Year-by-Year Guide to Prep Your High Schooler for College

Countdown to College

Tips to Help Students Find Their Fit

By Janeen Lewis

The high school road to college may seem like four of the most challenging years families face. There are deadlines, tough financial choices and parents and children don’t always agree on colleges. If that isn’t stressful enough, every year there are tasks that high school students should be checking off their to-do list. How do parents help their high school students navigate all the details and decisions they must make during their countdown to college? Here is some advice from the pros -- a parent who’s been through the process and a college admissions counselor.

Starting the Conversation

It all starts with a conversation between parent and child. But often the question that starts the conversation is the wrong one, according to Rick Clark, an undergraduate admissions counselor. “Parents ask ‘Where do you want to go to college?’ “Clark says. The biggest question that parents don’t ask or lose sight of is ‘Why do you want to go to college?’ “That why is important, and should be followed up with questions like “What do you hope to get out of this? What do you want to study? What do you want to do long-term?” says Clark.

Freshman Year: The Importance of Academics

Rachael Fain, a mom of three, stresses the importance of the GPA during freshman year. Fain’s daughter, Hannah, graduated from college in 2017. Fain also has a son, Matthew, who is a junior in college.

“My children started taking high school classes in eighth grade,” Fain says. “A GPA is harder to bring up in junior and senior year, so our goal their eighth and ninth grade years was to keep their GPA high.”

The freshman year is also important for getting on a challenging track of classes.“Course choice is important,” Clark says. “Math in particular is something students need to pay attention to.” Taking challenging classes in high school helped Fain’s son Matthew make his college decision. He decided to pursue his degree at the University where he took dual credit courses when he was in high school.

Sophomore Year: Getting to Know You

Tenth grade is a good year for self-reflection. Students can take personality tests and the PSAT to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. They can also start thinking about the kind and size of school they want to attend.

Understanding what they are good at will help high school students be realistic about the school that is the best fit for them.

Junior Year: Balancing Grades and Activities

Grades are crucial during the junior year. Junior year also involves a more challenging track of classes and leadership roles in clubs and activities. It’s hard to do it all, so how important are the extracurricular activities? It depends on the student and the college.

“At one of my children’s colleges, extracurricular activities were really important,” Fain said. “At the other one, they didn’t’ matter as much.”

Clark says one out of every four students who apply to the school where he works are accepted.

“Most students that apply have good test scores, good grades and good courses. Then the review committee asks ‘Is this kid a good fit for us?’” Clark says they look for students who are innovative or who are entrepreneurs, and they ask “How does this student use their time?”

“If they are a good student who goes home and plays video games, what will they contribute to the school?” Clark says.

But it stands out if students are responsible, if they work a job or if they make an impact some way.

Senior Year: Find Your Fit

Clark says the most important thing about making a college decision is finding a good fit.

“Fit doesn’t really mean can the student do the work, but are they aligned well to the school.” For example, Clark says two universities can look the same on paper. A student will apply to each with the same grades and same test scores and get accepted to one and not the other.

“That is what fit is,” Clark says. “How a student fits with a school, not just from an academic standpoint.”

If you and your child do not agree on the same school, Clark says how you approach the topic may resolve a lot of conflict over the situation. “Continue to tell your kids you love them, and that no matter where they go to college, it will be great.” The good news is that there are many schools across the country and probably more than one of them will match your student’s personality and academic standing. “If you or your child feels overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remember there is a school for every student,” says Fain.

Janeen Lewis is a writer, teacher and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She has been published in several parenting publications across the country.

Countdown to College Checklist

A Timeline That Will Take You Places

Preparing for college can be overwhelming for high school students and their parents because of the many steps it takes to get an acceptance letter. But breaking the college to-do list into manageable steps for each year of high school makes the process less stressful and teaches students responsibility, the very thing they will need for what they want to achieve -- a college education. Follow this step-by-step guide for a smoother countdown to college. FRESHMAN YEAR • Talk to your parents and guidance counselor at the beginning of the year to set goals. • Take the most challenging courses available to you.

Make good grades. • Try a variety of activities. • Take advantage of opportunities to visit college campuses when you travel.

SOPHOMORE YEAR • Visit college and career fairs. • Build your resume. Make a list of awards, accomplishments, and activities. • Take the PSAT for practice (you can take it your sophomore and junior year, but it won’t count until you are a junior). • Start studying for the ACT and SAT. There are many test prep guides available online and in book form. • Assess your strengths and weaknesses and take a personality inventory. • Research possible careers. • During the summer begin researching colleges that might be a good fit.

JUNIOR YEAR • Take the PSAT. • Accept leadership roles in the activities that suit you best. • Narrow your list of possible careers. • Narrow your list of possible colleges. • Take the ACT and SAT. • During the summer volunteer or find an internship or job related to your future career. • Write a college entrance essay draft. Have it critiqued by a guidance counselor or teacher.

