We've been thinking about high school freshmen a lot lately, as in, how much should we talk to them about college? Freshmen families often hear us talking out of both sides of our mouth: yes, everything counts now, and no, don't worry about college right now...just enjoy being in the ninth grade. The problem for me is that both of those things are true, so when I came across this article, I thought it might be a good time to expand on a few things I think are important for high school freshmen (and their parents) to know about the college process.
1. Yes, your ninth grade grades are important, and they count toward the transcript we will ultimately send to colleges. But high school is not middle school. Just because you made A's in the eighth grade does not mean you will make all A's in the ninth grade, and quite honestly, that kind of holds true for the rest of your life. I've been a college counselor for a long time now, but every year demands that I adjust to new expectations and new challenges. Learning to accept and meet those challenges will be a life skill you can carry with you forever.
2. Speaking of academics, you might not know exactly where you want to go to college (and frankly we hope you don't), but you probably have some inkling of the type of school you want to attend. I like what the article's author says: imagine where you might like to end up and then draw the path that will get you there.
3. That path should include a few activities that you can focus on throughout the year(s). There is NOT a magic activity, but if you are considering the most competitive colleges and universities, then you're going to have to do more. One frustrated counselor recently commented that it seemed like the students who were admitted to "those" schools had already published, invented, researched, or started their own businesses before the age of 18. Good grades and good test scores are not enough any more if attending one of the most competitive colleges is your goal.
4. Parents will undoubtedly get anxious about college. However, we like to say that someone has to keep calm, and that someone will be your college counselor. Too often I think parents want us to get as frantic and nervous as they are, but that won't do anyone any good. Don't be upset if your we seem very sanguine about the process, because underneath we're also paddling like crazy!
[So should parents start talking about college? Well, it's probably inevitable, so yes, it's okay to talk about it. However, not if you say things like "You have to get into Vanderbilt, or your life will be ruined." Begin by talking to your daughter in the most general of terms.]
5. When you are on vacation, by all means stop by a few colleges. It doesn't matter whether or not you would actually attend the school, but the more campuses you see, the more you can begin to define what is important to you. Formal college tours are not necessary however; most colleges are not prepared for fourteen year olds.
6. Please be open to the possibilities. The real stress we see is when you or your parents believe that only one school is good enough (see #4). There are so many amazing colleges and universities in the US, so please be willing to expand your horizons even a little. You'll never know what's out there unless you are willing to take a look.
We offer a number of programs and resources for students and parents throughout high school, starting with this blog, our twitter account (@gpscollege), and the monthly Cup O' College conversations. These allow you to keep abreast of admissions trends, scholarship/financial aid information, interesting summer programs, and even career advice. There will also be other special programs for parents and students throughout the years. Make every effort to attend those once you receive the calendar, because they are all there to keep you as informed as possible.
The college process is a long journey, but one thing remains pretty constant. Colleges are always looking for interesting people, and as a high school freshman, you are just getting started. Perhaps you simply begin by asking yourself this: How will you make the most of the next four years? Answering that question is a good start on the road to college.
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