Summer school: getting a head start on college admissions

Summer is a time for relaxed living and a prime opportunity for you and your teen to get a jump start on college planning activities. Review time lines at ACT's college planning checklist and together, you can set some goals.

Some tasks for the summer include:

• Researching career options. Some people know early in life what they want to be when they grow up; others take some time to decide. Help your son or daughter find the resources to explore career options, including the ACT World-of-Work Map.
• Visiting potential colleges. Your son or daughter might have a list of potential colleges. Prioritize the schools and visit as many as possible. Be sure to ask lots of questions and record your impressions for later reference.
• Building an academic resume. Assembling accomplishments, extracurricular activities and notable academic work into a comprehensive document will ease the college application process for both of you. Help your teen build a list.
• Researching application deadlines. Know deadlines for college admissions, scholarships and financial aid for each potential school, as they can vary. Together, find out what information and documents will be needed to complete applications. Gathering those documents early is much easier than trying to find everything under the pressure of a deadline.

Because of its more relaxed pace and fewer distractions, summer offers time to begin working on college application tasks. Take advantage of the time to work together with your teen.

College prep starts in middle school

Your son or daughter may just be starting middle school, but it's the ideal time to start career and college planning. Starting the process now, before college application deadlines loom, will make the process easier.

In ACT research, middle and early high school students reported high educational expectations. Over three-quarters (77%) of students indicated that they planned to enter a four-year college or university. Although most students planned to pursue postsecondary education, fewer described their high school program of study as college preparatory. ACT recommends that students take a core curriculum of at least:

• Four years of English.
• Three years of mathematics, including rigorous courses in Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
• Three years of science, including rigorous courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Three years of social studies.

Standardized tests help schools measure what their students are learning. Students also can use those tests to make sure they are on track for college. The EXPLORE^® test, which is usually offered in eighth grade, gives students an understanding of their academic strengths and weaknesses. It also offers ideas for possible career areas students should consider based on their measured career interests. Ask your school's counselor when EXPLORE is available in your student's school.

Parents can review their child's tests scores, and help identify subject areas for improvement and the appropriate classes and resources for additional study. Help your student explore careers and identify course options now and through high school. Starting early will give your child a solid jump on planning his or her future.

Orientation for parents, too

Many colleges offer summer orientation on campus to incoming freshmen and some also invite parents to come along. Parent orientation introduces the campus and resources available to students.

Descriptions of parent orientations vary widely. Some orientation programs offer an opportunity to stay and dine in student residence halls, to visit with faculty and staff, and to experience life on campus. Many schools offer several dates, usually coinciding with freshman student orientation, throughout the summer. Others open doors to freshmen and their families a few days prior to the start of the fall session.

Check the school's website for details and registration information so you can learn more about where your teen will be spending the next few years.

Practical matters

Heading off to college can be an exciting time for soon-to-be freshmen and their parents, with outfitting dorm rooms and buying college logo gear. However, there are some practical matters to take into consideration before helping a student make the move to campus.

• Property insurance. Dorm rooms and college apartments tend to be small, but their residents are packing in lots of pricey equipment. Visit with your insurance agent to determine if your existing homeowner's or renter's policy will cover the belongings moving off to college with your child.
• Health insurance. Most policies cover dependent children until they graduate from college, but check on coverage limits and preferred provider rules. During illness or emergency is not the time to learn about gaps in your insurance.
• Auto coverage. If your child is taking a car to school, talk with your agent to review the types of coverage you have and deductibles.
• Banking. ATMs and debit cards are ideal for students so they don't have to carry cash. However, some carry hefty fees, aren't supported locally or have transaction limitations. Be sure to discuss options with your bank.
• Immunizations. College and university students can be susceptible to communicable disease, so make sure your child is up-to-date on all immunizations. Some schools have specific immunization requirements that could delay course registration if not fulfilled.

Addressing these matters early on can help alleviate some of the stress for you and your child while making the transition to college.

Letting them soar

To parents of graduating high school seniors, congratulations! You've played an important role in helping them get to this point. Now, you get to let them soar. But that can be very difficult. After all, you've given them everything you have for 18 years or so.

As your child transitions to the next part of life, so do you. Here are some tips that may help you through this time.

• Embrace a changing relationship. You will begin to relate to your teen on more of an adult level. Remember how you wanted to be treated at this age . . .and all of the decisions you made without the benefit of hindsight.
• Set ground rules. They may be out of your nest, but you still need to communicate. Early on, determine a schedule for calls and what is acceptable for e-mail. These rules will probably change over time, but you'll fall into a comfortable pattern.
• Ask first. When your son or daughter raises an issue, ask if he or she wants your help—before offering it—or simply wants to share it with you.
• Stay connected. If your teen is moving to a completely different city, look online for the school or community newspaper. You'll be able to keep up with the news on campus. If your student is entering a training or apprenticeship program, visit industry websites to learn more about the trade.
• Find resources for help with your own transition. You've spent the last 17 or 18 years of your life nurturing a terrific teen. You're bound to feel emotional and scared. Find resources within your community to help you deal with those feelings. It could be as simple as meeting for coffee once a week with another parent.

Take some time to ensure that you, as a parent or mentor, receive the support you need during this important transition.

ACT test date reminder

On September 13, 2008, the ACT test will be administered in 19 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. The registration deadline is August 12, 2008. Late registration, with an additional fee, is available August 13 through 22. Register online today at actstudent.org.

The next 2008–2009 ACT national test date is October, 25, 2008. The registration deadline is September 19, 2008. Late registration, with an additional fee, is September 20 through October 3, 2008.

An optional Writing Test is available in addition to the multiple-choice achievement test. Find out about the Writing Test on the ACT student website, including the colleges that require it.

On the ACT student website, check out the test prep aids. Free sample questions are available along with test-day tips, a list of what to bring, and approved calculators for use on the Math Test.

Preparing for the ACT, a booklet with a complete practice test, scoring key, writing prompt, and sample essays, is available to download on the Test Prep section of actstudent.org. The ACT registration packet, available from the counseling office, also contains the booklet. Sign up for ACT Online Prep™, the only test prep program developed exclusively by ACT test development professionals. It is a very inexpensive tool your student can use for a full year.

For all your questions about the ACT test, visit ACT's student website.

See also:

ACT's Information for Parents

The ACT

PLAN

EXPLORE

Financial Aid

College Search

Careers