SENIOR YEAR • Narrow your college search to six to eight schools. • Post all important deadline dates on a wall calendar. • Retake the ACT or SAT if needed. • Polish your resume. • Ask for teacher recommendations. • Visit the colleges you are applying to. • Send out all your college applications. • After you receive your acceptance letters, compare scholarship and financial aid packages and make your final decision. • Notify all the schools you were accepted to of your decision. • Celebrate the beginning of a new timeline at college!

FOR THE KID WHO WANTS TO KNOW IT ALL! Cover topics from amazing rivers to bacteria to Cleopatra. These impressively detailed books will keep the kids engaged and entertained as well as expand their minds.

LISTIFIED

Ever wondered which 10 dinosaurs were the largest, and what they weighed… in cats? Or how much of your DNA you share with other animals…and bananas? Enter the listiverse and get ready to see the world in a whole new way. Listified! takes the best and most amazing parts of the universe-erupting volcanoes, medieval machines, jumping spiders, exploding stars and everything in between and organizes them into quirky list form for curious kids and their friends and family to enjoy. Age: 8-12

BRITANNICA’S FIRST BIG BOOK OF WHY

Britannica’s huge, authoritative, and lavishly illustrated question and answer book will satisfy even the most curious kids, with over 100 questions verified by Britannica experts. Spanning a range of topics including animals, the body, machines, space, and more, this book provides clear and accessible explanations and even explores some of the mysteries that experts are still trying to solve! Age: 4-8

EARTH IS BIG: A BOOK OF COMPARISONS

Get to know our planet in a whole new way by comparing it to a huge variety of other incredible things— from tiny particles to giant star clusters. Did you know soap bubbles are some of the roundest objects in the universe? Or that we humans are totally outnumbered by chickens? Or that the driest desert on Earth isn’t scorching but freezing? Tour some of the most extreme places on the planet and beyond it, take a look at life forms from bacteria to elephants to redwood trees, and explore what makes our planet the perfect home for us. Age: 6-11

FACTOPIA!

Hop from topic to topic in unexpected and delightful ways, and discover what connects a giraffe with the Eiffel tower, or a slice of pizza with Cleopatra. On your aweinspiring journey, you will find out extraordinary facts about space, bones, dinosaurs and more. Age: 8-12

Choose a time when your baby is in her resource like Postpartummen.com can be a lifesaver. Most people don’t know that Deadline is APRIL 19 “quiet alert” stage for the best experience dads feel the baby blues just like moms, for both baby and dad. Gentle massage will and dads can also experience postpartum Results Revealed in often help a baby to prolong a quiet state that continues even after the massage is depression. Moms can help by encouraging dads to check these local online resources. July 2014 Issue over. Even diapering can be “quality time” Even better, Moms can encourage (even for a dad and baby, if he talks and coos to push) dads to use these resources to get her while he is cleaning and changing her. together with other dads in real life.

As new parents you need to be very Fortunately, nature designed babies to aware of each other’s needs right now. rapidly move through this period of comMothers are often so overwhelmed with plete dependency on mom. Soon, your baby caring for a new baby that they don’t have will become a delightfully social being. By much energy left for the couple relation- the time you read this, she will be smiling ship. Dads, on the other hand, may not get and flirting as she discovers that there is to enjoy the baby as much and may feel de- more to life than a good meal and a nap. In prived of both their mate and their expectations of what fatherhood would be like. No one can imagine what daily life will be fact, by the end of her third month, she’ll be so delighted to see her dad that you’ll see her get excited and animated just see- www.parentspress.comlike with a new baby. Of course, no one has ing his face. So be patient, support each the time or energy to talk about this, so it’s other through this difficult time, and you’ll no wonder thatboth parents can wind up all emerge intact.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

caring for a new baby that they don’t have much energy 2 Online Polls • VOTE Today!left for the couple relationship. ounces of warm water.The slightly sweet water is more appealing than plain but can meet other fathers for discussions, activities or a hike through local resources WIN Prizes! won’t interfere with your baby’s hunger for such as the Fathers Forum (Fathersforum. her next meal. com) or East Bay Dads (Eastbaydads.com). Bath time can also be fun, if your baby If a dad is feeling really overwhelmed likes the water. Most babies like a little or stressed out, the extra support of a massage with an unscented oil or lotion. Choose a time when your baby is in her resource like Postpartummen.com can be a lifesaver. Most people don’t know thatALL NEW KIDS’ ENCYCLOPEDIA Deadline is APRIL 19 “quiet alert” stage for the best experience dads feel the baby blues just like moms, for both baby and dad. Gentle massage will often help a baby to prolong a quiet state that continues even after the massage is over. Even diapering can be “quality time” and dads can also experience postpartum depression. Moms can help by encouraging dads to check these local online resources. Even better, Moms can encourage (even Telling the story of the world from the beginning of time to the present 2014 Results Revealed in July 2014 Issue for a dad and baby, if he talks and coos to push) dads to use these resources to get her while he is cleaning and changing her. together with other dads in real life. day, this book is a must-have addition As new parents you need to be very aware of each other’s needs right now. Fortunately, nature designed babies to rapidly move through this period of comto every family bookshelf and library Mothers are often so overwhelmed with caring for a new baby that they don’t have plete dependency on mom. Soon, your baby will become a delightfully social being. By collection! This beautifully illustrated, much energy left for the couple relationship. Dads, on the other hand, may not get the time you read this, she will be smiling and flirting as she discovers that there is 424-page compendium of amazing www.parentspress.com to enjoy the baby as much and may feel deprived of both their mate and their expectations of what fatherhood would be like. No one can imagine what daily life will be more to life than a good meal and a nap. In fact, by the end of her third month, she’ll be so delighted to see her dad that you’ll see her get excited and animated just seefacts you can trust provides hundreds of hours of fun learning for curious like with a new baby. Of course, no one has the time or energy to talk about this, so it’s ing his face. So be patient, support each other through this difficult time, and you’ll children and their families. Age: 8-12 no wonder thatboth parents can wind up all emerge intact.

