How to Get Your Kids Set For College

It is nearly every parent’s dream to see their kids do well in school and proceed to college for further studies. It is in college where you will find all types of people, races, and activities, both good and bad. How do you prepare your kid to cope up with the new environment?

Before taking your kid to college, it is important to note that there are a number of factors to consider. These include but not limited to school supplies, choice of class/course, accommodation etc. what else can you do as a parent to help your kid get ready for college?  

Bear in mind that your child is going to interact with students from different nationalities, backgrounds, etc. and they might help him or her succeed academically. Tapping into this wisdom, here are some of the suggestions from Peachy Essay that will help you prepare your kid adequately for college so that they get the most out of it. 

Help your child to get an identity for college and prepare them for changes in communication 

Hold a discussion with your child on what he or she should expect in college. You need to tell your kid to inform you when it is ok to hear from them and when it isn’t ok to her from them. Expect a change in how often and how your kid will talk to you. Discuss how and why this is important. You can always hold your communication on apps like Facebook messenger, Whatsapp or Skype for audio and video calls. 

Teach your kid about identifying people and where to get assistance in college

Whenever your kid takes charge of their college life, it shows how independent they are. Important resources in college may include health services, academic advisers, recreational facilities, clubs, financial help officers, and religious organizations. 

Support and growth can be obtained from both the college and the community. This means, your kid has to be fully prepared for college even before orientation. Getting to know college life early enough keeps you ahead of others. For instance, you can use college time to get to know the new environment and to make friends. 

Success in college is as a result of a whole person

In college, success is not all about grades. It includes both classroom and out-of-class activities. You can ask him or her questions like; how does life feel like in college? What kind of connections are you making in college? What have you done recently that you pride yourself in? What is your take on how you are spending your time? If given another chance, what could you redo this week?

Help your kid to be the manager of the college experience

Mostly, successful students usually state what they have to do so as to support their life in college. This means they have to gain habits like introducing themselves to their professors, seeking assistance from student services before issues arise, thinking about time management, thinking about possible challenges and their solutions. 

Help your kid to create a connection between the existing strengths and 

Rarely do students connect between life before college and life in college. You can easily remind them the challenges they faced in high school and how they overcame them. This could be a time they worked hard and improved in grades or when the family relocated to a new place and they easily adjusted. 

Ask your kids open-ended questions

These questions will help them how to figure out and approach decisions independently. For instance, when an issues arises, teach your kids how to create their own plans and following through on those plans, rather than solving those issues for them. Ask them “what do you think is the right approach to the questions you just raised?” Let them think about the answers rather than giving them solutions freely. 

Talk to your kids about giving 100% in class, the growth to expect, and the challenges to expect too.

Normalize telling your kids that things are not always easy and encourage them to always persevere and be resilient. If your kids talk about deferring from school or transferring, always tell them that is not the solution. This will help them overcome many obstacles in life. 

Teach them how to budget as college students

It doesn’t matter whether your kids have been earning their own money or not. Joining college will have to teach them how to operate on a budget. Teaching them about budgeting will help them learn about spending and saving money. The sooner they get to know the difference between wants and needs (and the cost of things) the better. 

When it comes to expenditure and saving, college finances can be grouped into four categories. 

  1. Build a basic budget

The very initial step in preparing your kids financially ready for college is to help them build a basic budget plan. Start with money that comes from allowances and part time jobs (if any) and then subtract expenses. These expenses include variable and fixed expenses. Fixed expenses include rent, student loan payments etc. while variable expenses include utility bills, groceries, gas etc. 

  1. Come up with a savings plan 

The second step is to create a savings plan. When you know what is left after all expenses are deducted, have a savings goal. It can be a specific amount or percentage. However small the savings could be, they will help your kids to develop a saving habit. 

  1. Have room for discretionary spending 

The third step is to set aside money meant for spending. This comes after expenses and savings are deducted. This should be meant for fun stuffs like hiking, swimming, attending concerts, going to the movies etc. 

  1. Make frequent adjustments to prepare for college surprises

This is the final step. Your kids should know that a budget is a living thing and not something set in stone. It is natural that savings and expenses will always fluctuate. There could be an event that costs money this time round, a car repair or a school trip. 

Therefore, when your kids revisit their budgets frequently, they themselves will be held accountable for meeting financial goals. 

Conclusion 

Sending kids to college is a step that exists in their lives. This is the time they will experience being away from home and their families. Preparing them for financial, academic, and real life independence prepares them for a better future.