An education is one of the few assets a person can have and it’ll never be taken away. A person can lose all of their money, a home or a car, but you can’t take away a person’s educational experience. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so exciting to see teenagers begin the process of preparing for college. If you have a teenager that’s trying to wade through the waters of applications, enrollment fees, and campus life, you can hold their hand through the process in a few ways.
1. Cast a wide net.
Some teenagers know exactly what they want to do when they are adults. In this case, a certain trajectory is important. If a student wants to become an engineer, they need to find engineering programs. If a student wants to become a doctor, they need to start with a biology/pre-med degree. However, if your teenager isn’t sure, encourage them to look at careers that interest them. Consider enrolling them into a few summer internships and after-school programs that help them decide what they’d like to do. After all, this degree costs thousands of dollars. It’s best to be sure.
2. Do lots of research.
With the internet at your fingertips, you can easily do a lot of research to find out which schools are the best in different areas. If your child is interested in the STEM, they might want to attend a school like Houston Science College. If they want to pursue a career in musical production, a school like Berkeley might be an amazing idea.
3. Look at Finances.
Sure, a student can take out loans, but it’s not always the most ideal option. Student loans are the bane of many students’ existence. Figure out how college is going to be financed. Encourage your teenager to apply for lots of scholarships and consider a work-study program before taking out loans. It’s also a good idea to look at colleges that might be less expensive. A school like San Jacinto College will have a much better price tag than a private Ivy league college.