DENTISTS DENTAL LISTINGS

ALAMEDA Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. 510-865-2900 www.alamedadentist.com

ThesedocTorsareamongHEALTH & WELLNESS thebestfamilydentistsand ortohodontists inThe Bay area PINOLE Thea S. Dosanjh, DDS

DENTISTS ALAMEDA 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.comDENTAL LISTINGS Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. 510-865-2900 www.alamedadentist.com Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com

ThesedocTorsareamong AMAZING RIVERS Learn about incredible wildlife, from thebestfamilydentistsandbrown bears catching salmon that ortohodontists inThe Bay area swim upstream to anacondas large enough to eat a pig. Explore astounding PINOLE natural wonders, from a boiling river Thea S. Dosanjh, DDS so hot you can cook an egg in it to a 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 multicolored river that flows like a 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com liquid rainbow. And discover awesome river traditions, from ritual baths Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 to rubber duck racing to barefoot 510-964-0168 waterskiing! Age: 7-11  www.eastshorepediatricdental.com

Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under 5? Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under 5?

Pediatric Ear Nose and Throat ExpertsPediatric Ear Nose Specializing in the care of:and Throat Experts Ear Infections Specializing in the care of:

Sinus InfectionsEar Infections

Tonsillitis Sinus Infections

SnoringTonsillitis Snoring

Most insurance plans acceptedMost insurance plans accepted

You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods!support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods! Working families may be eligible for WIC! Working families may be eligible for WIC! We are providing services over the phone during COVID-19, call 510-981-5360

For more information and to For more information and to see if you qualify, contact: see if you qualify, contact:City of Berkeley WIC Program City of Berkeley WIC Program 830 University Ave 830 University AveBerkeley, CA 94710 Berkeley, CA 94710 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! wicprogram@cityofberkeley.info Visit us at www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth wicprogram@cityofberkeley.info Visit us at www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. (Medi-Cal and CHDP) Families, CHDP and other community programs) This institution is an equal opportunity provider. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy (Medi-Cal and CHDP) Families, CHDP and other community programs) This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

PP EB MAR 2014_1-16.26rm.indd 11

Berkeley City Ballet

PP EB MAR 2014_1-16.26rm.indd 11 berkeleycityballet.org

2961 Summit Street, Oakland, CA 94609 2961 Summit Street, Oakland, CA 94609 Call Today 510-465-0941Call Today 510-465-0941

Summer Ballet Are you concerned about the safety of your son or daughter? • Is your teen no longer listening to you? Have you tried therapy or other avenues of support that haven’t worked? Is your son or daughter already in an out-of-home placement and are you looking to connect with other parents in the same A Group for Parents of Struggling Teens Are you concerned about the safety of your son or daughter? • Is your teen no longer listening to you? Have you tried therapy or other avenues of support that haven’t worked? Is your son or daughter already in an out-of-home placement and are you looking to connect with other parents in the same situation? This six-week parenting group starting in early March offers help and support during stressful times. A Group for Parents of Struggling Teens Camps & Classessituation? This six-week parenting group starting in early March offers help and support during stressful times. Cindy Rasicot, MFT is in private practice in Lafayette, California with a specialization in adoption issues. She is a Director of Willows in the Wind, www.willowsinthewind.com Cindy Rasicot, MFT is in private practice in Lafayette, California with a specialization in adoption issues. She is a Director of Willows in the Wind, www.willowsinthewind.com Cindy Rasicot, MFT | cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463 For additional information about the group and to schedule a free introductory meeting For additional information about the group and to schedule a free introductory meeting

Pre Ballet - Pre Professional Cindy Rasicot, MFT | cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463 March 2014 | East Bay | Parents’ Press 11 Ages 4 & UpMarch 2014 | East Bay | Parents’ Press 11 2/25/14 11:27 AM

Ages 2 and up Boys ballet Dance camps Birthday parties State-of-the-art studios Sprung floors Easy parking Easy online registration and payment