What Parents Wish They Knew Sooner: How to Avoid the Junior Year Stress Pile-Up
Hear me out: college planning starts earlier than you think. And, no, I’m not being an alarmist! Year after year I am told by parents that they wished they had started test prep earlier and understood that freshman year grades tend to be more important than those of senior year. All of a sudden, junior year rolls around along with the weight of impending ACTs and SATs, overwhelming and rigorous course schedules, and the beginning of the college search, serving as a stressful cherry on top.
So, what can you do to avoid the junior year stress pile-up?
1. Don’t allow your student to slack off freshman year. Yes, the transition to high school is often a learning curve with bumps in the road for students, but stress the importance of freshman year grades.
2. Start supporting solid study habits early on. Encourage your student to see their teacher before or after school, take advantage of any tutoring opportunities the school offers, and pay attention to slipping grades early! Even one “C” or “D” for the semester drags down a GPA more than you may think.
3. Begin test prep earlier than you think you should. The ACT and SAT have an abundance of resources online.
4. Normalize discussion of post-secondary options before junior year. Whether your student wants to go into the trades, the military, or attend a 2 or 4 year college, it’s never too soon to explore options!
These are the greatest hits from the “I wish I woulda known…” statements I hear from parents constantly in my line of work. I hope that they help you out! And if you still need more help, that’s where we at Office Hours Tutoring come in.
If that first semester report card missed the mark, you’re behind in test prep, or need help getting the ball rolling on the college search, visit our website at www.ohtutoring.com. We’re taking students for the second semester, and we’re ready to work with yours!
