Though it’s January and college seems far away, now is the time reflect on your abilities to manage all the aspects of your future life on campus. Take a moment to think about your life right now:
What are you fully capable of doing?
What areas can you grow into before stepping onto campus?
The list of possibilities is LONG!
- Manage all the time in your day (classes may be 12-16 hours a week, readings/assignments might be another 50 hours a week… there’s still LOTS of time!)
- Get up and out the door on time
- Be prepared for classes/Complete assignments on time
- Travel with friends or on your own—to see friends on other campuses or explore nearby towns, cities, ski slopes, or beaches
- Make sure you’re doing everything from eating right to getting enough sleep to doing laundry to understanding your finances to mindfully choosing friends, relationships, and socializing options…
Once you realize what you already know how to do and what you have yet to learn, make the time between now and August to get comfortable with new and different tasks and responsibilities. Take charge of your schedule, your responsibilities (making some meals, spending money and using credit or debit cards, getting around to new and different places). Start the conversation with your parents about how you can make a smooth transition from life at home to life at college.
Just two nights ago I spoke to parents at a PTA meeting in Montrose, NY. We spent some time, and had a serious conversation, about how parents can shift into being supportive of their teens stepping into adulthood. Teens stepping up and parents stepping back. It’s critically important for everyone involved.
While this article on www.Edutopia.org begins the conversation, there’s more to be considered and discussed. Check out more of my ideas College Eligible vs. College Ready
I have to say that I was really disturbed by my brief conversation yesterday morning. I am so happy to report that I had a GREAT exchange with another guidance counselor just a few minutes later! The phone rings…
Me: Thank you so much for calling me back! I wanted to follow-up on my email from earlier this month, about my services to parents and teens—workshops and coaching.
Ms. ______: Oh! We have someone come in from ______ College and they talk about admissions to both teens and parents.
Me: Oh! Well, I really focus on parents and how they can support their teens during the college search, and I talk with them about their changing roles in the lives of their teens. I talk to teens also, and offer coaching to teens and families where there may be special needs or the need for more support services. May I send you the more detailed description of my series of workshops for parents?
Ms. _______: Well, how does this work, is it complementary? And, what do you expect to gain from it? What is your background?
Me: Yes, my workshops are free for parents. I bring articles that I have written and other resources. Parents can just come to the workshop and listen, they can take home resources, and they can contact me if they want to have further conversations about what I have to offer. My background is in special education—I was a teacher, principal and administrator, I have a doctorate in curriculum development, and my daughter is a college graduate. I started this work over seven years ago when my daughter went through the college admissions process and, while she went to a very good school, she didn’t feel that she knew all the pieces of this puzzle. I am also a member of Clark University’s Alumni and Parent Admissions Program.
Ms. ______: Oh! We want to be sure that people talking to our families know what is happening out there and have current information, as we can’t get out as much as we would like. We spend a lot of time talking with the college reps to learn what they want these days.
Me: Well, do you know www.unigo.com? It’s a site where students write about their experiences at college, and they’re on campus now.
Ms. ______: Oh yes, it’s like the Fiske Guide but written by students.
Me: Yes, it’s a student’s guide to colleges. Well, I am on their expert panel.
Ms. ______: Oh!
Me: I’ll be happy to send you the descriptions of my workshops later this morning. I look forward to hearing from you.
Ms. ______: I will have to talk with my counterpart at _________. I will be in touch!
Me: Thanks!
Woo Hoo! A guidance counselor who understands that students and parents need information and options around the services that support them during the great adventure of the college admissions process.
Okay, maybe that title is a little too broad… Here’s one guidance counselor’s response to my offer of complementary services to students and their parents:
REAL-LIFE
Earlier this morning:
Me: Hi! My name is Jill Greenbaum and I am following up on the email that I wrote to you earlier in the month. I offer coaching to teens in the college search process and presentations to parents about their roles in the lives or their teens. I was wondering if my services might be of use to families in _________.
Mr. (shall remain nameless): We actually find that rather insulting. We think we do a pretty good job here.
Me: Do you have students with special needs? Or parents with concerns?
Mr. __________ We have that covered.
Me: Oh! My work is not meant to be insulting, it complements that of guidance counselors. Thank you for your time.
Wow, wow, wow!
FACTS
- The ratio of students to guidance counselors in the US 476:11
- One in five students delayed going to college due to inadequate counseling2
- In 2009, 120,00 high school seniors hired educational consultants3
- 48% of students felt they were “a face in the crowd” to guidance counselors2
- 38 minutes is the total average amount of time a guidance counselor spends per student discussing college admissions1
There are plenty more statistics… they are mostly disheartening.
1 American School Counselor’s Association
2 Public Agenda 2010 Survey of Effectiveness of High School Guidance Counselors
3 Rheault
or, Smart Teens are Thinking Ahead and Prompting Their Parents to Think about the Future
I’m noticing a shift my practice… My clients are becoming high school juniors, not under-the-crushing-deadline-of-admissions seniors. This is great news! In my work, I am all about learning the path to finding the right college so that the process is focused and streamlined, with no floundering about on the part of teens or their parents.
