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If you haven’t started already, where do you begin when planning for your child’s future education? If you have a child in junior high, consider taking the following steps toward college:
- Start saving early! The cost of tuition rises each year. In fact, in the last 10 years, tuition at Illinois colleges has increased nearly 75 percent. And tuition is only part of the cost of going to college. Other costs include fees, room and board or commuter expenses, books, supplies, etc. Take a look into the world of tuition in Illinois.
- Support your child’s academic development, interests and talents. Encourage good study habits and be involved in his/her study time, school projects and extra-curricular activities. Keep your child motivated and stress the importance of being active and involved as important pieces of preparing for high school and college.
- Help your child develop his/her interests and encourage activities and reading books related to those interests. Talk about college and possible careers. Discussing the future will help your child develop strong dreams, keeping your child motivated and interested in academic and personal growth.
- Be open to our child’s interests and dreams. Encourage the exploration of ideas and offer alternatives. It may help to research certain areas of interest with your child.
- Speak with your child’s counselor to make sure your son/daughter is enrolled in the correct classes to prepare for high school, and eventually college. According to the U.S. Department of Education, junior high students should take English, science, and history or geography every year; plus algebra in 8th grade and geometry in 9th grade. Junior high students are also encouraged to take foreign language, computer, and visual or performing arts classes.
- Talk about college early to make the idea of attending very natural for your child.
- Discuss why all classes are important for learning and growth. Explain the importance of subjects such as math, writing and science, as they pertain to your child’s future.
- Ask what your child plans to do after junior high, after high school, and after college. Discuss college as the way to accomplish possible career goals and attain future dreams.
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