• Home
  • About
  • Blog Policies
  • Contact Me
  • Media / PR
    • Brand Representation/Sponsorship
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter

Powered By Mom

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Pets
  • Essential Oils
    • Essential Oils
  • Reviews
  • Gadgets/Tech
    • Gadgets/Tech
      • tech
      • Tech
  • Index

Sign Up for our Newsletter!

Tips for Preparing Your Teen to Apply to University

in Children, Education, Talking About on 05/04/15

Tips for Preparing Your Teen to Apply to University

While my daughter just started high school this year I think it’s important for all parents to have some ideas on how they can help their teen apply to university/college. As someone who worked in post-secondary for several years with recruitment and international education one thing I saw time and time again were both parents and their teens trying to get into a program where the application deadline was long past due.

University

It never ceased to amaze me how people didn’t have a clue about the deadlines to apply and thinking that if they were loud enough, pushy enough, begged etc.. that they could somehow bypass the rules and still be considered. Of course not everyone was like that but a surprising number would be. The best thing you could do in preparation for your teen applying to post-secondary is plan ahead and think it’s never too early to find out information. 

Being able to understand what all goes along with getting college grants and scholarships is also an important part of getting your teen ready to apply to university. However, there are many other things that must be considered.

I have worked for universities for over fifteen years, and can tell you everything that I have seen and haven’t seen. Making sure that you and your student are fully prepared will help you both, and it will make life easier for you and your teenage college student.

#1 Tip Knowing Deadlines

Yes I’ve already said this but it’s worth repeating. Deadlines may have been a big deal in high school, but in college admission, they are even a bigger deal. Turning in that paper or clicking on the submit button for the online application is of the utmost importance, there’s no getting around it. Institutions have these deadlines because they are dealing with hundreds sometimes thousands of students and they need to assess each application. Does the person meet the entry requirements which includes grades, prerequisites and so much more.

This is a picture of my convocation when I got my Master’s Degree at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. The “castle” in the picture has been used in movies like X-Men (Xavier’s School for the Gifted) and many more.

convocation pic RRU

University admission also plays a huge role in deadlines. Applying quickly and early is the key to getting into the school that you and your child want. I have seen cases time and time again, where students wait until the end of the summer of their senior year to look into colleges and apply, and they usually don’t get into the colleges that they want. Apply early for college grants and scholarships as well to make sure that you get the scholarships that you want.

#2 Double check that the application is complete

So many times applications are submitted without all of the proper documentation. If your teen is applying to s specific program there are most likely prerequisites. Depending on the program they may ask for any of the following (or more):

  • Reference letter (type depends on program being applied to)
  • Sample of work or portfolio
  • Letter about the applicant, why the want to do the program

Yep that’s me at my Master’s Degree Graduation, many, many years after high school, my daughter was eight at the time 🙂

University

Each program is unique and so are there entrance requirements so make sure you’ve gone over everything and submit all of the required documentation.

#3  Ask for Help

All universities and colleges have people there to help you and your teen through the admission process. Again start early, book an appointment with an Admissions Officer, Counsellor, or Recruitment Officer (title depends on the university and country). If you’re confused about the process they can clarify for you, help you figure out if you qualify and if not what you need to do. It’s there job so book early (well before any admissions deadline) as they booked up the closer you get to an application deadline.

You can also meet with Scholarships and Bursary staff to find out more about what might be available and how to apply for them to get help in paying for tuition.

There are so many tips I could give you but that would require a book, the three above are the most important. Just think it’s never too early to find out information and deadlines and you can never ask too many questions.

What tips do you have to share? Feel free to comment.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Pinterest

Related

38 Comments

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Luna and Little Zeus and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

« Spring Cleaning Giveaway for the Home ends 5/19 CANADA ONLY
Customized Action Figure Giveaway ends 5/18 US Only »

Comments

  1. Laurie P says

    September 13, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Great post!!! We are right in the middle of this…..planning, organizing, it’s all so new! My boy just started his last year of high school….so this was very informative!

    Reply
  2. Haley Cook says

    September 2, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    These are some great tips ! I’ll have to remember when my sons start college.

    Reply
  3. Jeffrey says

    August 29, 2015 at 7:52 AM

    You offered many practical suggestions. Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Savannah says

    August 10, 2015 at 1:34 AM

    “Ask for help” is such a simple but GREAT tip. Oftentimes, you feel nervous to ask questions because you feel like at that stage you should “be an adult.” Silly us, being an adult doesn’t mean knowing it all!
    But seriously, i wish I would’ve had this list when I was applying to colleges. But, good thing I’ll be applying to law schools next year – this will seriously come in handy!

