From Denise Witmer,
Your Guide to Parenting of Adolescents.
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Step 1: Make the Decision
While the ultimate decision to attend college belongs to your teenager, your role plays a huge part in whether or not this is the path he will take. As a parent, you guide your teenager through his childhood into his adulthood making suggestions and helping with decisions along the way. If you want your teen to go to college, chances are he’s going to college.

This is a major decision and will set the course for the rest of your teenager’s life. Start by taking some reflection time, then talk to your teen. You may also want to take our ‘Is Your Teen Ready for College?’ quiz to help you with the decision. It will give you an overview of what your teenager will need to be able to do by the time he attends college.

Related Resources:

• 10 Important Questions to Ask Your Teen
• How To Talk to Your Teen About a Future Career
• 4 Solid Reasons to Take a Look at Community Colleges

Step 2: Taking the Right Courses for College
It is very important for your teenager to be taking the right courses in high school. He will need four years of math, science, history and English. He will also need to take a 2nd language class for 2 or 3 years – depending on the college he wishes to attend. You’ll need to work with your teenager’s high school to be sure he is getting all of the right courses offered to him for college preparation.

Your teen should also take a look at extracurricular activities such as a membership in a community organization, getting involved in sports and/or being involved in a student club. These are all things colleges will look for on the application.

Related Resources:

• How To Build a Winning Academic and Personal Record
• 10 Important Questions to Ask the High School Guidance Office
• How To Attend a High School Parents' Night

Step 3: Making the Grade
Education needs to be a priority in your teen’s life. Colleges pay very close attention not only to your teen’s grades in school, but also to the attitude your teenager has about school. Promoting a positive school experience in high school benefits your teen. They will have a great attitude about learning and it will show through on their college application and in the college interview. So remember, while good grades help, an A+ attitude toward learning will get your teen into the college of his choice.

Related Resources:

• How To Help Your Teen Ace the Test
• How to Set up a Mobile Homework Center
• Dealing with Difficult Teachers

Step 4: Choose Which Colleges to Apply
Never apply to just one college; you’ll be wasting your teen’s time. Be sure to apply to at least two if not more. This will give your teen not only a back up plan should he not get into the first college of his choice, but it will also give him some wiggle room should he change his mind about where he wants to attend.

Related Resources:

• 4 Steps to Helping your Teen Pick a College Major

Next-> Step 5: Acing the SAT and SAT II