College and career are seemingly far-off realities for middle school students. Yet, why are schools all over pushing for career exploration in middle and even elementary school? The reality is that many consider the high school years to be the most significant period for preparing students for college admissions and selecting a major. However, it's important to recognize that these years alone are far from enough to adequately prepare students for the numerous tasks (college planning, career selection, advanced study skills, high-level course completion) at hand.
To understand in detail, let us first look into what college and career readiness entails.
Let’s look at what college and career readiness means?
College and career readiness broadly refers to being equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to succeed in an academic setting beyond high school and pursue a fulfilling career. It goes beyond simply meeting academic requirements and encompasses a broader set of competencies and qualities that enable students to navigate the challenges of higher education and the workforce.
Let’s us look at these core competencies one by one (and later in the article we will discuss how you can help your child attain them)
Academic Knowledge: Core academic subjects, including English and mathematics, form the basis for higher-level education across the globe and are strong requirements in college-level courses across various disciplines. Most college and university admission tests, including the SAT and ACT, assess students' academic potential based on their proficiency in English and mathematics, which highlights the prominence of these subjects in higher education.
English and mathematics skills are not limited to academic settings but are also applicable in real-life situations, as they can translate into critical thinking and problem-solving skills, something very crucial for career success in any given field.
Independent Learning and High Order Thinking: College and workplace success requires developed thinking skills that enable your child to learn, apply, and use knowledge to interpret information and solve problems.
These thinking skills and strategies equip your child with advanced study skills as they navigate through independent learning. Incorporate these methods into their guided study sessions to master them over the time.
- Analysis at its core means making sense of the information. It involves breaking down the large information into its component parts, examining patterns, and deriving conclusions.
- Research involves knowing where to and how to find the required information to either solve a problem or clarify concepts.
- Problem Solving requires having the knowledge to approach a problem creatively.
- Communication skill demonstrates the ability to draft a clear, organized and effective message summarizing the problem and potential solutions
Transferable Skills: Being able to effectively function in a team is a prerequisite when it comes to navigating one's career and higher education. Transferable skills, also known as employability skills, encompass a broader range of abilities that can be applied in any professional and personal setting.
Imagine all the responsibilities you are required to fulfill at work, and now consider all the skills necessary to complete these tasks effectively. You may work in a team or, at times, be required to take the lead. There may also be instances where you need to present ideas to your colleagues or superiors. The skill set that enables you to perform these tasks is transferable skills. Some key transferable skills, according to employability, include communication, collaboration, leadership, and adaptability.
College and Career Planning: This stage is all about educating your child on their options to pursue after high school and how they can achieve them.
While it may be early for detailed college application information, you can still foster a sense of preparedness by familiarizing your child with the general concept of college and the different paths (majors, degrees) available for higher education.
To take it a step further, consider introducing different career pathways that align with your child's interests or the college majors they have expressed curiosity about. This can provide them with valuable insights into potential future careers and help them connect their academic pursuits with real-world opportunities.
Why is Middle school the ideal time to start College and Career Preparation?
It is understandable that many parents may not fully grasp the importance of preparing for college during middle school, as the actual event may seem far away. Additionally, they may be hesitant to overwhelm their young ones with additional responsibilities on top of their schoolwork. Contrary to this popular belief, engaging in early preparation during middle school can actually be beneficial and even help alleviate the stress that typically arises in the later years of high school.
Let’s see how
Middle School is a period of heightened self-discovery and a quest for independence. As preteens during this stage are fueled by the search for self-identity, it is the optimal time to introduce and engage them in various hobbies and extracurricular activities that can shape their perspectives on school and learning.
After-school programs and engagements beyond school not only aid in self-reflection but also provide clarity on their interests, strengths, and potential career paths they would like to pursue. Such clarity can simplify their high school journey as it establishes focus and direction (such as coursework selection, extracurriculars to focus on, and college planning).
Top colleges, including elite universities like Ivy League institutions, value applicants with strong academic records. Completing challenging courses like AP, A-level, or edX with high grades is how colleges measure academic competency. This means that students who aspire to attend these colleges should start building competencies and identifying their academic strengths during middle school. This knowledge will help guide their course selection in high school, allowing them to pursue advanced coursework in subjects aligned with their passions and goals, which is crucial for college readiness.
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Plan Ahead for High School and Beyond
Preparing your preteen for higher education and career success in middle school can simplify and alleviate the intense stress experienced during the latter half of high school.
Here's how you can start preparing in middle school for your child's academic pathway and beyond.
Tutoring: If you find your child struggling with learning a particular subject, it is best to seek out an expert's help to address the challenge. As discussed in the previous section, competency in core subjects like math or English shouldn't be compromised when it comes to building a foundation for college and future career.
Academic experts and private tutors specialize in identifying gaps and adjusting their approach to suit your child's learning style. Crimson Rise tutors unanimously adopt a similar method, where the tutor serves as both mentor and subject guide simultaneously.
Extracurricular exploration:
Middle schoolers are driven by their need to explore their individuality and establish their own identity during this stage. With numerous activities, clubs, and hobbies to choose from, extracurricular exploration can seem like quite a task.
- Actively engaging with your child to discover their interests in subjects or activities can be a good starting point.
- Observe closely for innate strengths, speak to their teachers for insights that you may not be aware of, and research activities with your child that align with their strengths and interests.
Consider middle school as a time for trial and error. By observing their level of involvement over time, both you and your child can gain clarity about the areas of interest that genuinely bring joy to them.
Mentorship:
Having a designated mentor who can guide your child through the exploration journey mitigates the overwhelm that often accompanies self-guided exploration for both parents and children.
An academic expert can provide insights into diverse career options, including emerging fields/industries, and suggest potential paths that can lead them successfully towards their goals. Mentorship also opens up doors for network building at a young age and expands their immediate horizon of opportunities.
Our Rise mentors work one-on-one with students and their families to design a customized educational pathway, including coursework selection and extracurricular exploration, all while keeping in mind the unique strengths and interests of your child.
Study Skill Development:
Just like core subjects, learning is a skill that needs to be mastered to achieve a sense of preparedness for high school and beyond. For students who struggle with self-motivation to study, developing good study habits can be the solution. Knowing how to prioritize tasks, set goals, and schedule daily activities and homework empowers your child to take charge of their own learning.
During adolescence, when the prefrontal cortex is undergoing development, equipping your child with systems like time management and task prioritization can take them a long way in their academic and professional journey.
Kickstart Your Child’s Preparation
Crimson Rise’s admission accelerator program is a one-of-a-kind program specifically designed for middle schoolers, with a focus on profile building and developing a personal story to enhance their chances of securing admissions to top universities worldwide. Our one-on-one strategic approach creates a customized educational pathway that includes coursework selection, extracurricular exploration, independent projects, and work immersion experiences. This ensures that our students stay motivated and make progress in their individual journeys. Which is also why we emphasize setting outcomes and following the primary interests and strengths of your child.
Book a free consultation with our experts today.
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