10 Ways to Successfully Prepare Your Child for College

Preparing for college is a goal that both you and your child need to work towards. It’s vital that you take an active role during this process, to ensure your child succeeds! College life presents a number of new challenges for the high school graduate becoming a new college freshman. Not only will your child  be living on their own for the first time, in most cases, but they are also responsible for managing their own time and finances. At the same time, college entrance is not always a step-by-step process and students and parents must determine the steps they need to take as they go. 

If you have been asking yourself, What steps should I take next to help my child move forward?, here are 10 ways to successfully prepare your child for college:

1. Determine What Type of Education Your Child Want: Students attending college should first determine what type of education they want. The types of jobs that are available will determine which college your child chooses to attend. There are two basic types of colleges that are available, these include:

If your child have a career in mind, be certain to research the exact course requirements that they will need to prepare for within high school as well as early in college. In addition, your child will also need to research the type of education that their chosen career will require so that they can select the appropriate type of college to attend.

2. Prepare for College Academically: While your child is still in junior high and high school, it's time to begin thinking about college and how they can prepare academically. There are numerous ways they can begin preparing early in their high school career and these include taking college-level courses and standardized tests as early as possible.

3. Selecting Colleges Successfully: The type of college your child chooses is a personal decision that is based on their individual needs and talents. When selecting colleges, it’s important that you and your child consider the following questions:

4. Prepare for College Financially: There are several costs that are combined to create the final cost of college for a semester. These include:

There are several ways that you can prepare for college and the first one begins by saving money as early as possible. There are several savings accounts that offer tax benefits that parents can begin early in a child's life. These include 529 College Savings Plans and many states have these available. It is also a necessity that you begin searching for scholarships that your child can apply for as soon as possible.

The FAFSA is a very important part of preparing financially for college. The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be filed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. The FAFSA requires that you and your child have your taxes prepared as early as possible. You can begin submitting your FAFSA January 1st and the deadline is June 30th.

5. Setup A Long-Term Plan and College Checklist: By preparing for college as early as possible, you and your child should be able to set up some long-term milestones that they need to meet as they proceed through the college preparation process.

 

6. Apply For Colleges Effectively: Once you all narrowed down the college or colleges that you are going to apply to, you need to begin gathering some information that they will require. Applying for college is easy if you fill out your forms correctly, turn them in on time and provide them with the necessary documentation. When you apply for college you'll need to send several items with your application, including:

7. What Your Child Needs For College: If your child is going to live on campus, which is something most four year colleges and universities require for your freshmen year, they will need to bring a list of important items along with them. Here's a list of commonly needed items by first time freshmen:

8. Financial Literacy: Teaching your child how to manage their money and set a budget early in high school is important. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get your child a checking account and teach them how to make smart financial decisions. Students should also be taught about credit card debt early. If your student must have a credit card, it is vitally important that you teach them to pay off the card each month and to only use it in emergency situations.

9. Register for College: Finally, the day has come! Your child selecting which courses they want to take at their new college. First and foremost, you all will most likely need to meet with a college advisor. They will be able to guide your child as to which courses they should begin with their freshmen year. Your first semester may also be a mix of the basics that everyone has to take as well as certain courses required for your degree.

10. Developing a Graduation Plan: The most important thing once your child enters college for the first time is to prepare a 4 year graduation plan. This will ensure that they remain on track to graduation within that 4 year time period. This graduation plan should include both their short and long term goals-for college and beyond graduation.

Following these simple steps, you will be able to prepare your child for college and set them up for success, not only financially but also teach them the life skills they will need for when they are on their own at college.

A graduate of Columbia College, Tanya also holds an MBA in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is currently completing her Doctorate in Education Leadership with a focus on retention.

Tanya’s diverse client list includes high school students, adult learners, school districts, colleges, universities and Fortune 500 corporations. Each and every client receives personalized services that draw on Tanya’s extensive experience working in the fields of education and human service for more than 10 years.

Tanya’s flagship organization, Tanya Knight International, maintains the web’s one-stop education resource center at www.theeducationcoach.com.