Collaborative post
College applications are one of the most stressful things a teen will go through. It isn’t just studying for the SATs or putting together the application, either. For most, it will be the first time they may hear that they aren’t good enough, that their grades aren’t good enough or that they haven’t done enough. Parents and teachers alike need to come together to help teens build up their resume so that they can get into their dream school.
Just a few simple suggestions can help your students and your school shine. Try them out, and remember to get all the teachers on board for the best results:
1. Have Your School Organize Workshops
One of the most effective ways to help teens plan their future is to let them know their options. Petition to get your school to put together workshops or bring in those that organize talks. These workshops should help teens understand their options in terms of higher education, including trade schools and apprenticeships instead of just universities and colleges.
They should also set out clear advice on how to get into top schools. Simply knowing what the average NYU GPA and SAT scores are, for example, can go a long way to help teens stay focused and work hard. You can visit CampusReel to find out these requirements.
2. Leverage the Parents
Job shadowing and internships are invaluable to teens for their college applications and their job hunts. Have your principal send out a request to all parents so you can take advantage of a resource right under your nose. Set up job shadowing days for all your students, or at the very least, put together a pool of volunteer, job shadowing, and internship opportunities that eager students can sign up to through your school.
3. Set Up Study Programs
Another program you should try to have your principal create are study groups or a tutor program. They are perfect for high-achieving students to reaffirm what they have learned, boost their resume, and help out a fellow student. This way low-income kids who need extra help can get the tutoring that they need, should they need it.
4. Put Together a Job Role List
Teachers can do this individually, though if you got your principle and the managing staff at your school on board, you can create job fairs. The goal is simple: help teens learn what the options are. Far too many teens have a narrow view on job roles which means their dream job might be entirely unknown to them.
By putting together a short list of jobs that your subject focuses on, you can help teens interested in those roles put more effort in. It will also be beneficial to outline the practical benefits of your subject, so that teens can see the real-world application and perform better within it.
5. Help Your Students Help Themselves
At the start of each year your principal or guidance counselor should go over the ways teens can make the most out of their high school career. Have a club fair day where all the different clubs try to get new members to sign up. Set out the steps on how students can access mental health services or petition to start a new club of their own. Make sure all students know what resources they have available so that they can help themselves excel.