Five Things Parents Can Do During Senior Year

Your child’s senior year in high school will mark a series of endings: Last year of high school, last prom, possibly the last year he or she will live at home. Though it will certainly be fraught with emotion, it is also a time to lay the groundwork for the next chapter of life: college. There are a few things you can do to make sure that your child makes a smooth transition to higher education.

1. Finalize admissions testing.

If your child would like to attend a school that requires admissions test scores, then at the first opportunity during senior year, your child should take or retake the ACT or SAT – or both. Check the calendar to find out fall 2017 dates for testing. Prep courses are prevalent in most areas to get those scores up as high as they can go.

2. Have your child meet with a guidance counselor at their school.

A guidance counselor can be very helpful in taking the lead on assisting your senior by helping narrow the list of possible colleges, then sorting through application requirements, including transcript requests and recommendations. Counselors can also help find scholarship opportunities that would be a good fit for your child.

3. Make a calendar with application deadlines.

Getting organized early on will ensure that there are no surprises or missed deadlines in the application process.

4. Set up some college interviews and visits.

A college visit is very telling, and allows students to get a feel for the school. Meeting students and faculty, seeing living and dining options and just walking around the campus will answer many questions.

5. Once you know where your child is going, help wade through the paperwork.

Getting into school and then paying for it makes for a lot of paperwork! The Federal Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA, application period opens Oct. 1, so put that on the deadline calendar, because free money is always good! On that note, don’t stop looking and applying for scholarships, either. Acceptance offers usually come with a tight turnaround, so make sure all the paperwork and directions have been read and responded to accordingly.

With a wide range of motivation and ability among college-bound teens, a parent who is engaged in the process and is able to gently guide them will set high school graduates on their way to the future.