Students need to make the most of their high school years — and too often, they don’t learn about things such as dual enrollment, the importance of taking the most challenging courses possible, and earning college credits in high school. Here are some steps that may help your child succeed in high school while getting a jump start on college, too.
- Junior is getting older and so are you. Soon, he’ll have to earn his own keep. Make sure he gets the tools he’ll need by taking the recommended courses. They’ll open up more jobs to him and give him a better shot at a college degree—worth nearly a million extra dollars in lifetime earnings.
Think it will all just take care of itself? Think again. Most kids start high school thinking they’re on the road to college. But about half get lost along the way. If your child’s education has been on autopilot, it’s time to take the controls. Schools can’t do it alone.
Even if you didn’t get a college degree yourself, you still have more influence on whether your kids get one than anyone else.
- School is more than schoolwork. Students who join a sport,club or other school related activity are more likely to stay in school and succeed. They’re also less likely to get into trouble during the critical after school hours when most teen sex, drug use and other crimes occur. But don’t overdo it. Two or three activities give a student time to grow her interests; five or six may lead to more busyness than growth.
- Check out job-related experiences. Internships, part-time work, informational interviews and career exploration are worth investigating. Too often students assume that if there’s something they need to know they’ll hear about it in school or read it on the Internet. But some things you can only learn in the real world.
- Start college in high school. College may seem far away, but a growing number of students are finding ways to get a head start while the costs are low. Advanced placement and similar programs now allow average students who plan ahead and work hard to earn up to two years of college credit before they even graduate. And the best part is most, if not all, of the cost will be picked up by your child’s high school.
- Choose a next step toward college or a career this year. What students do after high school is a big decision. Big decisions are made better with time and focus.
Help your student gain time by starting the process early; within the first year of high school he should choose two colleges or careers that he could enter after graduation. Write a deadline for it on the calendar. Too often students put off thinking about what they’re going to do, only to be rushed into a decision at the end of high school. It’s better to make imperfect choices now, so that he has plenty of time to test out his ideas and change his mind.
- Get an inside source. Life is getting more complicated. Eventually you’re going to run into questions or problems. So build a relationship now with someone—a teacher, counselor, principal or active parent—who can help you work through the system to get what you need and be an advocate for your child. As for teachers, you don’t always have to agree with them, but let them know early and often that when it comes to helping your child learn and behave in class, you’re there to back them up.
- Monitor motivation. Failure has a way of sneaking up on busy families. Ask your students weekly what they like and don’t like about school. It will give you an early indicator when something—a bully, bad grades or worse—is going wrong. Don’t accept a one-word answer; listen for an explanation. And keep your eyes peeled for other kinds of slippage: a rocky start with a teacher, skipping homework or cutting school. Liking learning is the engine that keeps students growing.
Want to stay ahead? Circle one of the steps above and do it this week.
Bryan Taylor is the President and founder of EduGuide. He is a speaker for parents, students and teachers. His work has been recognized by a televised dialogue with the U.S. Secretary of Education.