Choosing the right college is a pivotal decision in a student’s life, and college visits play a crucial role in this process. A recent study found that 82% of students visit a college before attending.
Whether you’re exploring colleges close to home or considering options that are farther away, each experience contributes to shaping your academic journey.
Let’s explore the significance of college visits, sharing insights on both local and distant exploration.
The journey of parenting takes on new dimensions as your teenager prepares to embark on the exciting adventure of college life. As college approaches, the emotions and challenges can be overwhelming for both parents and teens alike. This transitional period requires a delicate balance of support, communication, and empowerment.
Here are some effective strategies for parenting teens who are about to enter college.
Foster Open Communication
Establishing and maintaining open lines of communication is crucial during this transitional period. Encourage your teenager to share their thoughts, concerns, and expectations about college life. Create a safe space for them to express themselves without judgment. Engage in active listening and be genuinely interested in their experiences, anxieties, and aspirations. By fostering open communication, you’ll strengthen your relationship and provide the emotional support they need.
During the college prep process, communication is key. You and your teen will need to discuss all sorts of topics from school choice, to finances, to college majors, and other college-related topics. Communicating with teenagers can be both rewarding and challenging. You know, as a parent of a teenager, there are times when both of you struggle to communicate.
Here are some tips to help you connect with your teenager:
My son was an unmotivated student. He skated through high school with average grades and didn’t begin to think about college until the spring of his senior year. He decided he wanted to go to a military academy, and of course, it was too late to meet the requirements for application. Panicking about his future, he made the decision to join the Marines; and believe me, I was not a happy parent. In the end, however, it was a good choice for him.
Entering the realm of college preparation can be an overwhelming journey for many students. Some may find themselves unmotivated, dragging their feet, and questioning whether they are even college material. As parents, it’s essential to recognize this struggle and provide the necessary support and encouragement to help your student unlock their full potential.
Navigating the college prep journey with your teen is a transformative and sometimes challenging experience. As your teenager embarks on the journey towards higher education, parents need to provide guidance, support, and a nurturing environment. This article aims to offer practical tips and insights on how to navigate this crucial period in your teenager’s life.
Open communication is essential.
Establishing open and honest communication is the foundation for successful parenting during college prep. Encourage your teenager to share their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations. Actively listen and provide a non-judgmental space for them to express themselves. This will foster a strong parent-teenager relationship built on trust.
Choosing a college is a significant decision that can shape your student’s future, so it’s crucial to approach it with careful consideration. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when making this important choice:
1. Financial Considerations
This is #1 because it comes before your student even starts their college list. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of your budget and how to manage your finances during college. Evaluate the cost of attending each college, including tuition, fees, and living expenses. Research scholarship opportunities, financial aid options, and work-study programs.
Almost half of a school year is behind you. Whether your teen is waiting to hear back from their college choices, or continuing the decision process as they approach senior year, it is helpful to understand and evaluate college size and student population.
Does size really matter?
The answer to this question is complicated. Size really doesn’t matter as far as the quality of education your child will receive. Some of the best institutions of higher learning have large campuses with enormous student bodies, and some have fewer than 3000 students. What does matter, and always matters, is whether or not the school is a “perfect fit”, after examining a few factors:
Going to college is, for many, one of the most important experiences you will have in life. It’s also the kind of thing that can take a lot of your time and which requires your dedication to succeed. If you also have a baby or child, then you might well be wondering what you can do to ensure you are looking after them as well as pursuing your college degree. As it happens, it is possible to do both at once, though it might take some awareness of what approach to take. Here is some advice on doing that.
Most high school seniors use the Common Application to apply to colleges. Since over 1000 schools now use this application, students can apply to multiple schools with one application. That doesn’t mean your student should “phone it in”, however. Taking the Common App seriously is the first step in completing an application that will help you stand out and receive an offer of admission.
Here are ten tips that will help your student ace the Common App this year:
US News, Forbes, USA Today, Princeton Review, and Niche are just a few of the many college rankings available for parents and students to review. Most college experts agree these college rankings should have little weight when choosing a college. But let’s get real for a moment, we all rank everything: from movies, to music, to restaurants, to hotels, to companies. Consumer reports ranks just about everything known to man: appliances, electronics, automobiles, and more. The New York Times Bestseller lists ranks books. Rankings are a part of our lives.
