What Should You Do if Your Child Isn’t Ready to Start the College Process?
Sometimes parents are eager to begin the college process before their children are prepared to cope with thinking about it. A student who is not yet ready should not be pushed. The process is a long one, and parents should avoid anything that puts additional pressure on their child or creates a wedge between them. The student may respond more favorably to hearing information from a third party, such as a peer, a friend or older sibling in college, or even another adult. In the meantime, though, parents can do the initial legwork. They can begin to examine their own expectations and goals for their children with the awareness that these might not match their children’s desires, needs and abilities. Gathering information on the overall process, becoming familiar with the jargon, requirements and deadlines, and researching college websites are all concrete ways to become informed without challenging a student who does not yet have the mindset to commit to this undertaking. Plan an introductory college visit, if convenient, when traveling nearby, as a gentle initiation. Often just seeing an attractive college can entice a reluctant student.
