How can an 8th grader prepare for college

This is such a great question! So many parents — and their kids — think college prep starts immediately in 9th grade. But you can start getting your child ready for college as soon as the 7th grade. I think 8th grade is a good time to start talking with your child about college, helping them understand how important high school is to college, and what sorts of things they can expect to happen over the next four years. Encourage your child to take the initiative. This will help both of you work backwards by figuring out college requirements and then high school class requirements.

This is also a good time to help your child practice setting and meeting goals, getting organized, and developing good study habits. In addition to the helpful information on their website about preparing for college in the 8th grade , the University of Iowa provides a Building Your Future hand out that offers questions for your child to think about.

During seventh and eighth grades, students should be setting themselves up to have the strongest possible start in high school.

Middle school is the opportune time to develop time-management, organizational and study skills. Things to work out include choosing the best study spaces, establishing a homework and study routine, and obtaining all the needed materials to complete assignments.

On their college applications, students will need to show depth and leadership in at least one or two extracurricular areas. Middle school is a great time for students to try new things and figure out what activities and community service they enjoy most. A child who enters high school committed to one or two activities or with a career goal in mind, will find it much easier to focus on building their resume during their four years of high school.

Almost any reading material — from graphic novels to books and blogs — will improve vocabulary and introduce new ideas. Colleges look closely at what high school courses students choose to take.

They want to see that a student is taking challenging courses. Students who challenge themselves in middle school will have more opportunities to choose the courses colleges want to see. To get on the right track, parents and their students should meet with their guidance counselor or their independent college counselor and discuss the courses that can be taken in middle school to prepare for high school.

Students should seek out extra help and tutoring if they are not doing well in a particular academic area. Improving academic performance in middle school will better position them to earn better grades. Envision the future with your child.

Talk about his or her interests, and how college can translate their dreams into a career. Parents should also share their expectations with their middle school student. Start learning how to make college affordable. Options to cut college costs include scholarships, low-interest loans, work-study, taking college classes in high school, and attending a community college before going to a four-year school.

Knowing how the system works can save families a lot of money and prevent panic. Students can cut costs by earning college credits through Advanced Placement AP classes in high school or dual-enrollment classes at a local community college. Begin researching colleges that interest you and plan to visit them. The first step in career planning is getting to know you : What do you like? What is your favorite subject in school? Do you enjoy spending time with people?

Are you the president of a club? Are you organized? Here are some additional resources to help guide you in the right direction: Explore what you like to do Match your interests with career options. Info For.