The start of high school is an exciting time.
Your child may be becoming more independent, adjusting to a new school, and making new friends. At the same time, your help and involvement can be very important to your child. Here are some things you can do with your child to help them succeed this year.
Summer Before High School
- Learn about the A-G classes that students are required to complete in high school to meet most college entrance requirements.
- Look at college websites and/or visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to learn and get excited about college. Here are some ways to get the most out of a campus visit.
- Get facts about what college costs. You may be surprised by the amount of aid a student can receive. Check out Understanding College Costs.
- Show your child ways to explore career ideas. They can make a list of interests, skills, and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Explore tools that assist in career exploration.
Fall
- Ensure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most appropriate classes, especially A-G classes. Learn more about working with a high school counselor.
- Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
- Attend the North Coast College and Career Expo.
- Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify future career interests and feel more engaged in school. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.
- Look for support programs. Low-income and first-generation college-going families can qualify for support programs such as TRIO Talent Search and TRIO Upward Bound. Check with your school to see if your child’s high school has any such programs.
Winter
- There are lots of ways college can be more affordable. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs. Check out 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid and resources to fund college.
- Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is appropriately challenged and taking the courses that college admissions require. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for. Consider AP, IB, or Honors classes. You can also help your child find tutoring assistance for subjects that they are struggling in.
Spring
- This spring your child will choose sophomore year classes. Encourage them to stay on track with A-G classes and College Prep classes. Also, if your child earned below a C- in any A-G class, help them enroll in summer school or a credit-recovery option with the help of the school counselor. There are free online A-G classes through UC Scout, as an additional option.
- Help your child explore career opportunities and start a college interest list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
- If you have the opportunity to save for college, use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
- Help your child make summer plans and check in to see if your child needs to attend summer school or do credit recovery (if they received lower than a C- in an A-G class). Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills. Colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.