It may not always be easy to talk with your teen. But it's important that you support your teen throughout their college planning - help them 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.
