Whan Can My Child do Outside The Classroom to Prepare For College?

Interpersonal and leadership skills, interests and goals are all important for college preparation. Independent reading and study, extracurricular activities, and work experience will all help your child develop his or her skills, interests, and goals.

Independent Reading and Study

Independent reading and study will help your child to prepare academically for college. This is a good way to develop interests, expand knowledge, and improve vocabulary and reading comprehension skills needed for college. Encourage your child to read all kinds of books for fun -- fiction and non-fiction. The school library and the local public library are good sources of books, magazines, and newspapers.


Extracurricular Activities

Many school, community, and religious organizations enable students to explore their interests and talents by providing activities outside the classroom. Colleges are often interested in a student's extracurricular activities such as school clubs, the school magazine, sports, musical activities, arts, drama, and volunteer work, especially if a student has excelled in one or more of these areas.

Work Experience

Work experience -- paid or voluntary -- can teach students discipline, responsibility, reliability, teamwork, and other skills. Some students tutor primary school children or fellow students in a subject they have mastered themselves. Others help the disadvantaged or volunteer in hospitals. Many colleges are interested in knowing about this type of experience.

A summer job is a good way to gain experience and earn money for college as well. If your child works during the school year, he or she should not work so many hours that the job interferes with schoolwork.

Creating a Good Place To Study

Your child needs a quiet and comfortable place to study. Here are a few things that you can do:

(1) Help him or her find a quiet place with some privacy.

(2) Set up a desk or large table with good light and place reference books such as a dictionary on the desk or nearby.

(3) Make sure your child studies there on a regular basis.