The Summer Between High School and College

I just finished reading “A Pre-College Summer To-Do List,” an excellent article in NY Times “The Choice”  Blog. Education journalist Jacques Steinberg asked Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman, authors of  The Secrets of College Success, for some tips on what high school graduates should be doing to prepare for freshman year of college over the summer.

The authors’ advice and readers’ comments offered a rich array of perspectives on how this unique summer should be spent. I welcome you to read it yourself and see what rings true for your graduate and your family. Meanwhile, here are a few tips that I often share with my clients.

1. Give your graduate a break from “resume-building” activities. The college process has become so competitive in recent years. Your graduate has been doing intense “resume-building” extracurricular activities for many summers, and will probably be pursuing demanding internships for many college and grad school summers to come. These kids have just finished a stressful run-for-the-roses, and the last thing they need is an overscheduled summer. This summer is the only one where your grad has the luxury of stepping outside that “Race to Nowhere” mindset.

Remember that we all need a little ebb and flow, with a balance between up time and down time. Personal trainers advise skipping a day between resistance strength training to allow muscle recovery. Prolonged sleep deprivation so damages physiological functions that it is used in interrogation and considered torture by some. Crop rotation or fallowing a field prevents soil fertility decline that can occur from growing the same crop in the same place for consecutive years, disproportionately depleting the soil of the same nutrients. Mental silence associated with meditation is linked to robust mental health benefits; after a recent weekend of silent meditation at the New York Zen Mountain Monastery, I personally experienced powerful recharging and renewal.

2. Give your graduate’s fried brain a rest. Every high school senior’s experience is different, but most students bound for competitive colleges have not spent their senior year staring out the window. Many have been busting their humps taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses or doing senior projects. My clients often report that they are simply mentally exhausted at the end of senior year. They need some time to recharge and renew before plunging into freshman year academics!

The above notwithstanding…..

3. Despite how burnt out your graduate is, don’t cave in and allow him or her to “do nothing.” Out of sympathy for how hard your senior has been working, you may be tempted to just let the kid stay up late on Facebook or go out with friends (a recipe for underage drinking and driving tragedies), then sleep until noon every day. Don’t give in to this temptation. Lack of structure during the pre-college summer could set your teenager up for failure in college, where it is easy to party late and then sleep through morning classes.

This pattern also sets up an unhealthy dynamic at home, in which parents get up and engage in adult responsibilities, while the adolescent is curiously exempt. Two shifts are operating in the household, night shift for the kid and day shift for everybody else. This structureless pattern may continue every time your college student returns home, for holiday breaks, summers, and perhaps even after college graduation.

Unfortunately, this pattern often encourages an assumption that the young person has no obligations at home, such as cleaning one’s room, doing one’s laundry, or washing one’s dishes. I recall the old Billy Joel line, “Well, you’re twenty-one and still your mother makes your bed, and that’s too long…”

The old saw, “an idle mind is the devil’s playground,” does not only apply to juvenile delinquents who fill a “structure vaccuum” with mischief, as might be suspected by the SNL Church Lady. Intelligent, creative, perfectionistic, analytical, conscientious young people may be especially prone to mental health conditions such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). A non-structured waiting period before a new, challenging life chapter (like college) could be a recipe for heightened anxiety and mental anguish for such individuals.

4. I agree with the authors that transformative, give-back experiences are ideal pursuits for the pre-college summer. However, I encourage families to consider experiences not jaded by “resume-building” goals. These experiences should be simple and engaging but not overthought, and done for their own sake, not for earning brownie points on an application someday. For the time being, your graduate is “so done” with that kind of thing.

I encourage simplicity, such as volunteering at the YMCA or local animal shelter. Becoming a counselor-in-training at a beloved camp provides purposeful activity, as well as emotional grounding with one’s “camp family” before going off to college. How about a church youth group service trip to Appalachia, funded by car washes and spaghetti dinners? For inexpensive, simple but meaningful ideas, check out Sheryl Kane’s Volunteer Vacations across America.

5. Paid employment is a great way to add structure and purpose to the pre-college summer.  Your kid can’t sleep till noon if he or she has to get up to work at the grocery store. Many teens have never had the experience of working at a minimum wage job, because they have been too busy building their credentials for college. But this summer offers the perfect opportunity to develop the kind of “show up on time and smile–even if you’re bored” responsibility that only a paid job can offer. A job can offer distraction from pre-college anxiety, and a chance to practice the social skills needed to connect with new people.

