Transcript Girl Cartwheeling - Carroll County Public Schools

For Parents
You Blink and Suddenly it’s
College Time
What Happened?
-Suddenly that small child you raised is
talking about college!
-YOUR ROLE IS ENORMOUS!
-They are listening….. your attitude
toward college, your comments about
finances, your commitment to their
future, and much more!
College is an (EXPENSIVE!)
Investment
-Postsecondary education pays off
over your child’s lifetime
-Career options and higher earnings
-Typical four year degree currently
ranges between $40,000 and
$200,000 total
-Costs are increasing at a rate
higher than inflation.
Saving for College
There are many ways to save for your
child’s college education:
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U.S. Savings Bonds
Bank accounts
Mutual funds
Section 529 state plans
and more…
Learn all you can, and you may want to
consult with a professional financial
planner. Whatever you decide to do, the
earlier, the better.
Elementary School- a critical
period in terms of your
influence! Set the stage……
-Focus on developing good study habits and
attitude toward school
-Encourage your child to challenge himself/herself
academically and to take school seriously
-Encourage school and community involvement
(A positive and multifaceted experience during
these years will impact the years to come. Believe
it or not, what happens in elementary school and
later in grades 6-8 matters in terms of college
options.)
Communication is Key
It is really important to develop constructive
dialog with your child.
• Dinners and family outings are a perfect time to
talk about different careers and explore your
child’s own aspirations.
• Too often, students assume that higher education is
meant for someone else and that the jobs they will
obtain won’t require it.
• Show them statistics, explaining to them that the
better paying jobs almost always require some
formal postsecondary education or training.
Don’t Let Finances Interfere
-Many children assume that they can’t afford college. (The
news tells us how expensive it is and how hard it is to
secure financial aid.)
-Minimize the discouragement by controlling the flow of
financial information.
-Remind them that there is more than $60 billion in aid
available annually and there are lots of ways to pay for
college.
-Don’t let them reject college at this early age on the basis of
cost. Focus on finding a way to make college possible.
-Communicate!
Middle School
-If they are planning on college, get them ready for
college. Pay attention to rigor. Be sure that your child
gets on a college preparatory track in terms of his or
her curriculum.
-Without that planning, they may be closed out of a
college prep track in high school and severely limit
their options without even realizing it.
-Pay close attention to the Educational Career Plan
(ECP)….December of 9th grade year.
High School – Your Role
Continues
-Exciting and overwhelming…..
-Empowerment, anxiety and helplessness…..
-The gift of time and structure….many application tasks!
-The gift of communication….talk about decisions, analyze
the vast amount of information….
-Ease the stress! Keep them on track and help them learn to
manage their time efficiently.
What You Can Do to Help
-Teach
them to take all high school years seriously.
Engagement is important.
-Teach them to study…..a dedicated place, time, and
organization are key. They can’t afford to slip!
-Keep a file of all honors, awards, articles, leadership
accolades, volunteer work certificates, etc. relating to your
child. This will save lots of time when preparing
applications.
-Encourage dialogue with you and with others regarding
college choices, majors and careers. Why? To help them
articulate what is important to them and why. (Tactfully!)
help them to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
-Emphasize the value of a college education as opposed to
the prestige associated with certain school names.
More You Can Do
-Their future, not yours…… help them to take ownership of the
process. (They need to feel they are making their own
decisions.) It’s easier to rationalize failure if someone else
made their decisions.
-Guide. Don’t steer. Guiding implies support, whereas
steering implies control.
-Participate when and where appropriate. Attend college
visits with your child and join in parent programs there.
Help them with research, and keep them focused and
organized.
-Be available!
And Most Importantly
Reassure them throughout the
process that you are proud of them
and encourage them when things
seem overwhelming. Let them know
that you will be pleased no matter
where they ultimately decide to go;
then mean it.
Being Informed Helps, Too!
-Learn about your high school grading system.
Weighted vs. non-weighted GPA? Rank? Is their
GPA a traditional one based on 4.0? Where does
your child stand?
-Be sure your child knows how to research colleges
on the internet.
-Know the important deadlines….Double check your
child on dates and times that are important. Give
them latitude, but don’t let them miss a critical due
date!
-During the senior year, help with the FAFSA and other
financial aid forms.
Once they go, Don’t be a
Helicopter Parent
YOU MIGHT BE HOVERING IF:
• You talk to your child multiple times a day and YOU are the
one calling.
• You contact school administration frequently.
• You make your child’s academic decisions.
• You register for your child.
• You react to academic disappointments or achievements as
if they are your own.
• You get involved in roommate issues and other disputes.
*Being overly committed to your child’s glorious
college success denies your child valuable growth
experiences.
But Don’t No-Show Either
It’s tough to find the proper balance
between being a “helicopter parent” and
being a complete “no show”. But if you
care enough to persist, you will figure it out.
Adjusting to college can be difficult for
some kids, and hopefully they will send out
signals if they are having trouble
academically OR socially. Be alert enough
to sense those signals and that’s your cue
to be a little more available.
THE END…..
QUESTIONS?