Talk to Your Teen

It may not always be easy to talk with your teen. But it's important that you support your teen throughout the college planning process. Help him or her organize the process, meet deadlines and talk with the right people. Here are a few tips to consider:

Listen

Be receptive to and listen when your teen wants to discuss career and/or college plans.

Explore

Have your teen explore career and college options and collect as much information as possible.

Encourage

Encourage him/her to capture their ideas on paper. One idea is to create a scrapbook of career and college plans.

Be Aware

Be aware of various deadlines for applications to colleges and financial aid. Put them on a calendar that both you and your teen can look at.

Step In

Suggest that your teen meet with a school counselor at least once a year, beginning in the 10th grade, to learn more about college and career planning.

Be Supportive

Be supportive of your teen, and meet with his/her counselor if you sense that he/she needs additional help.

Connect to Career

Encourage your teen by helping him/her see the connection between college and career. Emphasize the importance of selecting a major that helps prepare him/her for a career.

Research

If your teen is undecided about a career direction, do not try to fix it. Let him/her look into all the possibilities.

Visit Adventures in Education for more information on the college planning process.