Earning money may help your adolescent to appreciate the educational investment you are about to make as well (for private colleges, $200K+). Realizing (experientially) that college costs money may motivate your teen to get up on time next fall and go to class!

Related posts: College Dorm Checklist: A Sneak Peek!, The College Transition Bible, College Orientation Rites, Letting Go (Back by Popular Demand), Off to College: The Hero’s Journey, Ten Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer.

Read Full Post »

Ten Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer

Update of my popular post for this upcoming summer: My college admissions consulting clients often ask how their high school students could best spend the summer. Here are ten alternatives to consider:

1.  “Do nothing.” This approach goes back to educator Thomas Mann, who fought the 48-week school year in the 1840’s  because “overstimulating young minds could lead to instability or insanity” (Altman, A., in Time, 1/19/08).

Should parents discourage kids from doing anything in summer? Are they so fragile they will break under pressure?  We’ve all heard parents decrying the demands of today’s culture: “Our parents opened the back door, had us go out and play, and we never came home until supper.”  Nostalgic: but helpful? Like most Boomers, I fondly recall running barefoot in fragrant, freshly mowed grass on summer evenings, catching fireflies and listening for the Mister Softie truck. Great memory! But it doesn’t need to be every summer, all summer.

2.  Exploration of alternatives. How about trying something new? Self-discovery is a teenager’s Number One developmental task. Summer programs (academic, wilderness, arts, sports, travel, service) give adolescents a chance to experiment in an untapped interest or talent area, and the opportunity to meet “kindred spirit” young people who enjoy similar pursuits. Pick up a copy of Ultimate Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teens by Sandra Berger. Search for programs on the comprehensive Enrichment Alley Web site.

Is it necessary for a college applicant to have such experiences? Absolutely not! Admissions committees know many students cannot afford exotic summer programs. They do not want college applications to simply be transparent measures of a family’s wealth. However, if you can swing it, programs can be a true gift of self-discovery for your child.

3. Remedial academic catch-up. Consider one-on-one tutoring, a local class or online course if your student could benefit. It’s not fun, but it can circumvent an academic slide. Summer content reinforcement or study skills and executive function training can be especially helpful for kids with learning disabilities or attentional disorders.

4. Advance preparation for next year. Get ahead if fall holds tough courses or standardized tests. Vehicles include local preview classes, online courses, books or one-on-one tutoring. The Princeton Review and Kaplan offer test prep in classroom, small group, tutor, book and online formats. ePrep offers unique on-demand video tutoring to prepare for standardized tests. For free online test prep, try  Number2.com.

5. Enrichment and creative renewal. Your teen can find inspiration through an arts workshop, wilderness camp, leadership program, academic course on a college campus, travel experience, online enrichment course or an inspired summer reading list. My favorite programs include: Broadreach, Overland, LeadAmerica, Julian Krinsky, There Be Dragons, Interlochen Arts Camp, Idyllwild Arts Camp, Iowa Young Writers Studio, and Brown University Pre-College.

6. Family and friendship time. Traveling or at home, summer is an ideal time for solidifying relationships with immediate and extended family, as well as hometown friends. This window is open for only a short time, and closes so quickly! No education is better than Pop-pop’s stories, or adventures with cousins at the family lakehouse.

7. Extra-curricular mastery. If a student has a passionate interest, it is likely a year-round one. Most parents know that a serious athlete needs involvement in that sport all year to be competitive, so training camps, sports clubs, and regional or national competitions are a fact of life for those kids. Performers advance skills via summer intensives and performance experiences, and visual artists create portfolios. However, parents can help a child strike a balance between  becoming a “technician” and developing as a human being. Parents can support a child’s aspirations while adding a gentle reality check, keeping their own egos and dreams in perspective.

8. Earning money. Paid employment is as acceptable to admissions as summer programs. Your family’s needs and child’s preferences should dictate. Number of hours worked, percentage of tuition earned, and promotions to positions of responsibilty will demonstrate on the application the student’s motivation, leadership and time management skills.

9. Giving back. Kids who serve give and receive intrinsic benefits, whether they help others through church, school, scouts, or programs like Habitat for Humanity.  Admissions and scholarship committees are impressed by service that is measured and recognized by a prestigious national award (Congressional Medal of Honor for Youth), membership in an organization that recognizes character (National Honor Society), or a senior scout rank accomplishment (BSA Eagle Scout or  GSA Gold Award). But it is critical that service, as expressed in a student’s essays, be “from the heart” — not just something to round out the resume.

