Preparing for College

Preparing for college means different things for different people. I am a huge advocate for teenagers to enjoy the time they have in high school and not take things too seriously, which includes not getting into the nitty gritty of college earlier than they need to.

With that said, it’s possible to not focus too much on the future while still preparing for the future.

This includes ensuring your child gets involved in a variety of activities as they can during their freshman year so they can determine what they like best. Whether it’s an official extracurricular with their high school, volunteering with a local organization, or diving into a hobby at home, it will be important for their future - college or not - for them to have learned as much as they can about themselves while in high school, master new skills, and grow and mature as a human being.

It also includes thinking about the classes they’ll take while in high school. There’s nothing that says a student isn’t “enjoying high school” if they’re thinking carefully about enrollment each semester. This is an easy way to set themselves up for success later in life - again, college or not. Encourage your child to work with their school counselor or educational consultant for a professional set of eyes on their academic schedule.

There’s a balance to be found between being a teenager and enjoying high school, and putting in some work to make things a bit easier and more organized down the road.

Choose from the links on the left for more information on preparing for college.