作者：Dr Roslyn Haley
作为一名高中生家长，你在协助孩子规划大学入学方面发挥着关键作用。新的研究表明，高中生在作大学升学准备时比以往任何时候都更紧张。由于疫情的发展，学生面对着各种不确定的挑战。以往热闹的课堂变成了冷冰冰的电脑荧幕，原本访问心仪的大学校园的计划也夭折了，而大学入学审查的过程也在随着疫情变化不断改变。在这非常时期，家长的积极参与和鼓励在学生升学中扮演了更加关键的角色。
如何在不确定性之下找到升学的诀窍？
尽管高中成绩和标化分数很重要，但由分数独占一壁江山的时代已经过去了。许多跟不上变化的家长会疑惑的问道：“为什么孩子如此优越的GPA和标化成绩都不能打动招生官，孩子竟然名落孙山？”。实际上，大学入学审核的众多因素所占的比重已经发生重大调整。相比仅仅是学业优异的学生，具有综合素质的学生更加受到招生官的青睐。
高中成绩和标化成绩在升学中的比重已经下降
那么作为父母，你要如何帮助你的孩子做好准备呢？首先，你需要帮助孩子们缓解压力，减轻孩子对大学入学的担忧，担忧不仅无用，可能还会对孩子的学习和生活产生负面影响。其次，家长需要对入学标准和流程的改变有更好的认知，并为孩子去营造一个好的学习环境，随时提供支持和鼓励。家长要让孩子们明白，他们唯一要做的事情就是充分利用他们的中学和高中时光，提高的综合素质，为未来的竞争做准备，而不是花心思去担忧入学标准的变化和疫情带来的困扰。
家长可以引导孩子去思考选校、专业选择和对未来职业的问题。美国《新闻周刊》的一项研究发现，70%到75%的学生认为他们需要更多的课程指导、课外活动指导以及来自老师、辅导员和导师的更多学术建议。《新闻周刊》的研究还发现，充足的课外活动不仅让学生更加快乐，也可能让他们在课堂上更加成功。
家长应该鼓励孩子尽可能的去收集信息和寻求支持，以求突破。首先家长要确保你的孩子所学的高中课程对升入大学是有所帮助的。另外，鼓励孩子利用课外时间，去参与社会服务和领导力等活动。鼓励孩子通过各种课外活动发展他们的才能，例如参与艺术交流，体育活动，学术活动，实习和旅行都可能激发孩子的潜力。
家长除了鼓励孩子参加多元的活动，还要帮助他们制定一份清单，记录这些活动的过程和孩子取得的成绩。提醒他们这些看起来“不起眼”的活动会提升他们的综合素质，当然，大学招生官的心也可能因此为他们打开。
综合素质的培养已经成为大学升学的重要一环。
家长与孩子的高中升学顾问建立紧密联系也是至关重要的，因为他们了解孩子的优势和孩子的大学选课范围。 一个好的升学顾问一定会建议你的孩子接受AP和荣誉课程，这些课程对于孩子学术能力的进阶至关重要，大学招生时会给上过这些课程的孩子更高的评分。高中升学顾问的推荐信是大学申请过程的重要部分，一封好的推荐信可以为孩子的综合评分锦上添花。
最后，我们聊聊家长本身对选校的影响。选校，生活安排和费用等问题都是家长肩头的担子。重要的是，家长应该和孩子一起讨论和复习大学的学习计划。数据显示，家长对大学环境的学术需求缺乏了解可能会导致问题。记住，您是孩子最好的港湾。建立一个没有压力的升学环境，无条件帮助孩子们探索、准备和理解大学升学的要求，以增加大学录取机会。家长如何认知升学这件事是孩子成功升学的最大因素之一。
英文原文 by Dr Roz
As a parent, you play a pivotal role in helping your child understand how to plan for college in high school. New research shows high school students are more stressed than ever before as they prepare for college. Due to the pandemic, there have been limited opportunities to visit college campuses in person, ZOOM has presented a new set of challenges, and the holistic college admissions review process is constantly evolving. Parents who participate and encourage success in high school increase opportunities for their students to be admitted to the colleges of their choice.
Although grades are extremely important, the time has passed when a weighted grade point average with high test scores ensured college admission. Many parents who did not understand the constantly changing college admission landscape are asking how their student was denied admission with a very high GPA and exceptional test scores. The answer is this isn’t enough anymore. These key elements of the college admissions process are significantly altered having been modified by the holistic application review and it takes more than high grades and test scores to be competitive.
Parents of high school students find themselves dubious about the process and uncertain if these changes will apply to their students if they are sophomores or juniors in high school or younger. Finding answers to the additional existential questions is paramount to success as the process continues to evolve. Some of the questions that students are grappling with include but are not limited to the following. Do I need to take the SAT? Will I have to be vaccinated? Will my schedule be hybrid, online, or in-person? How do I prepare for the unknown? Who can I talk to?
As a parent, you can help your child prepare and excel. Talk with your child about how you can help ease their stress and concerns about college. Become involved in college exploration. Parents who are aware of the college application process can provide invaluable support and encouragement to their students. They can affirm that their dreams of attending the college of their choice need not be compromised by evolving admission criteria, geographical barriers, COVID restrictions, or other obstacles. They can cultivate and promote an environment of success and assist their students in making the most of their middle and high school years to optimize the efficacy of their college applications to become highly competitive for the most selective colleges.
Explore college options, majors, and careers with your child. Now is the time for your child to explore all options. A study by Newsweek found that 70 to 75% of students feel they need more guidance on courses to take and, what extracurricular activities to join, as well as more academic advice from teachers, counselors, and mentors. The Newsweek study also found that students who engage in extracurricular activities are not only happy students but also the most successful in the classroom.
Specifically, I highly recommend that students be encouraged to seek information and support to overcome barriers. It is important to make sure the high school courses your child takes will be appropriate for college. Use time outside of school wisely and encourage extracurricular and co-curricular activities through service, volunteerism, and leadership. Encourage your child to develop their talents. Artistic expression, participation in extramural sports, academic clubs, internships, and travel opportunities can complement a student's application.
There are many activities that your child can become involved in and schools are gatekeepers of numerous opportunities that students may not know about. Help them develop a list and maintain a record of activities and achievements. Remind them of events that they may think are not important but can be significant in letting the admissions committee understand the depth and breadth of their experiential activities outside of the classroom.
It is also very important to form a relationship with your child's high school counselor. They are knowledgeable about the courses your child should enroll in for college and are selecting them for your students during enrollment. Be certain to request that your child take advanced placement and honors courses, as academic rigor is an important consideration that many colleges rate higher than good grades in regular courses. Counselors are also requested to submit a counselor recommendation for your student as a part of the college application review process and these recommendations are important to the review. Establishing a relationship early is very important and your student should make sure that the counselor is aware of all their activities for the recommendation.
Finally, parents influence college choice. Such issues as the selection of an institution, its location, living arrangements, and cost are heavily determined by parents. Even more important, discuss and review the college programs of study with your child. The data show a parents' lack of understanding of the academic demands of the college environment may cause problems (York-Anderson & Bowman, 1991). You are the best advocate for your child. Cultivate a stress-free environment of support as you help them explore, prepare, and understand the rigors of academia to ensure that their college choices will yield multiple offers of admission and guarantee their future success.
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