Where to find volunteer opportunities? Pick up a copy of Volunteer Vacations across America by Sheryl Kane. Visit Web sites that match volunteer age, interests, and zip code to local needs. Good bets: Idealist.org; VolunteerMatch.org; Servenet.org; 1-800-Volunteer.org; YMCA; American Red Cross; and National Council of Jewish Women.

10. Responsibility and leadership. These essential qualities can be developed in summer camps, athletics and arts activities, family responsibilities, paid employment, and community service. So–do anything over the summer, anything but nothing!

Related posts: Not Just Getting into College: Parenting for Purpose,  Preparing to Major in…the Performing Arts, College Applications and the Lost Arts of Reading and Writing, Prepare for College Essays by Journaling, Get Online College Applications Done This Summer, and The Next Six Months of College Visits.

Read Full Post »

Position U 4 College Calendar for High School Juniors, Part II

I was one of those children of the fifties young enough to clap gullibly when Mary Martin’s Peter Pan was trying to resuscitate ailing Tinker Bell on the 1960 NBC telecast of the Broadway hit. (Is my age showing?) I also recall solemnly accepting Peter’s famous vow: “I won’t grow up, I don’t wanna wear a tie, or a serious expression in the middle of July…” (- C. Leigh).

JULY. Don’t worry, as a junior in high school you don’t have to grow up quite yet either, at least not in July. My calendar, continuing from Position U 4 College for High School Juniors Part I, cuts you a break now. Enjoy your summer program, travel with your family, or your lifeguarding job. If you want to prepare for college, keep a journal to get in the mindset for writing essays. But otherwise, just refresh and renew.

AUGUST. Party’s over. When the Common Application goes online, you can fill out the clerical part. You can start brainstorming essay ideas. The last week of August, when colleges are in full swing, visit before you start school yourself. Read my blog posts: Tricks and Treats of the Common Application Part I, Tricks and Treats of the Common Application Part II. This year, I will be offering a Common Application walk-through workshop in August and September in person at our NJ office, and will present a webinar for premium subscribers around the country. Please check my website for specific dates and details, or sign up for my e-newsletter to keep informed about this workshop and other helpful events coming up.

SEPTEMBER. Time to recalibrate your college list based on what you’ve learned over the summer. Some schools can be added, others dropped. It is also time to think about application strategy: Are there any schools to which you would consider applying Early Decision or Early Action? It is also time to adjust your testing plan based on how you did junior year.

Read: The College Waiting Game,  December 15 College News: Early Action Acceptance , December 15 College News: Early Decision Acceptance, December 15 College News: Deferral or Denial, High School Testing Strategy and Timeline.

OCTOBER.Focus on essays, first the Common Application Personal Statement and then supplemental essays, such as “Why University of X?” Attend presentations by college reps at your high school, and visit a school during Fall Break. Read: Does the College Essay Topic Matter? , Why University of X?, “Confessional” College Essays, Columbus Day College Visits.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER. Continue the process, unless you applied Early Decision. Keep up your senior year grades, because colleges will see them. Read my blog posts on early notification plans (see September). For parents trying to process the difficult, tense parent-teen relationship during this time of peak stress, read: Senior Parent? Learn to Paint, “Senioritis” and What To Do About It.

P.S. I still haven’t grown up.

Read Full Post »

Position U 4 College Calendar for High School Juniors, Part I

Ellen DeGeneres recently shared  “Ellen’s Funniest Calendars” on her TV talk show, inspiring me to publish my own Position U 4 College calendar for families with high school juniors starting the college process.

Of course, my calendar isn’t as fun as some Ellen found, such as “Nuns Having Fun.” Then again, as a college consultant, I am not quite as funny as Ellen. I do, however, try to take stress out of the college process, emphasizing self-discovery and choice, finding the university environment where a student can thrive vs. “getting in” to a school of  high “ranking.” So here’s my 2011 Calendar for High School Juniors!

JANUARY.Meet with your guidance counselor, an SAT/ACT tutor, and a college consultant. Begin to formulate ideas of what you are looking for in a college (size, location, setting, programs, academic atmosphere, extra-curricular activities, social climate, weather). Decide how to go with testing based on PSAT results.

Read my blog posts: Your 11th Grader’s 11 Steps to Success, Parents of 11th Graders: Get Set for Junior College Night!, College Reading List for 11th Grade Parents, Should I Take the SAT, the ACT, or Both?, College Consultants? Who Needs’em?.

