Your child's freshman year sets the foundation for their high school experience and future college plans. As parents, your guidance and support play a crucial role in helping them navigate this pivotal year. Stay actively involved, supportive, and informed.

• Discuss the Future: Have meaningful conversations about the importance of college and help your child set clear objectives for their academic and personal growth.
• Financial Planning: Begin early discussions about financing your child's college education, using resources like Tuition Fit and Sallie Mae.
• Establish Savings: Open or designate a savings account specifically for your child's college fund.

Fall

• Meet the Counselor: Schedule a meeting with your child's school counselor to outline academic goals and plan strategically for high school coursework.
• Explore Career Center: Encourage your child to become familiar with available school resources that support career and college exploration.
• Identify Courses: Help your child identify advanced course opportunities (AP, IB, Honors, dual enrollment) and understand necessary prerequisites.
• Develop Study Habits: Guide your child in establishing strong study routines and effective organizational skills.
• Extracurricular Activities: Support your child's involvement in clubs, sports, or activities that align with their interests and strengths.
• Encourage Reading: Foster a habit of regular reading beyond school assignments to enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.
• Attend College Fairs: Accompany your child to local or virtual college fairs using resources such as CampusTours and College Scorecard.

Winter

• Career Interest Assessments: Assist your child in exploring potential careers through assessments such as YouScience, O*NET Interest Profiler, and The Career Factors for Students.
• Job Shadowing: Work with your child to arrange opportunities for them to shadow professionals in careers of interest.
• Scholarship Awareness: Introduce your child to scholarship opportunities via platforms like Scholarships.com and Going Merry.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your child to engage in community service activities that align with their interests and potential career paths.

Spring

• Counselor Check-In: Schedule another meeting with your child's counselor to review academic progress and plan the upcoming year's schedule.
• Digital Responsibility: Teach your child the importance of maintaining a positive and professional digital footprint.
• Networking Skills: Help your child build interpersonal skills through active participation in group projects and extracurricular activities.
• Document Activities: Guide your child in recording their extracurricular activities, leadership roles, awards, and volunteer experiences.
• Stress Management: Support your child in adopting effective stress management techniques such as mindfulness, time management, and regular exercise.

Early Summer (After Freshman Year)

• Summer Enrichment: Explore academic enrichment programs or workshops that can further develop your child's interests and skills, utilizing resources like Path to Pro and Trade Schools.
• Summer Employment: Encourage your child to seek a summer job to build professional skills and begin saving for college.
• Virtual College Visits: Help your child explore potential college options through virtual campus tours via CampusTours.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Reinforce the importance of good nutrition, regular exercise, and proper sleep habits.
• Academic Portfolio: Support your child in compiling notable academic work, essays, projects, or awards to reference in future applications.