As college parents, or potential college parents, we want our students to have a successful college career. We hope that our student’s transition to college will go smoothly, that they will excel academically, make friends, be happy socially, and ultimately graduate to find a fulfilling career. During the senior year of high school we may already be visualizing that next commencement ceremony. Having the dream and the vision for our student is important — it may be what keeps us going through all of those tuition payments. But is there anything that you can do, while your student is still in high school, and beyond the admissions process, to help move them toward the success that you hope for?
There is a lot of material available to students about preparing for college. There are countless books, websites, programs, lectures, and consulting services offered to help students as they move toward college. Many of these services help students decide what high school classes to take, how to prepare for the SAT or ACT, how to select colleges and conduct college visits, how to finance an education and acquire loans. There are lists and lists available of what to bring to college and how to furnish the ultimate dorm room. However, there are some less tangible, less obvious ways in which parents can help their students be prepared for all that college entails.