Many parents believe starting as early as preschool will secure their child’s spot in the best universities while others start only months before high school graduation.

However, there is a sweet spot when it comes to beginning the college journey — middle school.

If you have a child in middle school or junior high, now is the time to prepare for college. Here’s how.

1. Encourage your child to expand their learning world

While academics should always be a focus, there are many other areas of learning where your child may excel.

Maybe your child is a fast runner, enjoys tinkering with computers, is great at reading people, loves the outdoors, is a talented musician, or perhaps they have not yet found their niche. By encouraging your child to explore other areas through sports teams, clubs or other extracurricular activities, they will build confidence, develop outstanding talent, and begin to find themselves.

You would be surprised how many scholarship opportunities exist for all sorts of quirky talents and interests. Also, in the pursuit of making their campuses diverse, college admissions committees search high and low to find students who can bring something new and interesting. Having talent and experience in non-academic areas improves your child’s chances of being accepted to top universities.

2. Enroll your child in AP classes

A great way to prep your child for college is by enrolling them in Advanced Placement classes, many of which are offered as early as the eighth grade.

This challenging coursework will better prepare your child for the rigor of college. Additionally, if your child passes their AP tests, they will receive college credit, saving them time and money in the long run. In fact, they may be able to complete a double major or master’s degree by the time most of their peers earn their bachelor’s degrees.

3. Get a tutor

School is a great place for your child to receive a wonderful education, but the truth of the matter is the larger class sizes and limited resources of Utah schools, not to mention a new Utah law allowing public schools to hire teachers without proper credentials, make it difficult to meet the individual needs of each student.

This is where getting a highly qualified tutor can help.

A good tutor can help your child develop effective study habits, build academic confidence, and gain a positive attitude towards school, all while supplementing their learning. However, not all tutors are created equal. Here are the important factors to consider when hiring a tutor:

• Depth of knowledge in the subject
• Years of experience teaching or tutoring
• Personality and communication skills
• Reliability

It is difficult for the average parent to adequately assess a new tutor in all of these areas. Fortunately, there are some amazing tutoring companies in Utah who take away much of the guesswork for you. Find a company that allows you to pay as you go rather than force you into a long-term contract. Also, working one-on-one with a tutor is proven to be more effective for most students than working in small groups. Make sure you know the type of help your child will receive.

4. Have them take the ACT multiple times

While earning good grades improves your child’s likelihood of being accepted into great colleges and winning merit-based scholarships, it is only part of the equation.

Admissions committees at colleges and universities use an index table that combines GPA and ACT scores. Students who perform well in both areas tend to be accepted to more schools and win more scholarship money than those who do not.

Your child should begin preparing for the ACT in the 10th grade, and they should take the test for the first time in the 11th grade. The ACT measures a different set of skills than GPA, so do not be alarmed if your honor-roll student receives a below average score. Most high schools in Utah do not offer classes specifically targeting the ACT. Fortunately, there are ACT prep courses in Utah offered through various private learning companies.

One-on-one ACT prep courses are always recommended over small group classes. Ideally, the course should be spread over 6 to 12 weeks, homework should be assigned regularly, and it should continue up to the week your child takes the ACT. Be sure to select a program that works with your budget and your child’s schedule. For best results, students should plan to take the ACT multiple times.

5. Find opportunities for them to be active in their community

College admissions committees are looking for well-rounded students who earn good grades, score high on the ACT, participate in extracurricular activities, and stay active within their community.

Help your child find volunteer opportunities in which they can help others and contribute to important community projects and events. There are many online resources, including Salt Lake County Youth Services, to help them find meaningful volunteer work.

Not only will this help your child stand out in the college admissions process, but the lessons learned and experience gained will be priceless.

6. Obtain letters of recommendation

If you really want your child’s application to shine, stellar recommendation letters are the cherry on top. Ask for letters of recommendation from people who know your child best.

Have an employer write a letter about their work ethic. Ask their composition teacher to write one describing your child's creativity. Perhaps a church leader can write a note about the service your child has provided over the years with their youth group.

While you child may not be able to control what is in these letters, they can ensure they are worthy of having quality letters by doing their best in all they do.

7. Enjoy the journey

You’d be hard-pressed to find middle-schoolers today who are thinking about college. Chances are, it’s a challenge to have them wear a matching pair of socks or even tame their bed head. But amidst that awkwardness is a brilliant brain that is eager to learn.

The tutors at High Performance Tutoring want to help your child enjoy their educational journey so that when the time comes to enter the world of higher education, it can be done with excitement and confidence.

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