College Planning Timeline - Middle School

Middle school is a time of incredible turmoil and change for most students. All the changes of adolescence, the power of peer opinion, the development of athletic ability and the general "sorting out" of student talent and aptitude have their roots in the middle school years. Staying in close contact with teachers, and addressing any academic or adjustment problems early is crucial. Helping students think about their choices when they finish school is important. Encouraging talent, whether academic, athletic, or interpersonal, gives students a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

Cultivate an ability to set goals for the future, to make short-term plans and commitments which will assist in reaching those goals, and to follow through on those commitments. For example, your child might say something like, "I heard Amber's older brother is going to Penn State next year." This can be the perfect opening to talk about the benefits of a college education. Later, when your child would rather being playing video games than doing homework, you can reiterate the importance of doing well in school and developing good study habits so that a college education remains in reach.

Many middle schools have the opportunity for able students to accelerate in math or to begin a foreign language. Ask the guidance counselor at the school for more information about these options. In addition, middle school students have a wide variety of summer enrichment options open to them in the form of camps or special programs offered by local colleges. Now that the child is too old for day care, but too young to be left alone all summer, these may be a great way to stimulate an emerging interest.

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