Fostering College Readiness at Any Age

Being part of a K-12 school has some unexpected advantages. One such example is that students in grades K-8 are exposed to information that is usually only seen by high school students.

While college planning is often reserved for high school students, it’s beneficial for K-8 students to start thinking about this at an early age. Observing and experiencing how adults apply their college degrees in the real world can build younger students’ enthusiasm about college. For example, the team at The San Jose Technology Museum offers hands-on demos where student can watch them build rollercoasters. This was a hit with my younger students during a recent field trip. It also enticed them to want to learn more about engineering by connecting an exciting field trip to something they could study in college.

Early exposure to future areas of study and the academic institutions that prepare and train students is one of the best ways to foster an interest in college, and ultimately inform a choice that’s right for your child. Let your student explore their options. This will show them they have the power to pick an environment where they can spend each day excited about learning and doing what interests them. Most campuses welcome visitors and schools such as ours will often organize “college day” field trips to introduce prospective students to the college environment. My K-12 school opens up our college day field trips to students of all ages. We’ve had children as young as third grade attend these college visits where they can gain an understanding of how their interests and passions can translate into fields of study, and ultimately careers.

When the time comes to complete and submit college applications, SAT and ACT scores are a very important pieces of the puzzle in determining whether your student will get in to their top-choice school.  Most college websites have a standard sliding scale model that shows how admissions departments measure test scores and GPA. Introducing your younger student to this scale can give them great perspective and motivation. SAT and ACT test prep is extremely important, too. In fact, our 11th-grade students at California Connections Academy have the option to take SAT prep courses for credit as part of their regular class schedule. Outside learning guides, tutors and SAT prep classes are also options.

Rising alongside increased competition, college costs have inflated significantly over the last 10 years. Researching the costs of a college education sooner rather than later will help families plan early, and allow them time to evaluate different financial options to help make their student’s college dreams become a reality.

Many parents have a great deal of anxiety about their kids’ futures in a world that seems much more competitive than the one in which they grew up. The Department of Labor estimates that nearly 90 percent of the fastest-growing and best paying jobs now require a college education. Encouraging students to explore college and developing their educational aspirations – while helping them make sense of this world as they explore options for their future – will help set up your student for success, and better prepare you for the college application process at the same time.