Preparing Your Student For College Before The Acceptance Letter

With 3 out of 10 college freshmen dropping out after or within their first year of college (“College Dropout Rates” Think Impact: https://www.thinkimpact.com/college-dropout-rates/), it makes sense for parents to develop a plan to avert trouble within their own families. This dismal statistic is the reason there is a need to look beyond college acceptance letters and focus early on strategies to help students navigate the transition from high school to college.  This preparation is not considered the colleges’ responsibility, however, parents have the power to create a significant impact on their child’s college experience.

One thing that is not widely discussed is the difficult transition many students will face, despite their excitement over starting the next chapter in their young lives. There are significant differences between high school and college that extend beyond the cost. Even highly qualified students who have prepared by taking AP and IB classes often struggle for two main reasons: there is little to no hand-holding in college, and there are more distractions.

My hope for every parent is that the college application process and the preparation that led up to their student’s acceptance have caused a transformation and sparked a period of growth for all families.  Hopefully, as parents, we’ve seen our children grow into a greater level of independence, and we can witness and acknowledge our child’s college readiness. Despite their growth, some of us still may wonder if our children are equipped to truly succeed once they get to college.

I have identified several key characteristics of successful college students, both in my role as the mother of a college student and in my professional role as a college advisor. The traits I view as determinants of college success include:

1.     A growth mindset

2.     Self-management

3.     Self-awareness

4.     Self-advocacy

5. Grit

I will address each in this blog.

A growth mindset means that the student enters college with a true desire to learn. To get the most out of any college experience, students should focus on being teachable, rather attempting to prove their past accomplishments. They should be willing to consider new perspectives and try new activities to find and develop their interests. They will learn from their professors, as well as other students, as they engage in the college campus to spur their own personal and intellectual growth.

Self-management is a key trait of successful college students which equates to discipline. Students quickly become aware their college workload requires effort and attention. They begin to take responsibility for getting to class, turning in their assignments. They view college as their job, much in the same way they viewed their responsibilities in high school. They take care of their health by eating right, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and balancing their academic demands with personal care. They focus on creating a schedule that includes time to study outside of class, as well as free time to enjoy college life. That schedule creates a system for success, because time management is vital to every college student.

The release of the first set of test grades is a terrible time to realize you should have scheduled time with your professor. Self-awareness and self-assessment can salvage a student’s GPA. Every student is responsible for their own learning and knowing when they need help.

Once a student becomes aware of their needs, they will benefit from identifying the campus resources available to them and then finding a solution, whether alone or with faculty assistance. There is no shame in asking for help, and students should be aware that most faculty members want to help. Student self-advocacy is key at a time when college professors frown upon phone calls from parents, who may not have transitioned into their new role as the parent of a college student.

I have have updated this this blog, a few days later, to include grit. Grit goes beyond resiliency to include courage, resolve and strength of character. These are all essential qualities that contribute to success in life, no matter what stage we’re facing. What sets grit apart from the other traits I mention, is that grit is developed almost exclusively through failure. When we, as well-intentioned parents, attempt to protect our children from every mishap in life, we inadvertently deprive our children of developing grit. I have struggled, as a closet helicopter mother, to allow my own children to fail. As they have gotten older, it has become easier to allow them to make their own decisions and deal with the resulting consequences, however, the practice it took me to arrive where I am today required my own self-discipline. My advice to parents would be to practice with great frequency while you are there to help with the repercussions that may follow. When it gets hard, remind yourself that you are allowing your student to find their grit.

College GPS prepares students and their parents for college success at regular intervals on the college timeline and holds an intensive college strategy session, complete with documentation, before the trip to college. If you want to learn more about how we provide a structure that leads to success, while minimizing application anxiety, click “Let’s Talk"” to begin the conversation.  

College GPS positions students for success in the college and graduate school admissions process, as well as the life that follows. Help is only a phone call away.