Middle School Readiness for College Counseling Process

Middle School & Lusher’s College Counseling Process

Middle School provides a number of important opportunities to establish a strong foundation to your child’s successful college search process.  Strong work habits, confident self-advocacy, responsibility in achieving balance (in classes, activities, and life), and proactive research are essential facets of the College Counseling Program at Lusher Charter School.  Acknowledging that it is a complex and potentially confusing process, the sooner that a student and his/her family begins, the less potential stress you will encounter in the future.

Mr. Wagner’s 4 Steps Towards Future College Readiness

1.      Academic Engagement: Honor Thy Transcript

v  Be responsible with course work; keep up with assignments.

v  Seek extra-help from Lusher teachers; show genuine interest in the subject matter.

v  Honors and high school-level classes in middle school do appear on your final Lusher high school transcript. Take these courses seriously.

v  The higher a student’s GPA, the greater the future opportunities and options.

2.      Extracurricular Involvement: Prepare the foundation of a robust Activities Resume

v  At Lusher: student involvement in clubs, activities, arts, and athletics that reflect interests and cultivate talents.

v  In larger community: Local organization & community service; within Church, Synagogue, Mosque, or Temple faith community; volunteering, tutoring, & mentoring opportunities; examples that demonstrate a student’s outreach.

v  Help your child to discover and demonstrate her/his unique gifts, skills, and interests.

v  How do these activities reflect your child’s interests, character, and greater involvement?

3.      Purposeful Exploration & Research: Methodical & proactive inquiry

v  Job & Volunteer Opportunities; explore the student’s natural curiosity and inclinations

v  Enrichment Programs; seek opportunities that deepen and clarify student interests

v  Read, Read, Read: Abundant studies show that reading stimulates intellectual development, enhances vocabulary, and expands experiential knowledge.

v  Visit Colleges: even informal visits provide valuable awareness to students in fine-tuning concept of “good fit and good match” colleges.  Begin slowly (college t-shirt collection, artistic or athletic events, etc) then build as opportunity avails and maturity increases.

v  Keep a Journal: record impressions, experiences, evolving hopes, wishes, & dreams.

4.       Initiating College Discussions Now: Work as a family towards college process

v  Family discussions of hopes, wishes, & dreams; empower your child’s exploration.

v  Be candid about opportunities & challenges: geography, affordability, family legacy, expectations, & other related matters. Topics avoided tend to fester and cause later stress.

v  Active Research of Scholarship Opportunities: There is an ever-expanding variety of university, organizational, regional, and special interest opportunities, all awaiting your exploration, attention, and discovery.

v  As questions arise, come visit Lusher’s College Counseling Office; we’re here to help.