Your child's future is of the utmost importance. Obviously you want them to have all the chances in the world to succeed, which means you need to begin setting them up for success when they're young. College is a great opportunity for any young person. A good college will allow your child to continue their studies, so they can prepare to enter a career that interests them. Here are four ways you can help your child get into the university of their choice:
1. Visit colleges.
If possible, take a trip with your child in their sophomore or junior year of college. Have your child compile a list of universities they'd like to attend, then take a week or two to visit these universities in person. The internet can provide a wealth of resources; you can see pictures of the college campus online, but nothing beats seeing it in person. Walking around a college and talking to students and alumni can help your child make up their mind so they can pick the right school.
2. Apply for a variety of different schools.
Even if your child knows which college they'd like to go to, encourage them to apply to a few different universities. Competition for college admission can be tough, and you don't want your child to get stuck without a backup school. Ideally, your child should apply to a variety of different colleges including their favorite schools and some "just in case" schools that they're sure to get in to. It's not a bad idea to have your child apply for local community colleges as a fallback plan.
3. Send your child to a college-prep high school.
The first thing a college admission board looks at is your child's GPA. In order to get into the school of their choice, your child will need to have made good grades in high school. A college-prep high school is a private school that gets children ready for university life. The teachers at these schools will pay special attention to each student, spending the time to make sure they fully understand the material. A college-prep education can be extremely valuable for any college-bound teenager.
4. Encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities.
Good grades are important, but they aren't enough to make your child stand out from the crowd. College admission boards also look at your child's extracurricular activities. They want to see applicants who are well-rounded, contributing members of the community. Your child can improve their chances of admission by signing up for various extracurricular activities at school. Volunteer work also looks great on college applications.