    Reply
  5. Rana Durham says

    July 9, 2015 at 9:39 PM

    thanks so much i will be sharing this with my friends and family

    Reply
  6. Bailey Dexter says

    June 21, 2015 at 2:23 PM

    I wish I had read this when my daughter went away, great advice & tips!

    Reply
  7. Ronald G says

    May 18, 2015 at 8:01 AM

    My best friend is a single parent of a grade 11 honors student who already has a letter of commitment to the U of A..she has done more than your great ideas by entering her daughter for every available grant or bursary and has her working 3 hours 4 days a week as a vet’s assistant

    Reply
  8. Sherry Keef says

    May 17, 2015 at 12:41 AM

    My kids are grown but it is good to know for the grandkids.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. lisa says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:37 AM

    I had to chuckle when I read the part about being loud and pushy, thinking if they were loud enough that the rules would be bent for them. I see this all the time. Such arrogance.

    Reply
  10. Deborah Caudill says

    May 11, 2015 at 4:37 PM

    Thanks for providing your readers some essential information about how to prepare to get into college. There are so many deadlines that must be followed to the letter. You have helped a great deal of parents to know what to do, when to do it and how to make sure your child isn’t disappointed.

    Reply
  11. Tiffanie Hope says

    May 11, 2015 at 4:28 PM

    It’s so good to prepare your kids EARLY for college. Even if it’s just with small things, like developing good study habits and money management skills!

    Reply
  12. Michele P says

    May 11, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    very helpful post! My 13 yr old is already thinking about college, and while she will only be in 8th grade next year it is never too early to begin planning. Thanks for your very informative post!

    Reply
  13. MJ Dee says

    May 11, 2015 at 8:30 AM

    What a great write-up! So many useful tips! We started early for our daughter and actually visited colleges when she was a sophomore in High School. We learned so much about the process, what they look for, financial aid, scholarships and so on. The one thing I found that was important is volunteer work. Universities love students with the “Global Citizen” mindset. The more they volunteer, the better. And, yes, good grades too!

    Reply
  14. natalie nichols says

    May 10, 2015 at 8:06 PM

    I don’t even want to think about this yet but this is great advice.

    Reply
  15. Judy Thomas says

    May 10, 2015 at 2:23 AM

    Thank you for the great tips and advice.

    Reply
  16. Melissa Crisp says

    May 9, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    This is great advice and sounds simple enough. It really is never too early too prepare.

    Reply
  17. Wanda Tracey says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    I am going to share this with my granddaughter who is going to graduate from high school this year! These are great tips and a wealth of information.Thank you so much or posting.

    Reply
  18. Meghan Castillo says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:18 PM

    Thanks for all the tips, My daughter is getting ready to go to college in a year.

    Reply
  19. amy guillaume linderman says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:11 PM

    going to share with my sister whose kids are at this age

    Reply
  20. Freya says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:17 AM

    Great article! I just went thru this process with my oldest son. He was accepted to his 1st choice university & received an athletic scholarship for wrestling. He’d been scouted by college wrestling coaches since his junior year. He’ll be going to Oswego University in the fall. It’s only 4 hours away up north off tge shores of Lake Erie.

    Reply
  21. Kimberly says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:25 AM

    My kids are only 3 and 1, but I’m already stressing about this! We started their college funds as soon as they were born and I’m so worried about not saving enough.

    Reply
  22. laura rubenstein says

    May 8, 2015 at 5:25 AM

    Thank you for these great tips! I have 5 more years to prepare! Time goes soo fast! Congrats Class of 2015

    Reply
  23. Tamra Phelps says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:54 PM

    Oh, boy, I remember the panic of some kids in high school as deadlines neared & paperwork/applications got longer! Those were the days, lol.

    Reply
  24. Baylee Williams says

    May 7, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    This is great advice. I say from experience that I wish that I was more prepared…

    Reply
  25. Kristy Franks says

    May 5, 2015 at 9:18 PM

    Thank you for such a great review it will really help me

    Reply
  26. Barb H. says

    May 5, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    thank you for this review! It was very informative. My twins are graduating High School May 28th and I feel like I am just lost but this really gave me great information. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  27. Cheryll Shubert says

    May 5, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    Thanks so much! My niece is going through this now. I forwarded to my sister-in-law!! Great article!!

