Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.
One of the most exciting times in any young person’s life is the season between their senior year of high school and their freshman year of college. There’s their senior prom, graduation and all of the preparing that comes with getting ready for college life.
If you’re looking for a few tips on how you can help your child to develop a solid college plan while still in high school, we have five recommendations below that will definitely have them ready for their first day (and year) on campus.
Discuss career goals. On average, many college students do not commit to a major until the middle of their sophomore year in school; however, that doesn’t mean that your child should wait until then before exploring the kinds of things they would like to do in the workplace. So, spend some time discussing with your child what their favorite subjects are, what they’re passionate about and what they could see themselves doing for the rest of their life.
Encourage them to seek out scholarships. For a student to attend an in-state public university, tuition plus room and board, fees and books will run them somewhere around $15,000 per year; this means that it will cost them approximately $60,000 to earn an undergraduate degree. And, with many students leaving school with about $27,000 worth of student loan debt, it’s important to get as much “free money” for your own child as possible. One of the best ways to make this happen is to have them apply for several grants and scholarships. One website that provides a comprehensive list to choose from is CollegeScholarships.com
Make dorm room purchases. If your child plans on living on campus, then don’t wait until a week before school starts to get them all of the things that they will need. By planning to shop a day out of each month during their senior year to pick up things like bedding, toiletries, a mini-refrigerator, a new laptop and TV, it can definitely make it easier on your budget when the time does come to pack up the car and head for the dorms.
Save money. Although applying for government financial aid is always an option, remember that loans have to be paid back and so it’s always smart to save as much money as possible. As a parent, setting up a 529 Savings Plan is definitely a smart route to go; however, if your child has a part-time job, encourage them to put some money towards their college future too. Even if it’s just for some new clothes and a couple of textbooks, that will prove to be helpful.
Talk about the “big graduation gift”. Whether your child is planning to go to Marylhurst, Duke or a community college that is close to your home, we’re pretty sure that you’re proud of their achievements and you have a big graduation gift surprise in store. Yet, it might be a good idea to actually discuss with your child what kind of gift would be a good investment in their college future. For instance, a new car may not be a wise choice if they already have a used one and they’re going to continue living at home for the next couple of years. In that case, a new computer might be the better selection for now. The main thing to keep in mind is that whatever you and your child choose to do, until they earn their degree, it should be about making college (and the provisions for it) a top priority. That is the start of coming up with a very wise college plan.
Work that is engaging and helps others are two important factors
to a satisfying job. As study.com mentions, if you have strong communication skills, do
well under stress, and enjoy helping others, a career in nursing may be a good fit. If you
enjoy problem solving, data analysis, and understanding customers, a business degree may be a good fit.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips! Me and my son always talk about what he wants to do when he gets out of school. As of right now he wants to enlist in the Army but he is only 13 so he still has time to decide. But I tell him that if he wants to go into the Army then go for it because it would be a great thing for him to do.