The Fall 2020 semester is roughly 8-weeks away for every high school student. Whether your teen is a high school freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, one question remains: is a college in their future plans?
Funny enough, much of the college prep process falls squarely on the shoulders of parents. Let’s explore a few ideas intended to make the process easier for decision-makers in your household.
Exploration Is Key
The late author and poet Maya Angelou famously penned the quote, “You don’t really know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” The Gradmetrics team agrees with that quote wholeheartedly. Your teen needs an open, constructive environment to gather an idea of what they want to study and, ultimately, pick a career path.
In observance of COVID-19 precautions, many local colleges such as the University of Kansas (KU) offer online exploration options, including virtual tours and webinar sessions. KU also established a variety of programming, including Sophomore Day, Junior Days, and Destination KU. The latter, a program focused on low-income and first-generation minority students.
Keep An Open Mind
Parents often provide advice to their children from the perspective of personal experience. Firsthand guidance is usually harmless. However, when making high-impact decisions such as a career path, financial aid, or even choosing a college, it’s best to seek a trusted professional’s advice and avoid costly mistakes.
One of the most significant benefits past Gradmetrics clients have voiced is the value of a third-party perspective. Your child may have hidden skills or overlooked talents, which an experienced advisor can explore through a mix of personality profiles and personal skills assessments.
Know Your Limits
Along with keeping an open mind is being receptive to the feedback provided by a college and career advisor. Your high school student is on the verge of pursuing a bright new future. No single resource should ever be considered the end-all, be-all. It truly takes a village to raise a child. Gradmetrics advisors are more than happy to provide added support and actionable advice for your family—all with your unique budget and limitations in mind.
A trustworthy college and career advisor should provide transparent pricing and clearly define their approach to student stewardship. If you find that your high school student’s college plans have been delayed or negatively impacted by COVID-19 in any way, we highly recommend aligning with an advisor earlier versus later to maintain the desired timeline.
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As you begin to tackle the college prep process for your own high school student, we encourage you to explore what options the Gradmetrics team could provide for your family. If you have any questions or concerns, schedule a free consultation today!
