Lesson 4: Preparation, Dreams & Reality
The Bottom Line
Parents: Are you really in touch with your child’s high school experience? By now you may be so caught up in the excitement of choosing a college, that you have forgotten the necessity to make the high school experience positive, fun and fruitful before applying for college. Give yourself this short quiz. Don't feel badly if you don't know all the answers - most of us don't! It takes years of talking to your child, becoming involved in the school associations before you can rattle off all the "lingo" required for your child's successful high school career.
•What courses are required for graduation? •How many credits are needed?
•Are there advanced placement courses available?
•Are college tie-in courses offered?
•Are electives offered in your child’s area of interest?
•What courses would broaden your child’s horizons?
•Is your child enrolled in demanding courses?
•Is parental involvement encouraged?
•Have you and your child established a reasonable game plan for academic success?
•Is your child willing to handle additional responsibility in exchange for more independence?
•How much time does your child need to devote to studying daily?
•How many hours can your child spend on outside activities without affecting school performance?
•Does your child have a financial goal? (such as a new computer, car insurance, a prom dress)
•Is your child reliable and self-directed? Does s/he need a gentle push in the right direction?
•Does your child need you to establish time limitations? (telephone, internet, video games, social activities)
This is the time to take a break from the books, the online resources and the advice from well-meaning family, friends, guidance counselors, other parents and me! If you wrote a list of 20 questions about your child (start with some of the questions above, or in previous sections) and wrote down your answers, how well would you score if you asked your child the answers to the same questions?
Part of the selection process is ability, some skill, some luck, some being in the right place at the right time, and gut reaction, but the real bottom line is how well you know your child and your child knows you and how you relate as a family. Whatever works for your family will lead to the right choice. And selecting a college isn't fatal - your child can switch schools, if needed. Have faith in your child and your family's ability to make the right choice. You'll be fine!
The "unofficial" homework assignment for this lesson is to go through the Barron's guide and browse a few colleges based on either location, area of study interest or activities that your child might be involved in. You will be amazed at the variety of the sizes of the schools, the offerings and the admission requirements.
