Some may think that preparing for college in middle school is too early, but it’s actually the best time to start! Preparing your middle school student for college puts less pressure on you and your child. Your child has a lot of flexibility in middle school, and there are many opportunities for them to become a star student.
As your child moves into middle school, there are a number of things you can both do to help prepare for their unique higher education experience — and set you up for success to attend college.
Wondering where to start? We’ve got you covered with ways to prepare your middle schooler for college, plus some handy parent tips, too. Dive in to learn key steps to help your child get a head start on their college future while they’re still in middle school.
Know your child’s next steps and start planning for college
How many years of middle school are left? The beginning of middle school is very different for your child than graduation time. Short-term and long-term, creating an academic timeline will help you and your child see the big picture.
Middle school is a great period of growth for children. You may be focused on your child’s middle school grades, but during this stage, kids are becoming more aware of themselves and their interests, but also of each other. This opens the possibility for bullying and ostracizing. It is important to be aware of the adversities that can pop up. Be your child’s support system.
Talk about high school and college to set expectations
High school is not as scary as your child thinks, so help them understand that. Students can go in any direction during the high school years. Does your child want to pursue history? Math? Foreign language? Musical theater?
High schools provide a wide variety of classes that allow students to branch out and test the waters of multiple subjects. The great thing about middle school is many offer the same opportunities to branch out as high schools. This way, your child can go into high school — and eventually tackle college admission — already knowing what they are passionate about. This can even help them discover their future career path.
- Parent tip: Help your child make choices starting in middle school where they’ll take risks. Making mistakes (and learning how to fix them) is often the best way to learn about what you are capable of.
Knowing your child’s strengths will help them prepare for college, even in middle school
What kind of student are they? Is your child the intellectual leader? The social leader? Will they potentially need extra help with school work? This goes back to being your child’s support system. What is intellectually interesting to them? Do they have any special interests that they like to learn about in their free time?
- Parent tip: Encourage communication about things they enjoy doing and things they are assigned to do for school. Let your child be the co-pilot in it all. It is their future, after all.
Foster friendships that will anchor your child and build social skills for future college experiences
Many students lose and gain friends as they transition from middle to high school, and especially when transitioning to college. School activities can help your child gain friendships they might otherwise lack in the first few months of high school — and nurture important relationship skills that will serve them well into the future.
- Parent tip: Explore what your child’s middle school — and future high school — have to offer. Seeking out groups in the community is also a great way for your child to branch out and meet other kids who may not go to their school.
Encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities
Sports, hobbies and creative expression: It’s important for your child to know that they don’t have to be the best at something in order to enjoy it. Extracurriculars can help with academics by allowing your child to think from a new angle.
But extracurricular activities can be too much of a good thing. The National Education Association reports that too many enrichment activities coupled with a heavy homework load can negatively affect your child’s mental health. Seek balance and make sure your child has time for socializing, relaxing and especially sleeping.
- Parent tip: Middle school is a great time to try new interests. If clubs and organizations at your child’s school aren’t hitting the mark, check out your city’s community center or local YMCA.
Create a productive daily schedule and help your child stay organized
Having a schedule to follow creates organization and independence. A responsible student will succeed in many areas. In her article “The Benefits of Guiding Students to Develop Good Habits,” middle school math teacher Crystal Frommert found that teaching young students to create good habits helped them achieve their goals, rather than just set them. Breaking down the big picture can make goals become more tangible.
- Parent tip: Middle school is the perfect time to help your child develop good study habits, including taking notes in class and while reading and learning to use a planner for time management skills.
Get familiar with college costs and start saving early for college
Be aware of your financial options when it comes to higher education. There are many ways to pay for college, including completing the FAFSA for loans and grants, a 529 savings plan from MESP or MET, and even Big Future’s Scholarship Search. It’s never too early to learn how financial aid works.
- Parent tip: Think ahead to Advanced Placement (AP) classes your child might like to take in high school. These advanced classes can help your child earn future college credit and, in some cases, reduce your tuition costs.
Finish strong and have a smart summer
Academics rarely level out after middle school; there’s still so much to learn! Knowing what classes your child will take during their freshman year will help you help them.
You can prepare math and science-related activities, and encourage reading for English and history classes. Using websites like Quizlet for flashcards and Goodreads for reading can keep things interesting.
Content is sponsored by Michigan Education Savings Program. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s Making Your Child’s College Dreams Come True.
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