In the past I have worked with seniors to complete their search in less than 60 days. Now I am starting with families earlier, affording them the time to ease into the process, feel more comfortable with all the pieces to the puzzle and the decision points along the way—which requires a lot of sifting and sorting, researching, and analyzing. And, if there are any special circumstances, from
- a desire to continue with a sports team, specialized study in theatre or the art to
- special learning academic needs, or
- the need to secure substantial financial aid
starting within the month is the smartest plan.
Give yourself the gift of time. Begin thinking and talking about the search now, shift into action in the new year and you will have the luxury of time to understand and enjoy the adventure of what the future holds.
NEWSFLASH: How to Major in You and Find the Right College in now available on Barnes & Noble site, here,
Insider info: My book is even more affordable on www.createspace.com, here, with this discount code, KXUZUQSN.
Yippee! One of my favorite topics is on the front pages… okay, the front pages of Education Week, yet the front pages nonetheless!
I am passionate about helping teens and families ensure that young adults heading off to college are fully prepared to be there—academically, emotionally, and socially. Teens need to be college-ready not just college eligible. I write about it, talk about it with teens and parents—and now the conversation is happening at a national level! This critical conversation has implications for you.
This article, Testing Consortium Crafts College-Readiness Definition – Curriculum Matters – Education Week (do not be scared off by the title) highlights the current thinking about the knowledge and skills student need to have at various levels in their school life. While you don’t need to know the details now… The “takeaway” from all of this is…You/Teens and their families need to have an eye toward the future! Life at college is mulitfaceted, and having the skills to navigate the:
- academic workload—classes, studying, tests, papers, projects, internships, etc.
- social life—rooomate(s), free time, parties, interpersonal and romantic/sexual relationships, refusal skills re: drugs and alcohol, etc.
- daily living realities—eating well and sleeping enough, money management, laundry, etc.
are foundational to success on campus.
Learn more here… Here are two resources: My short video about becoming college ready and one of the many articles I share with audiences at schools, conferences, and parent workshops.
How to Pick the Right College|Prepare Your Teen to be College Ready
Musings on Parenthood…
This morning I wrote to my daughter about how really wonderful it is that she is finding her way in the exciting, and yet messy, world of work. Then, I was struck by the thought that it was a “mom” kind of thing to say—and I believe that while there is some of that left in our relationship, we have more conversations as equals/peers/colleagues these days… and I reflected on the times that she has been respectful of the work/volunteering/learning that I do, and I felt content. We have reached a new place in our relationship…
Here’s a resource to share with your parents!
In the flurry of writing about making the choice about which college to attend, I forgot to attach a short article I wrote and distributed to parents at one of the workshops I presented last Saturday at Clark University’s Admitted Student Open House day.
You can click and share 
Make the best choice
In my radio show this week, College Bound & Determined, I do a quick recap of where you need to be in your college search process->if you want to have the time and energy to enjoy (!) the process. Take a good look at this mindmap, figure out where you are… and your next steps.
If you want support in the process, shoot me an email or, even better, sign up for a complimentary strategy session, jill {at} majorinyou,com
A year in the life… of a high school junior/senior
As promised, on my radio show, College Bound & Determined, here are the highlights of that last crucial year in the the journey to find the colleges that are the best matches.
Every week on my show, I create the space to step back and think about the college search and selection process. Check out my savvy guests, thoughtful questions, and fresh ideas. Parents learn ways to help their teens move away from the frenzy and teens can hear new techniques for making the shift from feeling anxious, confused, and overwhelmed to confident, organized, and successful in finding the colleges that are the right fit! Listen in, here.
Let’s dig deeper into the question of who will work on which tasks over the next year so that the journey to find the colleges that are the best fit becomes and remains an exciting adventure.
When you assess at all steps of the process…
What might you do together?
Brainstorm about areas of interest, strengths, essay topics
Imagine life at college-where, how large, what type of setting
Talk about finances
Visit colleges
Create a timeline and milestones
Practice interviews
Talk through final choices
What will you do alone?
Financial aid forms
What will your teen do independently?
Test prep and testing
Complete applications
Write essays
Do interviews
Secure letters of recommendation
Yikes! I have just listed over a dozen areas that require planning, preparation, completion… and those are just the highlights!
Perhaps the first question is… Where do you, as a family, begin? I think it’s by taking stock of
- what you know
- what you need to know/learn
- what questions and concerns you have
- your planning and completion skills
I hope that focusing on the first steps of the journey for the next year provides the foundation for starting the conversation with your teen.
* If you love to see things…Here’s a mindmap with ideas of “What to do When.” It’s a draft (no need to tell you that!), I’ll post a clean copy in a few days… check back!
