How to Help My Son/Daughter Prepare for their Last Semester in High School

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It’s a great time in your teenagers’ lives.  They are in their last semester of high school, and they are preparing to go to college.  But, is your child prepared for the big transition?  We have some tips to help you get through the year, and move forward to college and beyond.

We realize that, as with most moms, you are multitasking with taking care of your children, the rest of the family, and working.  Therefore, you might feel like you are being worn thin.

Don’t worry!  We are here to help.  We want to assure you that you are not alone.  In fact, your son or daughter may feel the same way because of what they are facing during their last semester in high school.

Children may be intimidated with everything they will face in the coming year and beyond, but keep them focused.  Do not let them fall into any bad habits such as hanging out with a bad crowd, procrastinating or getting too stressed out.

If that happens, it will be a long year, and your students’ grades will start to go down.  We all know that, if that happens, his or her chances of getting accepted to their dream college will go down significantly.

The important thing is for the both of you to focus.  We have several suggestions on how to do so.

First of all, teach your children the art of time management.  After all, you all have a lot of things on your plate.  Prioritizing the list will make it easier to conquer.

Your children know what assignments, and other projects, are coming.  Using time-management tools will help them see what is due, when it is due, how important it is, and how much time to devote to each task.

Next, use your downtime wisely.  Your child will probably feel anxious about going to college next year.  So, help them realize that you are here to help them.  The reassurance will make them feel better.

Your son or daughter will probably start looking for colleges.  Help them break it down into multiple steps.

Since this is the last semester of high school, they have probably applied to several colleges, and received information from every college to which they applied.  In some cases, they may have already received some acceptance letters.

Go over the information with them.  You want to make sure they choose the best college for their academic as well as social needs.

All aspects are important – not just the college major.  While that is important, many colleges allow students to go in undecided or change majors until the end of their sophomore year.  Check with each school about that.  Reassure your children that their major is their choice, so they can feel free to take time to decide.

You also want to check the neighborhood – especially if the student will move far away.  Make sure they can take care of themselves in a setting they are happy with.  The neighborhood should also be considered a key to success.

But, there is more to it than academics and the social aspect.  You’ll still have to pay for it.

Give your children an active role in researching the financial aspects.  The acceptance letters should give an indication about scholarships and loan availability.  Once you find out that they have been given financial awards, contact them immediately to discuss the logistics of what needs to be done (if anything).

The sooner they complete all the necessities for his or her chosen school, everyone can relax a little bit.

Let your children have fun along the way.  Your children need some time off from everything else just as much as you do.  So, remind your children that it’s OK to hang out with friends and family before the big move.

We know it can be a scary time for you and your kids.  But, following these-step-by-step guidelines will help ensure a smoother transition to college and their future.

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