I picked up my high school junior from school yesterday and he told me he was feeling under the weather. I'm sure it didn't help that he stayed up late the night before doing his homework.
He's easygoing, and is taking this demanding year in stride. But the thought of asking him to do more right now seems completely tone deaf on my part. That's why parents can be super helpful to juniors right now.
The fall of junior year is the quiet before the storm. Most families don't start the college admissions process until at least spring semester, or more commonly, later. But there are certain steps that a family can take to be more prepared for this complex journey.
Here are five things parents can do right now to help their high school junior:
1. Learn about this process from real experts.
As I always say, rely on primary sources when it comes to learning about the process. I like the blogs that some of the more experienced admissions officers write, like the Georgia Tech Admissions Blog. Or, listen to the podcast that the Yale Admissions Office does. Keep up with the news. There is an article written about college admissions almost every day. And, finally, read a published book by a former admissions dean—they will be much more candid about what really goes on behind closed doors!
2. Research some colleges that may be of interest to your child.
Again, rely on primary sources. Go straight to college websites to check to see if they have the major your child wants, what they require in terms of standardized test scores, courses, letters of recommendation, and essays. Find out what kind of admissions rounds they offer: Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, or more. And, start a spreadsheet with relevant information. It can help you and your child build a college list.
3. Find out when your child is taking the PSAT.
High schools around the country will be offering the PSAT to high school juniors (and sometimes younger students) in the month of October. Make sure the date is on the calendar, ensure your child gets a good night's rest the night before, and remind them that the "P" in the PSAT essentially means "Practice" (or "Preliminary," officially). Believe it or not, the PSAT score doesn't get reported to any college. However, a high index score on the PSAT can lead to a student progressing in the National Merit Scholarship program.
4. Speaking of standardized tests, register your child for at least one upcoming ACT or SAT.
Yes, students can register themselves. But parents usually have the full family calendar in front of them when registering. The testing agency will ask if you are a parent or student. It's fine to say that you are the parent. No college is going to know that you registered your child instead of them registering for the test on their own.
5. And, one more thing about standardized tests: Do not sign up for "free" score reports to be sent to any college.
Both the ACT and College Board (which oversees the SAT) offer four free score reports to be sent to colleges. While "free" can be a good thing in some cases, students never want to blindly send test scores to colleges before they even see their results themselves. Often, a student's first standardized test is the lowest score they get. If a college gets the scores even a year or two before the student applies, it becomes a part of the student's official admissions record. Instead, wait to see all test scores first. While the free reports can be enticing, most colleges now ask students to self-report their test scores on their part of the application rather than requiring an official score report from the testing agency.
FREE DOWNLOAD: The Junior Guide
My son stayed home from school today. I told him I am calling the doctor's office. I want to make sure he doesn't have strep throat. That's what parents do when their kid is sick. Don't get me wrong, I want my son to be self-sufficient (and he is). But there are a few things all parents can do to make their child's life a little bit easier when it gets hard.
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