Millions of young adults begin their college careers every year, and their parents certainly feel a mix of emotions when it’s time to drop them off at the dorms. As a parent, you both long for and dread the day your child will go off to college. You might feel unprepared for him or her to leave home and be wondering what more you can do to prepare your teenager for undergraduate life.
As your son or daughter gets older, there are a few great things you can do to help prepare him or her for college. Here are the tasks you’ll want to tackle before they leave for school.
Sign him or her up for test prep
Your teenager will have to take the SAT or ACT to be admitted to college and studying for a test of that magnitude can be overwhelming. You might not feel equipped to help your child prepare and just giving him a study guide won’t guarantee success. Sign your son or daughter up for test preparation with amazing instructors. A company such as Zinc NYC can help your teenager prepare for the test and feel confident come exam time.
Zinc offers one-on-one tutoring as well as small group Boot Camps. Summer Boot Camps allow your child to truly focus on the exam. Test prep and tutoring will not only prepare your child for a big exam, but it will also teach her valuable study skills that she can use in college. Set your child up for success by enrolling him or her in test prep.
Teach your teenager a few basic life skills
Your son or daughter has probably never lived alone, so it’s time to learn a few basic life skills. During his senior year of college, ask your son to take on more responsibility. Teach him to do his own laundry and explain that he’ll have to do it himself while he’s living in the dorms.
If you’re planning to take out student loans in your daughter’s name, walk her through the process and explain that these loans will be her responsibility after she graduates. Teach her how to manage her finances while she’s away, especially if she’s taking on debt. Explain the basics of cooking meals to your son so he can make himself dinner every once in a while instead of eating in the dining halls.
Even just teaching your teenager about the importance of sleep and a bedtime routine can help him or she be successful while at college. Equip your child with the skills he or she will need while away and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Assign some extra reading
The transition from high school expectations to college standards can be jarring. Many freshmen find themselves overwhelmed by the amount of work they’re now expected to do and they struggle to keep up with the required reading. On top of the extra work, they’re also now adjusting to independent life and trying to fit into a new peer group. Give your teenager an advantage by asking him or her to tackle extra reading.
Even if she’s just reading a fiction novel for fun, getting in the habit of reading more frequently can be a huge help as she begins her freshman year. If your son or daughter is looking for a real leg up, research the program he or she is entering. Find textbooks or novels that might be required.
Your teenager will get a head start on the reading and learn more about the field he or she is looking to enter. And if your kid complains about the extra work, explain that he or she will see the value once school starts and they’re bogged down by reading.
Saying goodbye to your teenager can be scary, but when you’ve prepared him or her (and yourself) for the big day, you can drive away knowing your child will be okay. Help him or her feel confident and ready to tackle college life. When freshman year ends, you’ll both be glad you did.
