A Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child Ready for College

It's both exhilarating and sad to see your child get ready to go to college. It starts a new chapter in their lives, one when they become more independent, make important choices, and start to shape their lives as adults. But even the smartest teenager can feel like they couldn't handle the change from high school to college. As a parent, you are very important in helping them get ready for their next big trip.

This is a realistic, human-centered guide to getting your child ready for college in all three areas: emotionally, academically, and socially. This will help them feel supported and ready to do well.

Learn important life skills early

Getting good grades may get kids into college, but life skills will help them stay there. Many kids haven't got much practice with the basics because their families generally protect them from those duties. It's time to change that now.

Tell your teen to:

Do their own laundry without being told to

Make plans and cook simple dishes (you get a night off, too!)

Make a budget for yourself and stick to it.

Take care of basic housekeeping tasks

Choose one or two abilities each week and let them take charge. It may seem slower at first, but you're giving them the gift of freedom, one load of clothes at a time.

Get to know the campus

Going to college for the first time can be scary, so get rid of the mystery before Day One.

If the university is close by, spend the afternoon roaming about the grounds. Find the dining hall, the academic buildings on their timetable, the library, and even the closest bus stations. This little "trial run" can help a lot with first-day nerves.

If you can't travel, make use of:

Tours of the campus online

Maps of the campus and shuttle routes

YouTube videos made by students who are still in school

Your youngster will feel better about himself the more they can picture their daily existence.

Talk to each other honestly, even if it's hard

Your teen needs more than packing lists and pep talks before they leave home. They need to have real, honest talks about their safety, limits, and health.

Some important things to talk about are:

How to walk safely at night

Making rules for dating and social situations

Consent and partnerships that are good for you

Drugs, alcohol, and pressure from friends

Recognizing dangerous or hazardous situations

Talking about mental health is just as vital. A lot of students have a hard time in their first semester since they don't know where to go for help.

Take your kid on a tour of the university's student support facilities, including as counseling centers, peer groups, resident advisors, and academic assistance desks, so they know where to go if they need help.

Help them keep track of their deadlines

When getting ready for college, kids have to fill out more forms than they are used to. These include housing applications, orientation dates, fee deadlines, and class registration.

Help them set up a way to keep track of due dates:

A planner that you may hold in your hand

A calendar on the wall of their room

A digital calendar that you may both look at

Apps that remind you

The point isn't to micromanage; it's to teach them how to handle crucial responsibilities before they are entirely on their own.

Help Them Find Their Way Through the Money Maze

Your teen will probably need aid with the money side of things, even if you aren't paying for college.

This could include:

Getting paperwork together for FAFSA

Filling out the CSS Profile for colleges that need it

Looking at several aid packages

Knowing the terms of your student loan

Setting up a bank account for students

You're not just helping them fill out forms; you're also teaching them how to manage their money, which is a skill they'll use for a long time after they graduate.

Help them get better at managing their time

For a lot of incoming college students, the hardest part isn't the schoolwork; it's the freedom.

There is no one there to wake them up.

There is no one there to remind them of due dates.

At 2 a.m., no one is present to stop them from using TikTok.

Now is the moment to start building good habits for managing your time:

Tell them to set their own alarms.

Let them make their own appointments.

Tell them to plan out their study time for the week.

Show them how to set priorities when everything seems vital.

These tiny changes provide your child a chance to be independent while yet being able to ask you for support.

Talk about how to balance work, fun, and community

College isn't only about going to class; it's about being part of a community. Tell your child to look into academic societies, cultural groups, clubs, volunteer opportunities, and internships on campus.

Getting involved helps them:

Make it easier to make friends

Find out what you like

Get experience in leadership

Make a résumé for grad school or a job in the future

Talk about keeping things in balance at the same time. If they take on too much or stay alone, college can be too much for them. Tell them that their health is the most important thing.

Start the timeline for preparation Early

It doesn't happen overnight that you're ready for college. Many families start building the foundation in high school by giving their teens more and more responsibility as they get older.

Here are several clues that your child could need early prep:

They have a hard time staying organized.

They really need reminders.

They are scared of change.

They've never had to deal with money by themselves.

Some people may naturally be better at being independent and not need as much planned preparation. Instead of comparing your child to other students, make the timeline fit their individuality