Eight Ways Parents Can Help Their Teens Prepare for College

Summary:

Preparing for college can be fraught with anxiety. There are tests, the all-important essay, school visits, and aid applications. Here are eight ways parents can help.

Key Points:

1. Empower your student
2. Create a calendar with deadlines
3. Review the essay
4. Check on recommendation letters
5. Encourage your student to seek out the guidance counselor
6. Consider tuition costs
7. Investigate financial aid
8. Sign up your student for pre-college prep online

If you are the parent of a high school student who is about to apply to college, this article is for you. No doubt, you’ve heard, or perhaps already experienced, the sometimes traumatic journey your kids must take in finding a college that’s a good fit. The hurdles are many.

According to U.S. News & World Report, key steps include:

• Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 
• Taking standardized tests such as the ACT and the SAT
• Filling out the Common App
• Writing a standout essay
• Securing recommendation letters
• Touring college campuses
• Calculating college tuition costs
• Exploring financial aid options
• Finding scholarships to help pay for college

A parent can’t take the exams or do the work for your student. But here are eight ways you can support their college application journey:

1. Empower your student: Start by defining clear roles; establish that you’re ready to help as needed, but your student has to do the actual work. Validate smart decisions, and question decisions that could lead to negative outcomes. Your child will feel confident with a trusted parent in their corner.
2. Get organized: Create a calendar with your student of application deadlines and make sure they stay on top of this evolving list. Our article on organization, including our downloadable college prep checklist is a great start.
3. Have them take practice tests: Starting in sophomore year, your student can begin to take practice ACT and SAT tests, through proven test prep programs, like Kaptest.com. This is essential if they want to ace the real thing.
4. Encourage your student to meet with the guidance counselor: It’s their job to support students as they prepare for college. They can provide guidance on majors that might interest them, relevant schools offering those majors, plus tips on timing and testing.
5. Build a college list together: First discuss what your child wants out of college. Do they have future career goals? Research schools and college rankings. Consider which are the best fit.
6. Make campus visits: Speak with student liaisons to see what life is like academically and socially. There’s no better way to determine if this could be a fit for your kid.
7. Investigate financial aid and scholarships: Make sure to look at both private and federal student loan options.
8. Get your student started now! Pre-college enrichment is available online while they’re still in high school. More on that below.

Welcome to Prelum, Powered by Kaplan

Prelum partners with some of the most renowned universities in the nation. Our list is impressive and growing all the time, and includes renowned universities from across the nation. Here are just a few:

Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Program offers a wealth of courses covering a range of exciting subjects, including:

• Business
• Communications 
• Law and Government
• Medicine
• STEM
• College Credit Courses 

Another Prelum partner school is Rice University, recently admitted to the Ivy League and ranked among the nation’s top 10 by Forbes. The Rice University Precollege Program includes courses in subjects like business, law and government, and STEM.

There are also offer a rich array of in-person college prep opportunities, including summer enrichment programs and in-person programs for high school students. These allow your child to get an in-person experience with a college on their consideration list. This is a great way to see if it’s a hit or miss.

Prelum is also where you’ll find online programs for teens; everything from business and entrepreneurship to fashion, finance, pre-med, STEM, and much more. We invite you to explore our universities, check out the many courses they offer, and start matching up your student’s passions with majors and potential future careers. It all begins right here.