page-65.html
1117 NOVEMBER
66 / 80
by joy holden you can see
college
on the horizon, and your child is approaching it more quickly than you would like. whether your
teen
is in ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade, you need to be thinking about planning for
college
. ?is next step is not a one day event that happens when senior year arrives. it is a process that should begin when high school does. ?ough it can be overwhelming, planning for
college
can be a positive experience for both you and your
teen
. no time like the present start the conversation. ellen
frazier
,
college
advisor at st. joseph?s academy, advises that ?conversations about
college
can begin early, especially if it is an expectation within the family. talk with your child about what she?s interested in for
college
and a career, but understand that what she is looking for may change frequently.? maintain an open dialogue with your
teen
ager about her interests and goals while encouraging focus on the day-to-day tasks at hand.
frazier
adds that engaged parents should be continually encouraging their student to be active on campus and to keep up their academic work. ?if quality education is a priority in your family, don?t ignore the present because you?re spending too much time planning for the future. ?e present is the most important time period. making good grades and building a strong resume now will pay off later,? allison bruton,
college
advisor at st. joseph?s academy, shares. just as you start the conversation early, begin saving early as well. joni m. leggio, assistant vice president of lela fafsa completion &
college
access, reminds parents, ?it is never too early to start saving for
college
.? know what
college
s are looking for no matter what
college
s specifically require, there are a few wise guidelines for your students to follow in order to have a good shot at getting into the school they want. when it comes to academics, a strong gpa is where it?s at, but be sure to schedule challenging classes carefully. ?admissions reps want to see that students have challenged themselves with honors and ap courses, but students have to find a balance because gpa really speaks toward work ethic. if you are involved in a challenging curriculum, but your gpa suffers, you have to find a balance. challenge yourself if the ability is there,? bruton advises. if your
teen
excels in maths and sciences, but struggles in english, they may want to take advanced courses in biology and physics, but avoid an english ap.
frazier
adds, ?good grades in the core academic subjects provides evidence of strong work ethic and time management skills,? two key traits all
college
s look for in their prospective students. extracurricular activities are also extremely important for your student. and, like most things in life, quality rises above quantity. schools are looking for ?ongoing commitment,?
frazier
shares. ?ere needs to be ?evidence of more than being on the roll. did the student serve in a leadership position (organize a project, serve on a committee, hold office)?? she suggests that freshmen explore some activities and then focus on one or two clubs, organizations, sports, and participate fully. ongoing commitment can be applied to volunteering also. encourage your student to find an organization that is a good fit, and serve in a committed way. ?short-lived opportunities that arise can certainly be used, but flitting about for four years from one volunteer area to another is not commitment,? says
frazier
.
college
admissions reps are looking for a committed effort. do your research once your
teen
has an idea of a few schools she is interested in, it?s time to do some research. you have to know what is required and what that education will cost. researching will enable you to help your
teen
narrow down her favorites and give her an idea of what she needs to do on her end.
college
planning: are you ready for it? 6 6 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7
college-student-school-67.html