My daughter is a senior in high school, and she has already finished her college search and intends to go to university this September. Unfortunately, she hasn’t received any college acceptance letters already received two rejections. Do you know the next steps she has to take if she does not get accepted in any?

-Worried Mommy

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Dear Worried,

If, as you fear, your daughter does not get into college this fall, there are a few things that she (and you) can do. For starters, she may be eligible to start a community college program in the fall or at the very least the spring, semester. This would enable her to start fresh, focus on improving her grades, and transfer into a four-year program. Do a community college search to see if there are some good options close to where you live, where she can study full or part-time. Another option is to enrol her in “13^th year” program at a local prep school. Private schools that excel in individual attention and college-prep curriculum may be able to help her boost her GPA by giving her the opportunity to focus solely on her academics in an intellectually stimulating environment. Be forewarned, these programs don’t come cheap, and they do not count for college credit. Search for college-prep programs that give you the most bang for your buck. The benefits to the “13^th year” program vs. a community college is that they may have a better reputation than your local community college. If your daughter was aiming to get accepted into top schools, but she met with disappointment, an extra year at a private school might be just what she needs. If, however, she is more interested in a state school, a community college might be a great option to earn college credit and eventually transfer into a four-year program.

Another thing to think about is if your daughter could benefit from a “Gap Year” internship, volunteer trip, or even just a year working full time. There are many local and national organizations that organize internships and volunteer opportunities abroad and at home. This would boost her resume so that she stands out beyond her SAT scores, give her valuable life skills, and also let her think more about what she wants to get out of her college education. If she works locally, she can even take a few night courses to improve her GPA while she gains work experience.

Remember: support your daughter no matter what the outcome. Whether she gets in or doesn’t, know that this one decision is not the end of the world so long as she stays resourceful and optimistic. The last thing you want to do is overreact and discourage her. Make sure she understand the importance of making the most of this year-off, so that come next fall, she can enter university with full force and determination.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, parents

03.16.09

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