Making Adjustments to Postsecondary Planning
Even with college costs steadily increasing, surveys and polls show that parents and students understand the value of higher education. However, frequent reviews of your student’s future college and career plans are beneficial for making any necessary adjustments now.
Why Now Is the Right Time
- There is still time to make adjustments.
Whether or not your junior has solidified their future plans, there is still time to review those plans and alter them, if necessary.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the College Board, The Hechinger Report indicated that college housing and food costs rose by 14 percent more than inflation between 2010 and 2020. When adjusted for inflation, tuition costs fell between 2020 and 2023. A discussion about college affordability should include these factors. Living at home while attending a community college is worth considering, as is exploring career and technical education programs.
- Evaluate past and current learning environments.
The online learning environment necessary during the pandemic was not ideal for many students’ individual learning styles. If your student’s skills and motivation were affected by that time period, seek extra help from school, classmates or tutors. Take the time to review your student’s four-year plan and research various career options. Speak with your student’s teachers and school counselor about any accommodations that can be made to assist with your student’s educational pursuits. - Take a mental health check.
Iowa school counselors report that trauma-related behaviors are common among students of all ages. There are many factors that contribute to such behaviors. School counselors are one of the best resources available to students and can meet their social-emotional needs with knowledge, compassion and training. Mental health is an important consideration of your student’s overall health and well-being, in addition to college preparation.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Do the research.
If your student has developed a list of top colleges, time should be spent researching not only tuition and fees but also admission or merit scholarship requirements, housing and meal plan costs, as well as the average rent being charged in the area. Some colleges remain test-optional following the pandemic, meaning applicants are no longer required to submit ACT or SAT scores. Have on-campus living arrangements been altered in response to health concerns college students have? How are individual housing requests handled?
What You Can Do
- Create a supportive and positive environment.
Similar to adults, teenagers are impacted by social, environmental, political and health issues happening around the globe. While you are not able to replace professional services, the best option is to listen compassionately without disagreeing or offering solutions. Teenagers appreciate knowing someone is actually listening and acknowledging their feelings. Discuss their school complaints and encourage open discourse about other issues. Self-care, physical activity and socializing with peers are essential to a healthy mindset and hopeful attitude. Be sure to seek a mental health professional’s help if you feel your efforts are not having the desired impact. Be watchful for signs of extreme moodiness or uncharacteristic irritability in your teenager. Explore the option of using telemental health care services. - Discuss household finances with your student.
Be honest about how your current and future financial situation could impact your student’s desire to attend college. The amount of financial support you can provide can be the deciding factor as to which option your student explores — two- or four-year college or an apprenticeship or certificate program close to home. Be patient if your student’s plan seems to change on a daily basis. Return to any list of pros and cons you’ve developed together and talk through circumstances to overcome self-doubt and obstacles. Encourage resiliency and help your student adapt to changes.
Registration is open now for a scholarship for Iowa high school students, not just seniors. The scholarship awards 45 deposits of $1,000 into ISave 529 (formerly College Savings Iowa) accounts, which can be used when your student is ready to pay educational expenses. Register at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/ScholarshipSignUp.
Next Steps
Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!
Additional references, handouts and talking points are available in the right sidebar to use at your leisure. They may prove beneficial to reference now or after receiving future emails – we’ll leave it completely up to you. Use our emails like a recipe for a successful outcome — assemble the recommended ingredients and then follow accompanying directions to add flavor and depth.