Academics

Encourage your child to review the list of academic and personal goals that he/she prepared at the beginning of the previous school year, noting successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses, and interests and disinterests. This annual exercise in introspection will eventually reveal consistencies that will help your child determine a course to and through college and on to a career.

Remind your child to obtain the books assigned on his/her summer reading list (or for the next school year) early in the summer – either online, at a bookstore, at the local library or through a swap with classmates. Encourage him/her to develop a schedule for reading the books throughout the summer (i.e., a book a week) and to either highlight or take notes so he/she won’t forget important facts and concepts before school resumes in the fall.

If your child needs some extra help to improve his/her academic performance, click here to learn about online tutoring services.

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College Planning

Summer is the best time for your child to ask teachers to write letters of recommendation for him/her. He/She should provide these teachers with talking points on awards received, competitions won and/or notable projects. After receiving the letters, remind your child to send thank-you notes and encourage him/her to keep these teachers apprised of the application process throughout the coming year.

If your child has kept his/her best papers, report cards, newspaper clips, awards, artwork, etc. from the past year in a master file (or scrapbook or box), now is the time to review and reference them for use filling out college and scholarship applications.

It is going to be a busy fall, so your child should begin working on application essays over the summer. He/She can find many colleges’ applications online by clicking here.

While continuing to visit colleges with your child, you can help him/her start narrowing down his/her choices to two “reach” schools (where chances for acceptance may be around 20%); two “good chance” schools (where odds for getting in are at least 50/50); and at least one “back-up” school (where he/she is virtually assured acceptance). Important note: These schools should ALL be places that fit your child’s needs and interests and where he or she would be genuinely happy to attend.

Suggest to your child that he/she contact key college representatives – such as coaches or music professors whom he/she may be able to see at summer camps. In preparation for interviews with them (and/or college admissions officers), help your child to develop thoughtful answers to questions that may be asked, as well as questions for your child to pose to them.

Be sure your child sends thank-you notes to the Admissions Officer and any other faculty or staff with whom he or she met on school visits.

Members of College Parents of America: If you have any questions about the admission process, ask Michigan State University Admission Director Pamela Horne at Ask the Experts. You’ll get a comprehensive, personal response within 72 hours.

To get an “inside look” at the colleges to which your child may be applying, you can peruse their school newspapers.

College Funding

To get an idea of the amount of financial aid that your child may be eligible for, it is necessary first to calculate your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). This is the amount that the government determines you are responsible for paying toward tuition.

New scholarships are created or become available every year. Your child should maintain an ongoing search and request applications now. To begin an online search for scholarship opportunities, there are several free services at sites such as www.studentaward.com, www.brokescholar.com and www.fastweb.com. (Typically, these sites have databases providing $1-3 billion in scholarships and fund their services through advertising or selling their mailing lists.)

Exponentially larger and more up-to-date databases are offered by fee-based services (i.e., Findtuition.com features $24.3 billion in scholarships and grants).

Members of College Parents of America: Save 25% on a subscription to Findtuition.com.

Be wary of scholarship scams (i.e., companies that “guarantee” scholarships). To report a suspected scam, click here.

Summer Jobs/Programs

Is your child looking for a part-time, hourly or summer job? Click here for listings of opportunities with nationwide retail and restaurant chains and others.

For federal rules that apply to working teenagers, see www.youthrules.dol.gov

Recommend to your child that he or she develop a budget for the summer and start putting money away for college. In addition to tuition, there are lots of extra expenses at college and he/she will be glad to have some money put away for them.

At the end of the summer, urge your child to evaluate his/her summer job or volunteer experience, noting new skills learned and/or objectives achieved. He/she should review which responsibilities were enjoyable and/or meaningful – and which were not. He/She should also ask his/her supervisor to provide a letter of recommendation or to fill out a performance evaluation, which should then be placed in a master file. Your child should also send a thank-you note to his/her supervisor(s).

Concerned about your child’s saving and spending habits? For tips on discussing fiscal responsibility and money management with teenagers, read Money Talks, College Parents of America and MasterCard’s guide to financial literacy.

Issuing your child a pre-loaded debit card is one way of helping him/her learn to live within a budget, yet still enjoy an occasional treat and have access to funds in case of an emergency. Click here to learn more.

Special Offer: As a Decade of Decisions subscriber, you are eligible to enroll as a College Parents of America member for as little as $19 per year. To learn more about membership benefits and options, click here.