College preparation is a significant undertaking. It’s easy for both students and parents to become stressed by the steps involved. According to Higher Ed Dive, 60% of students report feeling overwhelmed by the college application process—and it isn’t easy for parents, either.
For some students, a certain barrier can make things even more difficult: executive dysfunction. This affects critical skills like organization, time management, and task completion. And as many can tell you, these are skills that are especially important for navigating the college preparation process.
At Effective Students, we know exactly how hard it is to manage this process. That’s because we’ve worked with countless parents and students who face these roadblocks. That’s why we’ve created this guide—to help you navigate the college prep journey and make sure your student has the support they need.
How does Executive Dysfunction Affect College Preparation?
Executive dysfunction makes it harder for students to navigate the world of college prep.
Signs of executive dysfunction include:
- Struggling to prioritize tasks or break them down into steps
- Losing track of time and second guessing how long things take
- Forgetting deadlines or putting important documents in the wrong place
- Avoiding tasks due to feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty getting started
- Procrastinating or waiting to the last minute to complete essays or submit applications
- Trouble staying organized with schedules and materials
As a parent, recognizing these challenges is vital. Your support can help your child stay on track.
What is the Role of Parents in College Preparation?
Parents play an important role in guiding their children through the process of preparing for college. Your support can help your child stay focused and confident during this often stressful time.
- Offer emotional encouragement: The college process can be overwhelming. Your reassurance and belief in their abilities can help students as they juggle uncertainty or setbacks
- Stay engaged without taking over: Help them research, stay organized, or manage their time. Still, allow them to take ownership of their own journey.
- Provide structure when needed: Some students benefit from help with deadlines and prioritization. Break large tasks into smaller steps. Even setting up a timeline can stop last-minute stress.
Here are some questions to ask your student as you plan a path to prepare for college:
- What is your system to track assignments and your personal tasks on a daily or weekly basis?
- How do you plan ahead for your responsibilities such as studying, extra curricular activities and the college preparation work we will do together?
- What are your goals in this process? (remember that a student’s goals may differ from the parent’s goals – this needs to be resolved)
- How will you hold yourself to complete the tasks we plan together?
- When we discuss your goals, how should we resolve differences?
- What steps can you take today that will better prepare you for being independent in college?
As you move through this process with your child, we’ve curated a few key tips to understanding the college admission process.
Understanding the College Admissions Process
The college admissions process can feel like a lot, but breaking it down into small steps can help your student stay on track.
Let’s start simple. You can begin by researching schools that align with your student’s academic goals and interests. Help them explore different aspects of their potential colleges, like campus culture and financial aid. Curate a prospective college list together that includes a reach and some safety schools.
Standardized testing might also be relevant. If your student is a good test taker, this may be a strength for them. If not, they may need structured practice and/or a tutor to help them become more adept at performing well on these tests. Help your child plan ahead for test dates, evaluate areas of strengths and weaknesses and plan time to improve their skills. Encourage them to complete a little at a time to avoid procrastination, especially on things like application essays and recommendation letters. Otherwise, it can all pile up.
Financial aid should be prioritized early. This is because the process can be laborious but with good research, families and students can take advantage of available resources.
At Effective Students, we’ve worked with many families to provide strategies like breaking tasks into smaller steps and setting up regular check-ins to help students stay organized. We’re committed to help reduce stress during college prep.
Helping Your Child Develop Strong Study and Test-Taking Skills
As a parent, helping your child build effective study and test-taking skills can make all the difference in their college prep.
Effective Students coaches work with students to create study routines. We offer techniques that can make students feel ready for even the most nerve-wracking exams. Whether it’s the SAT, ACT, or AP tests, our one-on-one approach can make sure they tackle these milestones with confidence.
You can support your child by creating an environment that encourages focus and reduces distractions. Break down study sessions into smaller, manageable chunks. Encourage regular breaks to keep their energy up.
By providing a mix of emotional support and practical strategies, you help your child stay organized and prepared. They’ll get through this time–and on the other side–with your help.
Exploring Career Pathways and College Majors
Helping your child explore career pathways and choose a college major can feel like a big task. It feels like choosing a future, but it’s important to remember that there’s always the opportunity to change their major later on. Choosing a major is more about their long-term goals than a commitment they’re stuck with forever. Here’s how you can support them:
- Start early: Encourage them to think about different careers. Talk about what excites them.
- Do research together: Explore various majors and careers for different industries. Maybe they’re interested in biology – they could become a doctor or zoologist. Or maybe they’re more focused on the tech side of things.
- Talk about strengths and interests: Have conversations about what they enjoy and where their skills shine. This could help them understand where they might have a knack.
- Look at job market trends: Help them understand which fields are growing and where opportunities are expected to increase.
- Seek expert advice: Career counselors, college advisors, or academic coaches can offer some perspective. After all, they’ve done this before. And at Effective Students, we work with students to explore their career paths and major choices, ensuring they make informed, confident decisions.
Preparing for the Social and Emotional Transition to College
The transition to college is about more than just academics—it’s a significant social and emotional shift. As a parent, it’s important to have open conversations with your child about the challenges they may face, like homesickness, stress, or managing their newfound independence. Encouraging good self-care habits and teaching them to balance academics with personal time can help ease this transition.
Time management becomes key in helping them juggle coursework, social activities, and personal well-being. Encourage your child to recognize when they’re feeling overwhelmed and to seek support, whether from a counselor, professor, or peer.
Effective Students can help your child (and yourself) in navigating these sometimes emotional twists and turns. The skills they’ll learn with us will stay with them through life. With the right guidance, they can approach this new chapter ready for success.
Effective Students: A Parent’s Trusted Ally in College Preparation
At Effective Students, we provide coaching that helps students develop essential skills. These include organization, time management, and task prioritization. Together, this skillset is critical for managing the many tasks and deadlines involved in college applications.
With guidance and support, we help students to stay on track and approach their goals confidently. As a parent, you can play an active role in supporting your child’s growth. We’re here to help you both succeed.
If academic coaching may be right for you or your student, explore the Effective Student Method™ course and one-on-one coaching sessions for college preparation or the Effective College Connection. Contact our team to learn more.
