Preparing Your Child for College

Published August 31, 2016

Practical Advice for Parents

Preparation for school takes many forms. At a child’s young age, parents arrange carpools and shop for school uniforms. In the high school years, students navigate the world of lockers and lunch tables. However, preparation for higher education is a long-term process involving many people.

When Students are in Elementary School

Children as young as elementary school age should be introduced to the possibilities of higher education. This is when children will start to learn what college is, as well as what it is not. From television, children might get the idea that college is mostly fun with stress from relationship issues. As with every other area of life, parents have the primary responsibility of teaching children about college. However, it may be even better when many people get involved, including teachers, grandparents, church members and family friends. At this age, children can become inquisitive and excited about their future.

5 Things You Can Do:

• Show them yearbooks or photo albums from family members’ college days.
• Explore a college campus, especially one mom and dad attended, even if it’s just to take a walk. It can lead to an opportunity to talk about college life and benefits of higher education.
• Talk about college and also other post-high school education and career possibilities.
• Welcome college students into your home as babysitters and guests, and encourage children to ask them questions.
• Consider establishing a savings plan. It is never too early (or too late) to start saving for your children’s college education. A 529 education savings plan can be a prepaid or a savings plan that may offer tax advantages.

When Students are in Middle School

Once a child gets to middle school or junior high school, parents and others closely involved should begin to help students identify their God-given elements of personality, interest, skill and talent that may lead to a career path. Encourage them to pursue a career that will honor that God-given design. To help them discover more of their own interests, seek out career days at school and in the community. Make sure children are given opportunities to learn about the myriad careers that are available.

Five Things You Can Do:

• Identify your child’s God-given strengths, and talk to your children about them. Encourage them to think of a variety of career options rather than pinning down one specific field, and remind them that there is more to a career than desired salary range.
• Encourage children to start putting money aside for college.
• At this age, students may be involved in multiple activities and commitments. Use this as an opportunity to help them learn balance and prioritization that will be needed in college.
• As homework and independent study grows, help children establish good study habits now.
• Educate yourself about higher education and the steps coming in the near future.

When Students are in High School

Don’t wait until late high school to start the college search. Encourage your child to visit the websites of colleges he or she may be interested in, and then start visiting campuses. Engage with your child in discussions about collegiate options, including alternatives such as specialty or technical higher education. Give your student the time and space to wrestle with what they are learning about each school, and help them prioritize their values and goals. This is a great time to ask questions. Speak with faculty members, current students, coaches and alumni of colleges under consideration.

Five Things You Can Do:

1. Engage multiple schools beginning in your child’s sophomore year in high school. Identify a pool of potential schools; collect information from their websites, and connect with the admissions staff.
2. Visit college campuses. This is the best way to experience what it’s like to be a student.
3. Consider a program such as CSU’s High School Dual Enrollment, which helps your child save time and money as they earn high school and college credits simultaneously.
4. Encourage your child to learn more about a potential fields of study. Speak with adults working in those fields, and arrange job shadowing and volunteer work around their areas of interest.
5. Discuss financial goals, and explore options for scholarships. Talk with financial experts at each school, as your child’s actual cost can differ from the starting sticker price.

What You Can Do at Any Age:

1. Teach children to respect authority and take responsibility for their actions.
2. Allow them to become independent in solving problems.
3. Help them learn to serve others.
4. Help them seek wisdom from people beyond their own age group.
5. Pray, and ask others to join you in praying about your children’s future.

Kathy Compton (’99), with a collaboration of ideas from parents, faculty and staff.