It is time for your child to trade in their middle school spirit wear and transition into their high school colors. You may think that it is too soon for your child to be thinking about going to college, but middle school is the perfect time to start getting them prepared. From preparing for big exams like the PSAT and the ACT to determining how to pay for college, there are some things you can do now that will set your child up for success when it is time to start applying to colleges.

5 Tricks To Prepare Your Middle School Child For College

Plant The Seed About College

If you have not already, start talking to your child about college. Ask them what college they want to go to or what they think they want to study. You will get their minds thinking about the future. Have a chat with them about their interests as well as your expectations. Find the middle ground and help them line up their interested and career goals with a plan. The earlier you can expose your child to college, the more prepared they will feel when it comes time to make the decision about where they want to go.

Work Together With The School

Middle school means your child is not a little kid anymore, but they still need guidance and direction. It may be your instinct to become less involved. Avoid this knee-jerk reaction. Meet your child’s teachers. Let them know that you want to be updated about your child’s work or behavior in class. Meet with your child’s school counselor, explaining to them your child’s interests. You can even go over your child’s exam results with them so they can help you identify your child’s weaknesses and strengths.

Be Involved In The Class Picking Process

You want to be sure that your child is taking the necessary classes that are going to set your child up for success. Some classes your child can get away with forgoing if they want to go to college, but others not so much. Courses like English should be taken every year. Your child should also be taking as many history and science classes as possible. Your child may also be required to take two years of a foreign language course. Ensure that your child knows the guidelines. If there are any computer science courses, encourage your child to take those classes as well as that could prepare them for doing college-level work on a computer.

Encourage Your Child To Read As Much As Possible

Reading is fundamental. Reading is the best way for your child to prepare for the college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT. Having your child read a lot will also prepare them for completing college-level coursework. Reading helps build their vocabulary which could come in handy when taking the SAT or ACT. 

Get Help For Your Child

Do not wait until there is a serious problem in coursework before you reach out to seek help for your child. Time management skills, organizational skills and study skills are crucial to your child succeeding in college. Think creatively on ways you can encourage development in those areas.