sports, clubs, hobbies, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. Extracurricular activities can help your child develop their personality, leadership skills, and social network. They can also showcase your child’s talents and passions to colleges. Help your child find activities that they enjoy and are meaningful to them. Don’t worry about quantity or prestige; focus on quality and commitment.
Tip # 3: Prepare your child for standardized tests
Standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, are still widely used by colleges as a measure of your child’s academic potential and readiness. While they are not the only factor that matters, they can have a significant impact on your child’s chances of admission and scholarship opportunities. Therefore, it is important to help your child prepare for these tests well in advance. You can enroll your child in a test prep course, hire a tutor, or use online resources to help them practice and improve their skills. You can also help your child choose the best test date, register for the test, and plan for retakes if necessary.
Tip #4: Guide your child through the college application process
The college application process can be overwhelming and stressful for both parents and students. There are many steps involved, such as researching colleges, creating a list of schools, requesting transcripts and letters of recommendation, writing essays and personal statements, filling out forms, and meeting deadlines. You can help your child by being supportive, organized, and informed. You can help them research colleges that match their preferences and goals, create a realistic and balanced list of schools, brainstorm and edit their essays, review their applications for accuracy and completeness, and keep track of deadlines and requirements.
Tip #5: Support your child’s financial aid search
Paying for college can be a major challenge for many families. Fortunately, there are many sources of financial aid available, such as scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. You can help your child by being proactive, resourceful, and diligent. You can help them search for scholarships that they qualify for, apply for federal and state aid by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), compare financial aid offers from different colleges, and negotiate for more aid if needed.
Helping your high school child prepare for college can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for both of you. By following these 5 essential tips, you can help your child achieve their dreams and succeed in their future endeavors. Another excellent resource for parents is CollegiateParent. They provide support, advice and information to parents and college students to make the transition from high school to college as smooth as possible.
- College Prep Go Tip: Once your child has decided on a college to attend, join the school’s parent FB page. You will learn a ton of information about the school and be able to interact with parents that have the same questions and concerns.
Read HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL to learn what it takes to successfully apply to college.
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