Middle school parents’ sixth sense about positioning their ‘tweens for college often becomes more pronounced, as families are considering choices for high school. Often, the question, “Which high school will best prepare my student for college?” is introduced into the discussion. Parents begin paying closer attention to stories about so-and-so’s daughter’s boyfriend’s cousin’s neighbor getting into an Ivy League from such-and-such local high school, in order to compare their children to the protagonist in the story. What parents may be trying to accomplish in their comparison, is size up their kid’s chances of being accepted to college, especially highly selective colleges, while being simultaneously concerned that they’re jumping the gun and starting to plan “too early” for college. In our 35 years of experience, a bigger perspective on the entire college admissions process, including paying for college, can help allay concerns and view the next right step to take.
The college admissions process can be subjective, not a formula that computes acceptances every time, if the variables are aligned appropriately, regardless of the individual. The unpredictability of college admissions results can both stoke nerves and reduce them at the same time–as the lack of a guarantee about a particular admissions result can be anxiety provoking, and also free potential applicants from having to mold themselves into an ideal applicant at any cost. Viewing the college admissions process as subjective can give families room match the college to the student, not the other way around. For middle school families, the big picture view of the college admissions process can reduce the pressure of having to choose the “one right” high school in their region in order to get into a college, and instead consider high schools based on how the student’s interest will be nurtured, not just prepared for college admissions.
In relation to identifying a student’s interests, both academically and socially, there is never a “too early”. The more a maturing student can identify his/her own talents, the more prepared he/she will be for college and admissions, as majors and other campus attributes will be easy to match with what the student already knows about himself/herself.
Middle school is a smart time to begin asking about college opportunities, to plan for the inevitable expense of college tuition also. Teaching maturing children about finances and choices regarding money can help in 5-6 years, when the multi-thousands of dollars expense of college is imminent, as we reported earlier. Any savings from middle school years onward can subsidize college costs when the time comes.
Continuing to seek understanding of student’s emerging interests and academic curiosities is the opportunity middle school families have, since college applications are 5-6 years in the future. The length of time can reduce stress and give ‘tweens time to jump from interest to interest, as strikes their fancy. Since there is no one straight path to gaining admissions to college, take time to wander. Then, when the time to apply to college arrives, students will have the knowledge of themselves and their vision to craft a competitive application.
Photo Credit: Art Baird, Creative Marbles Consultancy 2012