    Reply
  28. janet aycock says

    May 5, 2015 at 6:36 PM

    this great information every one with kids need it

    Reply
  29. Sue E says

    May 5, 2015 at 3:37 PM

    I remember my oldest daughter wanting to go to college. She was an A honor student and got a lot of small grants. One of your tips I totally know about & is a GREAT one: Applying quickly and early is the key to getting into the school that you and your child want!! My daughter started the process with her counselor when she was still in high school. She did a lot on her own, but of course, we had to find all of our financial statements, etc. She needed her papers, like birth certificate, drivers license, Social Security Card, etc. One thing we/she did not plan for was that she changed her major after 1 year!! And she met her future husband there. Warn them about the partying & relationships! I have heard & seen the consequences of both!! Stay true to your goals & to yourself.

    Reply
  30. SaSara says

    May 5, 2015 at 3:20 PM

    theses pics. Are real nice

    Reply
  31. Cathy Jarolin says

    May 5, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    Thankyou so much for sharing this Great Advice to Your Readers. For all the college bond students you should take the time to read this post and follow her advice. She is even willing to give you more advice if you contact her. Nothing like being all prepared and ready When that Exciting Day Comes. Best of Luck to all of you! :0)~~~~

    Reply
  32. Kim Hampton says

    May 5, 2015 at 9:28 AM

    Great tips! By doing my research, I was able to qualify for scholarships and grants that covered all my tuition, books and gave me a little extra spending money for gas.

    Reply
  33. Apryl Potter says

    May 5, 2015 at 7:34 AM

    I have 1 in his 2nd year of college , 1 that will be in college in 2 yrs., 1 that will be in college in 10 yrs. and last but not least 1 that will be in college in about 17 yrs., lol, so I know all about paying for college & saving for it. Any time parents can get tips or help of any kind its a plus. Thanks for the information.

    Reply
  34. Linda Manns Linneman says

    May 5, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    These are such great tips. I had a hard time when I was young because my parents were not interested in helping me with this. There was to many other things going on with my father being sickly and we were quite poor. Thank you so much for sharing

    Reply
  35. Emily Endrizzi says

    May 5, 2015 at 6:22 AM

    My son will graduate next year so this post comes in handy! Thanks for the information and tips.

    Reply
  36. william gossage says

    May 4, 2015 at 9:29 PM

    This is a good review. wish i had it before my kids went off to college

    Reply
  37. Michele Ash says

    May 4, 2015 at 9:29 PM

    Thanks for the Fantastic Review on Tips for Preparing Your Teen to Apply to University! To be honest, I have no advice or tips to give. I did not go to college after high school. I went right into the Business World! My daughter, however, wanted to go to college and my husband and I knew nothing about how to go about anything! She went to her guidance department for help. They helped her out and she started to commute to Penn State in Berks County! I knew she wouldn’t stick it out because from the day she started Pre-School, she always said “I Hate School”. Well, she dropped out and now has a huge loan to be paid back. She eventually went to Beauty School and is doing wonderfully as a hair dresser! I still don’t quite know what the other kids want to do yet. I guess we’ll see when they get into the high school! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review, the pictures, and your personal and very professional information on Tips for Preparing Your Teen to Apply to University with all of us! I honestly do appreciate it! Thanks again! Michele 🙂

    Reply
  38. Cindy S. says

    May 4, 2015 at 8:56 PM

    Can’t believe my kids are getting old enough that I need to consider this info! Where does the time go?! Thank you for the good advice.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

2018 holiday gift guide for pets
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Current Giveaways

NatureZway Bamboo Products Prize Pack US Only Ends 2/24
.
8 Days Left
Qustodio Premium Membership Giveaway $137.95arv US/CAN Ends 2/22
.
6 Days Left
$50 Best Buy Gift Card Giveaway US/CAN Ends 2/23
.
best buy7 Days Left
Lugz Comfortable Winter Boots with Style Giveaway US Only Ends 2/22
.
winter boots6 Days Left
Rose Gold BURST Starter Pack Open to US Ends 2/22
.
Rose Gold Brush6 Days Left
$25 Home Depot Gift Card US Only Ends 2/20
.
home depot4 Days Left
.
Food Advertising by logo

Our Recipes on Pinterest

Follow Powered by Mom's board Recipes on Pinterest.

Canadian Farmers Chicken Ambassador

Raised by a Canadian Farmer Chicken

PRI Ambassador

Pacific Resources International Brand Ambassador

Food Advertising by logo

Blog Lovin

Follow on Bloglovin

Archived Posts

Blog Giveaway Directory
Food Advertising by logo

Join Us On Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2019 · Setup by My3LittleKittens

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.