How to prepare your child for college in high school

From creating academic plans and researching colleges to considering career paths and applying to schools, YouScience^® is here to teach you how to prepare your child for college while they’re still in high school to ensure their college readiness and long-term success.

College preparation in high school involves careful planning, dedication, and consistent effort, as there are numerous factors you can focus on. Here are things you can work on with your child preparing for college in high school.

As your child is preparing for college, they’ll have to consider what they want to study and potential majors, also known as academic paths. Before looking at these options, your child should take an aptitude assessment. This assessment helps identify areas where your child naturally excels and determines which careers align with their aptitudes.

With this information, you and your child can make decisions about career choices and technical education and create an academic plan. You can also look at classes your child needs and create a course plan to help them graduate.

College course loads can be heavy, so it’s essential to help your child develop good study habits in high school as part of their college preparation. Here are some of our study recommendations.

• Establish and maintain a consistent organizational system: Have your child use a planner to track assignments and due dates, create a dedicated folder per subject to keep everything together and set up a distraction-free study area with helpful study materials.
• Ensure assignments are completed and turned in on time: Help your child understand the importance of turning their completed assignments in on time. Your child should get into the habit of breaking down homework into manageable steps so they aren’t rushing to finish things last minute.
• Refine note-taking skills by trying different methods: You and your child should research several different note-taking methods to see which works best for them. By actively listening in class and taking notes to review later, your child has a better chance of understanding and remembering the material.
• Manage time efficiently for optimal productivity: Teach your child time-management skills like time blocking, following a schedule, and balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities and family life.
• Try different study and homework environments: Not everyone can study from a desk in a silent room. Help your child experiment with various study environments to see what works best for them.

While preparing for college, your child shouldn’t neglect their high school studies. Make sure they understand how important it is to maintain good grades, attend classes, and participate in extracurricular events so they can have a well-rounded academic profile when they are ready to apply for college.

Most high schools offer advanced placement (AP) or dual enrollment classes where students can take college-level classes for credits toward a degree. These classes can help prepare your child for the more challenging academic environment of college while they are still in high school.

Many colleges and universities require students to take the ACT or SAT, so consider enrolling your child in a prep class for these tests.

When figuring out how to prepare your child for college, don’t forget about fun! College acceptance boards look for students who excel inside and outside the classroom. So, encourage your child to participate in sports, clubs, leadership roles, and even community service to show that they have interests outside of academics.

Your child should record their extracurricular activities, including achievements and leadership roles. This information is helpful when preparing for the college application process, as the details are readily available.

Work with your child to create a comprehensive college resume to include with their applications. Include details about academic achievements, volunteer work, extracurriculars, and other skills that could set them apart from other applicants.

After your child takes an aptitude assessment, like the one from YouScience, they’ll have a better idea of career paths that might be a good fit for them and can look at majors related to them.

If your child is particularly interested in a specific career field, they can research it, find job shadowing opportunities, or look for an internship in the industry to see if it’s something they really want to do.

Another thing to consider regarding how to prepare your child for college is to work with their high school counselor or mentors. These individuals usually have more insight and resources that can help your child while preparing for college.

While summers are a nice break from academic pursuits, they are still an excellent time to focus on college preparation. Your child can participate in extracurricular activities, do volunteer work, or even work a part-time job that might be related to their career interests. Another productive option is to find an internship in their preferred career field, which can help them get a better feel for the industry and determine if it suits their interests and talents.

If your child plans to live on campus or move out on their own when they attend college, they should have some essential life skills to help them get ready. As you consider how to prepare your child for college, take time to teach them skills like time management, budgeting, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making. 

One of the most important things to do when preparing your child for college is to help them research the schools they may want to attend. As you look at the different options with them, consider these factors to help your child make the best decision. 

• Location
• School size 
• State or private school
• Available programs of study 
• Specialized programs your child may be interested in 
• Sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities
• Atmosphere and student body
• Cost and potential scholarship availability

Some colleges, though not all, require students to take the SAT or ACT before applying. If the schools your child is interested in require these tests, help them study and prepare so they can score well.

As your child is narrowing down options and preparing for college, it’s a good idea to take them on a few campus tours. Doing this gives them a firsthand look at campus life, facilities, student culture, and more so they can make a more informed decision about which school they want to attend.

Remind your child that keeping their grade point average (GPA) up as they move through high school is critical. Colleges look closely at these scores, and students with higher GPAs may have a better chance of getting accepted into a school and qualifying for scholarships.

All of the college preparation you’re doing with your child is to help them get accepted into a school they want to attend. Now is the time to help your child research application deadlines and requirements as well as the submission process for the college or universities they are interested in.

Once you’ve helped your child figure out how to prepare for college and apply to the schools of their choice, take some time to research financial aid, scholarships, grants, and other types of financial assistance. These things help offset college costs and can make the experience more enjoyable for your child so they don’t have to worry as much about affording school. 

Don’t forget to explore options like federal aid, institutional scholarships or grants, merit-based awards, and private scholarships to increase the chance of funding opportunities.

When figuring out how to prepare your child for college, YouScience^® Aptitude & Career Discovery is a valuable asset. It has several tools and resources to support your child’s college preparation journey. YouScience helps them discover their strengths, interests, and potential career paths so they can make the most of their college experience and future.

Get Aptitude & Career Discovery for your child today and empower and prepare them for college and academic success.

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