Don’t Go it Alone: Help for Parents

Excerpt from “Getting Ready for College Early”  U.S. Department of Education

Some parents – especially those who did not go to or finish college themselves- may worry that they cannot provide their child the guidance and support needed to get ready for college.  But remember, getting ready for college is more work than anyone can handle on their own, and you don’t need to have gone to college yourself to help someone else get ready for college.  To provide children extra opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills they need for college, many schools offer:

• Before and After-school programs.  Children can learn more about subjects that interest them, under the care and guidance of adults
• Mentoring Programs. An adult who has studied or worked in the same field in which a child is interested can provide extra help and advice about, for example, the challenging math and science courses college bound students need to take, and how to plan for a college and a career connected to their interests.

Ask your child’s teacher or guidance counselor for more information about these types of programs at your child’s school.