Time goes by so fast with children. Not so long ago, your kid was a baby. You blinked and now they are just about to go to college. This is something that most families prepare for long before it knocks on their doors, but when it comes closer, there are even more things to do.
As a good parent, you should have
an active role in your child’s education. This doesn’t only include saving for college. It also includes helping them get there, teaching them
how to prepare for college, and aiding them in finding the best choice.
If you want to learn
how to prepare your child for college and help them make the right choice, we’d like to introduce you to the most useful steps.
1. Find a Solution for College Challenges
According to a
New York University research, this is a phase in life when it is more important than ever to talk with your child about their future education. Yes, college is an amazing period in a person’s life, but not everything is partying and having fun with friends. For your kid to learn how to prepare for freshman year of college, they should know exactly what to expect. Talking with your child will help you share your knowledge and experiences, as well as answer any questions they have.
College is very different from high school. The assignments are harder and more numerous than ever and very often, your kid will struggle with juggling school and homework.
This might not have been an option with older generations, but nowadays, students can rid themselves from a lot of the academic burden by hiring writing companies. Make sure that your child knows this. They’ll learn that they can buy essays very soon, and if you really want to help them, you should guide them in the right direction. Not all companies are honest and safe, so show your student where they can go and ask for an
essay helper without anyone knowing about it. Professional writers from Studyclerk will help you with all your college papers.
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2. Create a Smart Payment Strategy
Do you have the option to save money to cover all college expenses for your child? It is recommended to start this as soon as possible since colleges today cost quite a lot. If you haven’t done it by the time when your child entered middle school, you’ll have to put aside a small fortune every month to save for these expenses.
There are plenty of great tricks for saving college money. You should lower the equity exposure in your 529 plan and allocate more of your funds to conservative investments like money market funds, CDs, and bonds. These are less likely to fail you and while they don’t have a high return, your money is safer this way.
After all, it is the future of your child, so you should minimize the risk as much as possible.
Not everyone can afford to save money for college, and that is okay too. You can still help your child get higher education. For starters, children in the US can complete the Federal Student Aid free application known as
FAFSA in their senior year of high school. Things such as the family income and the grades of your kid have the biggest impact on the eligibility for financial aid.
In addition to this, explore the currently available options for scholarships and financial aid, help your child decide, and assist them in sending out amazing applications.
This is the most important tip of them all. Your child will probably change their mind millions of times. Only a few students know what they want to study and where they want to study from a very young age. Others need to brainstorm the options, get some advice and guidance, and change their minds a few times before they decide. This is completely normal.
You can share your likes and dislikes about your career with the student, or give them some data on other career and school choices. Whatever you do, do not push an idea onto them. Your child needs guidance and support, not pressure.
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One very helpful tool in picking a college is touring campuses during their last years of high school. Take your time to take your kid to colleges where you can both determine if it is a good fit for them. This will give them a chance to meet face-to-face with some of the admission staff, maybe some students and teachers, as well as the college facilities.
Hopefully, these tips will help you guide your child in the right direction and make this process easier for them. Good luck!
Author’s bio:
Cameron Debenham is a Psychologist who works with underage children, helping them cope with problems. She’s also an excellent blogger, and her articles are published all over the web. In her articles, people can read useful life tips and motivational tricks.
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