Going away to college is the first big step in the process of growing up, and it can be a real slap in the face for students who are not ready for it. Students who fail to prepare themselves for college often end up broke or failing out of class or both, so if your child is heading off to college, put aside your revit 2010 training and help him or her get ready. Here are some of the things you'll want to do or look for in your child in order to be ready for college.
Academics
Many students see college as a place where they get adhesive name tags and beer tickets and they go to make friends. However, college will demand a lot of your child academically, so make sure she understands the importance of completing their coursework and attending her classes. If your child doesn't have good enough marks to get accepted, she will have to attend summer school, return to high school for upgrading, or attend a year of prep school or pre-college.
Finances
College is expensive, in fact, your child's education will probably be the most expensive thing he buys in his lifetime. If you cannot afford to pay for his education, he will have to take out a government or bank loan that he will have to repay with his earnings at his future job at an executive recruitment firm. Most students live on the edge of poverty, so make sure he has a solid grasp of budgeting and sticking to a budget before sending him off to manage his own money.
Life Skills
For most kids, college is the first time that they will be living on their own. In the midst of studying and attending team building events in Toronto, your child will need to feed and support herself and look after her living space. You can help her prepare for this shock by teaching her to cook, clean a bathroom, do her laundry, change a car tire, wash dishes, iron clothing, and shop for bargains at the beginning of her senior year and by requiring her to regularly perform these tasks throughout the year.
Sense of Responsibility
Your child doesn't necessarily need to be as staid and responsible as the employees of your Toronto accounting firm, but he should at least understand that he is responsible for his own actions. He should take an interest in doing well, be able to consider the consequences of his actions, and look forward to the future before he acts.
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