FEBRUARY. Work on your college list, researching  colleges online and visiting on Winter Break. Plan your summer program. Read: Your Target Colleges: And It’s A Moving Target, Kris Hintz’s Top Ten College Websites, Finding the Best College for Your Major, Why Juniors Should Visit Colleges on Winter and Spring Break , Ten Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer.

MARCH. Begin standardized testing, following either SAT (March) or ACT (April) timeline. Keep grades up! Visit a college at Spring Break. Read: What Is Important to Colleges? Top Ten Factors, First Aid for a Disappointing Grade, I’ll Only Visit Colleges I Get Into, Tips for College Trips, Choosing Colleges in Cool Metro Areas.

APRIL. Study for AP (Advanced Placement) tests with prep books. Not all teachers prepare their students adequately to earn 4 or 5 on AP tests (required level for college credit at most institutions). If your AP subject dovetails with an SAT II subject (i.e., AP US or Euro History), schedule it in May during AP’s. Only learn the content once! Read: High School Testing Strategy and Timeline, Preparing for the SAT: “E” for Effort.

MAY. Ask teachers for recommendations. Offer ammunition: questionnaires that some high schools request, a resume to show a full picture of your achievements, and a paper you wrote for that teacher. End of 11th Grade is early, but beating the fall rush is considerate of a teacher’s time.  Read: Teachers’ Recommendations.

JUNE. Swing for the bleachers with 11th Grade cumulative testing and standardized tests. Visit a college that offers summer courses so there will be kids on campus to observe. Start journaling as a way of preparing to write college essays.

Read: Parents of High School Juniors: Navigating the Road to College, High School Juniors Apathetic About College Applications?, The Next Six Months of College Visits, Prepare for College Essays by Journaling, College Applications and the Lost Arts of Reading & Writing, Do You Need a Passion to Get into College?

Stay tuned for Part II!

Read Full Post »

How Should High School Juniors Get Ready for College This Summer?

I just wrote a Guest Column on this incredibly important subject in The Alternative Press.Com, a NJ online newspaper. To find out ten things your high school junior should be doing this summer to get ready for senior year, click here!

If your family resides in NJ, this online newspaper has just launched an Education section that is a great resource for school news, tutors, learning centers and summer enrichment programs. The Alternative Press.Com,serves Berkeley Heights, Chatham Borough & Township, Livingston, Madison, Millburn & Short Hills, New Providence, Summit, and Westfield.

Related posts: Ten Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer, Countdown to Senior Year!, The Next Six Months of College Visits, Teachers’ Recommendations, and Jumpstart Your Online College Application!

Read Full Post »

Prepare for College Essays by Journaling

How can you prepare your sophomore or junior for the college process ahead?

You may have read my posts 10 Things You Can Do for Your College-Bound 10th Grader and Your 11th Grader’s 11 Steps to Success. But you’re still worried about those dreaded essays… What if your teen is a brilliant mathematician, but has no knack for the written word? Or a creative writing whiz whose talent cannot be channeled into a practical activity like college essays? What about the painful push-pull of high-achieving parents versus a sullen, procrastinating teen, vying for autonomy through passive aggressive behavior?

The worst thing you can do is force the issue too early. If you try to micromanage your kid now, the conflict will become explosively insane by the time he or she is a rising senior, and cooperation really counts. So what do you do now? The first step is to bring your own anxieties under control. My post, Senior parent? Learn to paint, suggests finding an engaging activity to get your mind off the college process, especially if tempted to micromanage your high school student. Having your own passionate passtime will ground you. Foster detachment that will offer your child some needed space to grow and develop an individual voice.

Your student needs writing practice, more than provided at school. He or she especially needs practice writing about self: struggle with big questions, reflections on ordinary experiences, expressions of anger, love, grief or quest for justice in response to real situations, views portrayed through an artistic medium such as poetry.

How else can a student be expected to have a voice in college essays, if he or she has never “tried out” a voice before?

Magazines in the grocery store encourage adults to “keep a journal” for catharsis, processing of challenging life events, reduction of stress, and living from a deeper, more spiritual place. What about teenagers? Teens are processing enormous challenges (physically, intellectually, psychologically, sexually, philosophically, and spiritually). Don’t you remember adolescence as one of the most difficult times in your life? Crucible,  roller coaster, wild ride over white rapids! Journaling is a tool that can help a teen through stormy upheaval with more inner direction.

