I was recently a featured speaker at the Georgia PTA Conference. My presentation addressed ways to handle post-high school planning without becoming overwhelmed. An excellent way to tackle planning is to spread out tasks throughout each grade of high school. And one of the best times to do this work is during summer break when your teen does not have the stress of school, homework, or extracurricular activities.
Share these summer post-high school planning activities with your student:
Freshman
- Get organized. College applications require you to track all activities, awards, and volunteer opportunities from 9th to 12th grade. Our My Ideal College Countdown Organizer can help you keep up with everything.
- Research jobs that interest you. Search YouTube for video interviews with professionals in a variety of careers.
Sophomore
- Narrow down possible career interests. The best way is to take a career assessment like the one we offer. In 20 minutes, you’ll have a list of careers you will enjoy based on research of hundreds of jobs. Parents can schedule a free call with me here to learn more.
- Network with people in those careers and interview them about working in their field.
Junior
- Make a list of colleges or technical schools to visit and your criteria for them. Take a look at our College Tours blog archives for tips like how to choose which campuses to visit and what questions to ask.
- Visit the schools on your list, and try to sit in on some classes to get a feel for college life.
- Study for the ACT/SAT, if needed.
Senior
- Make a list of teachers you want to ask for recommendations, and set a reminder to request them as soon as the school year begins.
- Work on your college essay. If you’re going to college, this is a must-do. Experts say you need to allow two months to write and finalize your essay. This will give you time to plan it out, write a draft, and make revisions. Check out our Best Foot Forward package to help give your essay a jump-start.
Parents, taking these small steps along the way will help you avoid stress and anxiety as your teen moves toward their senior year. You want your teen’s last four years at home to be as enjoyable as possible.
At My Ideal College, we have tools, resources, and coaching to help you and your teen at every stage of their high school life – from organizers to career coaching, essay writing, and more. Schedule a complimentary College Assessment Plan call today to get started.