It's Back to School time--are you prepared?

Published: Thu, 08/04/22

It's Back to School time. Your house is abuzz with all sorts of activity and each transition presents its own challenges. Over the summer I wrote a series especially for moms highlighting the summer before each transitional year of school from middle school to college. Save this email--you're going to need it to refer back to over the next several years.

In today's newsletter, I'm sharing those articles with you and wishing you and your students the best of luck for the new school year.

The summer before middle school

A national survey by Harris Interactive found that while 92% of seventh- and eighth-graders said they were likely to attend college, 68% said they had little or no information about which classes to take to prepare for it. The National Association for College Admission Counseling emphasizes that parents should begin planning for college in middle school.

The summer before freshman year of high school

Your young teenager is preparing to embark on a high school education as freshman year approaches. In their mind, they are entering the first phase of adulthood. In your mind, they are still children and those feelings that you are “losing them” begin to creep in. High school means that you will be less visible as a parent, but it does not mean you are to be uninvolved. In fact, you will be even more involved behind the scenes as a parent coach.

The summer before sophomore year of high school

Your teen has jumped in and is now a “seasoned” high schooler. Hopefully you have both gotten use to the high school routine. Sophomore year brings your teen closer to their goal of attending college. It’s during the 10th grade that your teen will begin to take some baby steps toward realizing their goal of a college education. The focus for this year should be: preliminary testing, looking at careers, delving deeper into the college search, and getting heavily involved in a few activities.in

The summer before junior year of high school

It’s time for you and your teen to sit down and evaluate goals to make sure you are on-track for the college application process. As you go back through all the grades, papers, awards and accomplishments you will be able to see your teen’s progress and that progress will encourage them to keep focused and keep their eye on the prize: graduation and college acceptance.

The summer before senior year of high school

If your life isn’t crazy enough right now, it’s about to get even crazier. Once your child becomes a high school senior, your time is not your own. Anything and everything is focused on college. Your family (not just your teen) will eat, drink and sleep all things college. Before the year ends you will wonder how you will survive mentally, physically and emotionally. It will be a rollercoaster of highs and lows for both you and your college-bound teen.

The summer before college

The summer before college was a stressful time in our house. I was concerned that she was young, much younger than most college freshmen, and naive and dependent. I often found myself hyperventilating at the thought of her leaving home, since she would officially make our home an empty nest. And just as worried and concerned as I was, I was also excited with anticipation for her to enter this new phase in her life.

Have a great weekend,

Suzanne Shaffer

Parenting for College

[email protected]

My recently updated Parent Crash Course is your answer to the complicated college maze. Over the years I have listened to frustrated parents voice these feelings over and over again. In answer to their requests, I have created this amazing do-it-yourself crash course.

Suzanne Shaffer
Parenting for College

18788 Marsh Lane #2912
Dallas TX 75287
USA

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