College Readiness Checklist for Parents
May 7, 2012 | Jeff Livingston
As May begins, high school seniors are enjoying their final weeks in
school before graduation. In just a few months, they will be stepping
onto college campuses for the first time and entering a new chapter.
Twenty-five percent of college students drop out in their freshman year
because they are not academically, emotionally or financially prepared
for college life and adulthood. Whether students like it or not, college
takes planning and preparation. Fortunately, there are things that
parents can do to make sure that their child is ready for what will be
one of the biggest transitions of his or her life.
Here's a college readiness checklist to make sure your high school grads
are prepared for what's waiting for them on campus. (Teachers, you may
wish to pass this on to your students' parents.)
Arrange for them to speak formally to a recent college grad.
No one can give your child better advice than a family friend who has
recently completed college and found a career in their chosen field.
Encourage your child to speak with them about what it takes to be
successful in college and what, if anything, they may have done
differently. Have your child follow up on the meeting by writing a
formal thank you note.
Teach them the ins-and-outs of their college finances.
Students are more likely to take college seriously if they understand
how their college finances work. To show them the importance of making
the most out of their education on a day-in, day-out basis, go beyond
yearly tuition totals and review the cost breakdown of each individual
class. Also show them the benefit that finishing in four years will have
on their long-term financial future.
Have them start building their network -- now.
Some of the most important connections your child can make in college
are ones that begin before they even set foot on campus. Encourage them
to speak with their future roommate, other high school classmates who
are attending the same college, and student officers in the clubs your
child may be interested in joining. Sites like
Unigo.com
will allow your child to connect with future classmates who may share
similar interests. And when your child arrives at school, urge them to
be aggressive about participating in activities and meeting new people.
Give them opportunities to practice critical thinking.
For instance, you could give them the opinion section of a major
newspaper and ask them to take an opposing viewpoint to an article, even
one they agree with. Doing college-level work requires more than just
taking what you read at face value and memorizing a bunch of facts --
students should practice thinking critically about what they see, hear
and read.
Help them learn to manage their time.
Encourage them to use a digital calendar to keep track of appointments
and deadlines. Many students arrive at college not knowing how to manage
their time effectively. Digital calendars, such as
Google Calendar or Apple's
iCal, can be accessed from a smartphone or tablet, allowing students to stay on top of their schedule no matter where they are.
Make sure they get to know their faculty advisor.
Making big decisions like picking a major or following a career path can
be daunting, causing students to put them off as long as possible.
Faculty advisors, provided to students by most colleges, can help take
the fear out of the process. Make sure your child develops a
relationship with their faculty advisor as early as possible to ensure
their choices are well informed.
Show them how to use social media beyond photos on Facebook.
College-age students are among the most active users of social media,
but how many are aware of the ways it can benefit them academically and
professionally? Have your child talk with recent grads who have used
social media platforms like
Twitter and
LinkedIn
to help build their academic network and market themselves as
professionals. Additionally, sites like Unigo.com can help students get a
feel for their school's culture before stepping foot on campus.
Equip them with the right technology.
To succeed in college, students need technology that works with the
latest tools and systems being used in the classroom. Only a few years
ago, this simply meant buying the latest model laptop. These days, as
colleges introduce more technology into the classroom, students are
using a combination of devices -- such as tablets, smartphones and
e-readers -- to stay on top of their coursework and connect with
classmates. Check the school's technology guidelines before making any
major purchases.
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