Four Ways to Support College Bound Teens for Success

For high school juniors and seniors – college season is now upon us. The support of the parent-teacher-student triad becomes especially important in the years before college as students work to visit and apply to colleges and universities. While this time of year can come with stress, below are some tips to help support your teen as they work toward their college goals.

1. Shoot for Flexibility - Congrats! Your teen has chosen anywhere from a few to a million different colleges that he or she would like to attend, and may have even started on some of the applications. Now, how are you possibly going to find time to visit all the campuses in time to make a final decision, while still finishing the rest of school year strong?

Getting good grades is a good start, but what will really help your student this year is a flexible schedule. That way, when college visits or test prep courses crop up unexpectedly, your student will have some wiggle room without a negative academic impact.

For students in the “extremely busy” category, extensive planning and evaluation of activities may be necessary to keep the peace during hectic days and weeks. Sit down with your student early in the year to ask questions and discuss a general daily schedule –will he or she have time to complete homework each day? Will this schedule allow for enough sleep at night? Is one extracurricular activity more important than the other? Is it something your teen will have ample time to practice and excel at, or is it just going to create unnecessary stress for him or her during the school year?

Activities can potentially take time away from schoolwork, but they are still important for a well-rounded college applicant. It’s important to discuss priorities with students before cutting down, as to not take away something they’re really passionate about. Plus, by talking with your teen about his or her learning and studying schedule, you can impart tips for time management, which will help in college and the “real world.”

2. Get Ahead with Advances Courses –Since the 1980s, the landscape of college preparatory course offerings has greatly evolved. Though resources like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Iowa’s Senior Year Plus and honors courses have gradually made their way into public education over the past 50 years, access to these classes has also expanded, creating both opportunity and more competition among today’s college applicants.

If your college-bound student is looking to fast-track general education requirements, take care of world language or science prerequisite, or just get a head start in their chosen field of study in college, options like these can be extremely beneficial.

English and world language are also popular subjects for advanced college credit in high school because they both make up a significant chunk of general education requirements at most liberal arts colleges. Just a few tough classes in high school (and passage of AP Tests) may significantly lighten the load on the first few years of college, allowing your student to jump ahead of some general education requirements and into coursework for their intended major.

ACT and SAT scores are also a big part of college admissions. Many college websites show how their admissions departments use these scores on a sliding scale, which can offer students perspective and motivation on where they need to be. Learning guides, tutors, and prep courses can help students get ahead, while schools like Iowa Connections Academy even offer ACT prep courses for credit as part of their regular class schedule.

3. Engage with Faculty – Most high schools have a school counselor or even a dedicated college counseling office for seniors, while many students will seek mentorship from an inspiring teacher or administrator. Encourage this behavior and join in the dialogue, as appropriate. Creating an open line of communications with staff will better inform you on your student’s workload, and make the teacher feel they can reach out should any issue arise. Reviewing your students’ syllabi and keeping abreast of any major course deadlines, like a big project or term paper, will also help you understand the best ways to support them.

You want your teen to be independent and in control, and you can still nurture this while staying involved with their academic life. Rather than hand-holding, the parent-teacher-student triad is meant to be a support system; whether your student is looking into community college, a vocational or trade program, or a 4-year college or university, you should be able to count on teachers to help build confidence, and ensure that he or she is on schedule.

4. Encourage Electives and Hobbies– Sometimes it’s not what we learn that defines us; it’s what we do. Elective courses that reflect your teen’s interests and goals can help jumpstart interest in a career path and further engage them in their learning.

Luckily, schools are continually looking for new ways to cater to student needs and interests with unique and fun offerings that can help build a skill set for high school and beyond. If your goal is to support your student’s special interest or even just to fight off “senioritis,” integrating these interests into their coursework can be highly beneficial.

Many schools, such as Iowa Connections Academy, even offer Career Technical Education (CTE) courses. These specialized courses combine college preparation and workforce skills development and prepare students for a wide variety of career sectors, such as finance, marketing, psychology, criminal justice, and more.

As much as students might hate to admit it, parents are a valuable resource for help with schoolwork, college applications, and life goals. Rather than micromanaging, serving as a resource and collaborating on goal-setting can be some of the most effective ways to foster success in college bound students.

James Brauer, Ed.D, is principal of Iowa Connections Academy, a tuition-free virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 in Iowa. The school gives students the flexibility to learn at home with a curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. Brauer has more than nine years of experience in education in administration and teaching. As principal of Iowa Connections Academy, he leads the school’s dedicated staff of teachers, administrators and support staff in delivering to students Connections Academy’s proven, high-quality curriculum and individualized approach to education.