My son asked all the big questions during his adolescence. He was supported by a high school seminar-style philosophy course, which offered a venue for exchanging ideas about consciousness, human nature, good and evil, or God’s existence, with like-minded young people. However, my son often wanted to work out things for himself. My husband gave him a little moleskin notebook that he called his “Thought Book.” There he recorded any issues with which he was wrestling,  jotting down possible ideas for resolution.

“Writing is thinking.” My son’s journaling experience developed his “writing and thinking muscles,” yielding high grades in philosophy and humanities papers. More importantly, however,  it brought him more in touch with who he was as a human being. College essays flowed out naturally after years of keeping a “Thought Book”!

Suggest journaling to your teen. It may not be as philosophical as a “Thought Book.” It may be a travelogue about family summer trips. Or a diary describing everyday occurrences, with feelings about those events. Or an internet blog (with good judgment about what to share publicly). Practice makes perfect, but writing is so therapeutic and good for the soul, a young person may not even realize that he or she is “practicing.”

Not only will the college essays be easier, but decisions will be easier too–because your evolving young adult will be more in-touch with that all-important “inner voice.”

Related posts: “Why University of X” College Essay?, How Important Is the College Essay, Really?, College Applications and the Lost Arts of Reading and Writing.

Read Full Post »

Do You Need “A Passion” To Get Into College?

Who brought that ubiquitous word “PASSION” to the college admissions process? Consultants? “How To Apply” books? Admissions officers? Guidance counselors?

This word does not come from a teen vocabulary. It’s too extreme, too emotional, too revealing, too blurred with sex or romance, too intense, too uncool, too hokey. It’s a buzz word of the college admissions industry, designed to market students to colleges. Some high school students appear to have that unique focus in high school. But for most students, “passionate” is probably not the way they would authentically describe themselves.

What is an admissions officer looking for that we call “passion”? I found a clue in an urban dictionary definition: “Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.”

So how do you know if your kid has passion?

1. How does she spend most of her extra-curricular time? Parents can muddy the waters. They believe their kids must be involved in multiple activities: sports, performing arts, community service. But admissions professionals send a consistent message that colleges want depth vs. breadth.

So it is better for your kid to do one extra-curricular activity at a high level than be a jack of all trades, master of none. Some parents feel apologetic about that. But I’d rather see a kid do one community service project that demands commitment, like Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Gold, vs. food pantries or book drives that only require casual involvement.

The Common Application asks the applicant to list  key activities, with level of leadership, years of participation, and hours/week and weeks/year spent on the activity. Why? They want to see how much time you actually spend on each pursuit: a concrete measure of passion and enthusiasm!

2. How does she spend her truly free time? One of my clients  is exceptionally talented in performing arts, and she spends her formal extra-curricular time in choral, dance and theater groups. However, in her rare “spare time,” she writes stories. It is not surprising that  Creative Writing is the passion in which she hopes to major in college.

3. In what school subjects does he excel? On what school projects does he seem to spend the most time? I’m not talking about remedial catch-up studying in difficult courses. I mean enthusiastic, curious, creative “go the second mile” involvement.

As the urban dictionary explains, it’s all about putting in more energy than what is required. Some students become so excited by a subject they will actually debate issues with parents or siblings at home. For less outgoing students, you may need to ask probing questions or heighten your observational powers to detect signs of passion.

If your teen doesn’t seem to be particularly turned on by any subject, it may be worthwhile to expose him to learning in a more stimulating environment (a seminar-style or fast-paced, advanced class). He also may need exposure to more topics and experiences to find out more about what he really likes.

He also might be drawn out by academic clubs and teams (such as US FIRST Robotics, National Forensics League, National Mock Trial Championship, DECA) or explorative summer camps (such as LeadAmerica, Broadreach). For great summer programs, check out 500 Best Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer by the Princeton Review, and Ultimate Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teens by Sandra Berger.

Remember, passion doesn’t mean outwardly expressive. Every human being is a puzzle. Guiding a young person to discover his passions, and finding colleges that will feed those interests, is an art that requires open-minded listening and observation. And self-discovery is a long, circuitous process that continues for  years beyond high school! Colleges don’t require students to indicate a major or career choice on applications. Premature pigeon-holing is not the goal here, just helping a young person find pursuits that authentically resonate.

