Help Your Teen Evaluate Post-High School Options

Following high school, your teen may go to college, get a job, enlist in the armed forces, or choose to take time off. The help and advice a parent gives a child in the years approaching high school graduation may be some of the most important time a parent spends with their child.

While most parents may remember beginning their college search in the fall of their senior year, today, many students begin as early as the fall of their junior year. This is probably due to the deadlines for early admissions into competitive programs.

As the application process includes a candidate writing an essay regarding their goals and past accomplishments, this might be a good place to start with your teen. Let them begin writing that essay, which will not only be good practice, but also may help bring focus to the type of academic and career interests particular to your teen. Remember, though, this exercise should be used to assist a parent and teen in clarifying goals and preferences for the type of school your child is interested in.

Initially, have your teen write out a list which includes his or her:

· academic and personal strengths and weaknesses
· extracurricular activities
· awards
· grade point average (GPA)
· class rank
· SAT, ACT, or AP scores

Another list your teen needs to compose should include what qualities he or she would like in a college such as going away to school, staying at home for college or, even taking online courses.

The next step is to begin looking into potential colleges to attend. Many guidebooks, the internet, and school counselors are available to assist you. A good idea for composing a list might include choosing six to ten schools and raking them based upon the chances of acceptance.

An important next step is to plan to visit college campuses. By calling ahead, you can arrange for a tour when you arrive and, most importantly, for your child to spend time talking with a student from the school.