I recall a bright, accomplished client with a reserved style who was trying to wrap up our consulting session quickly one evening in October. As I blabbed on about the essay, he quietly rose to his feet and said, “Don’t want to miss the Yankees.” With no fanfare, his passion was announced, offering a subtle clue that this would be an important element in his college selection process.

Read Full Post »

How Should College-Bound Teens Spend Winter Break?

After family time and a bit of R&R, here are some tips on activities you can encourage your high school student to pursue during winter break, divvied out by grade:

Seniors. Your 12th Grader may be in the fortunate situation to have already heard good news from colleges. But unless she has been accepted Early Decision, there are still options on the table and applications to be completed. Even if all her applications are completed, your senior isn’t done yet! Encourage your student to apply for external scholarships, which you can research on FastWeb.com, Scholarships.com, ScholarshipExperts.com, or SchoolSoup.com. Even if the dollars amounts seem small, they add up.

Some scholarships sound hilarious, many require essays, others require nothing but filling out a form. Most seniors are too burnt out to bother with scholarships, but Woody Allen observed, “Half of life is just showing up,” so it is worth doing!

Mom and Dad, you’re not done yet either! It is time to become a financial aid maven. Read Pay for College without Sacrificing Your Retirement: A Guide to Your Financial Future by Tim Higgins and visit FinAid.org. Begin preparing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with help from FAFSA.ed.gov. Prepare a CSS Profile (College Scholarship Student Profile) with help from CollegeBoard.com, if applying to private colleges. Even if you don’t believe you will qualify for need-based aid, fill out a FAFSA anyway. You may at least land low interest loans or work study: it all adds up. Some school-specific scholarships require you to file a FAFSA.

Juniors. Encourage your 11th Grader to take the SAT I Reasoning Test (1/23/10) at CollegeBoard.com or the ACT with Writing (2/6/10) at ActStudent.org. Your student should try to take a study course over vacation. Kaplan and Princeton Review offer in-person classes, small group or one-on-one tutoring, online courses and study guides,  ePrep offers video tutoring online, and Number2.com offers free prep. To determine whether SAT or ACT is better for your student, check Kaplan, Princeton Review and ePrep for SAT-ACT comparisons and diagnostic tests.

Your guidance counselor will kick off a junior college night in January, followed by students developing initial college lists. Help your teen prepare for the formulation of a college list by reading books from my post, “Reading List for 11th Grade Parents.” If you plan to work with tutors or a college consultant, this is a good time to ask around. Be sure your consultant is a member of IECA or NACAC.

Winter break is also a good time to explore and apply for summer programs. Junior year is the last summer experience before your adolescent applies to college. It is a perfect time for self-discovery, gaining hands-on experience in areas of interest, to go deeper with a passion or explore a road not taken to confirm/disconfirm interest in further pursuit of that activity. My post, “Ten Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer,” offers ideas, books and web resources.

Most important, clarify priorities with your 11th Grader. Ask your student to take a hard look at the balance between academics and extra-curricular activities, and if necessary, dial back activities to improve grades. Make no mistake, colleges care more about academic performancen in rigorous courses than activities. They are, after all, academic institutions! The upcoming semester is your student’s last chance to create an impressive full year GPA for the transcript, which will impact the class rank colleges will see next fall.

For more information on the pivotal junior year, review my post, “Your 11th Grader’s 11 Steps to Success.”

Sophomores. Just like families of juniors, 10th Graders should be exploring and applying to summer programs and solidifying priorities to balance academics and activities. Academic goals should not only focus on GPA, but on qualifying for more honors and AP classes for junior year.

Freshmen. Families of 9th Graders should pursue goals similar to 10th Graders. Freshman families should be disciplined about dialing back overwhelming sports or arts activities. Some students who were able to manage academics and activities in middle school may find something’s got to give in high school (especially if she has moved to a more rigorous school). Academics have to come first.

Middle School. Make sure your student is taking the prerequisites needed for honors classes in high school. This is a time for opening up options. Since many school systems don’t give late bloomers much of a chance, it is up to parents to ensure their kids are in the selective college prep “track” early in the game. Meet with your teen’s guidance counselor and make sure your student is on a trajectory that will maximize academic opportunities throughout high school.

Winter break is a time for rest and rejuvenation, and also a time for setting priorities and preparing for the demanding challenges ahead—at any age!

Related posts: Your Target Colleges…And It’s a Moving Target, 10 Things You Can Do for Your 10th Grader, Your 11th Grader’s 11 Steps to Success, College Consultants? Who Needs’em?

Read Full Post »