College Readiness with Dawn Michel, College Counselor at Chaminade College Preparatory School
Because college is such a new experience, many teens feel challenged.
And feeling that challenge can be challenging in and of itself! If you’re used to things coming easy for you, college can really throw you for a curve.
We interviewed several college prep counselors at local, St. Louis area high schools, to find out the best ways you can help your teen prepare. These counselors have worked directly with students and have first hand experience in what it takes to get them ready for this major transition in their life. We are so excited to be able to bring their expertise to you, in hopes that we can all work together to help your teen thrive when they get to campus!
We’re also still accepting applicants for our Summer College Readiness Intensive. 8 sessions to get your teen on track for college. Learn more and apply right here:
As our series continues, we are excited to bring you our interview with Dawn Michel, College Counselor at Chaminade College Preparatory School and President-Elect, Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling. She talks about how to prepare and also the importance of calling home and maintaining family relationships while on campus!
How do you define college readiness for teens and their parents?
College-readiness means that students are considered to be equipped with the knowledge and skills deemed essential for success in university, college, and community-college programs.
What do you recommend students work on, including socially and emotionally, to prepare for college?
Advocating for themselves – being able to vocalize their needs and handle their individual needs and issues are paramount to the student’s success. Also, being open to new opportunities (through campus involvement, friendships, interactions with professors, and doing everything they can to stand out when they graduate.)
How do you encourage high school juniors and seniors to cope with anxiety or perfectionism before the move to college?
Be familiar as possible with the available campus resources they may need (where to go for what). Know where your resources are in case you need them (you’ll be too stressed to figure it out when you’re in the midst of anxiety). This includes on-campus resources as well as off campus facilities if needed.
Be willing to move beyond their experiences in the high school environment; this includes prioritizing self-care, but stretching their mind and their opportunities beyond what they believe they are capable of as they learn and experience their new environment. Think positive—treat this new environment as a new chance for growth and enlightenment, instead of something to fear or stress about.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you give to high schoolers that are planning to attend college?
Make the most of your experience - don’t just attend classes and think that’s enough.
Find things you’re passionate about, learn who you are, try new things, build relationships with professors, find clubs, activities, events, internships, experiences that help you grow intellectually and personally. And, call home periodically!
What’s the biggest piece of advice you give to parents of high schoolers that are planning to attend college?
Let them take ownership of the process of searching, applying and comparing to make the final decision!
For the parents themselves--visit on family weekend in September! When they head off in August, they think they want to get as far away as possible or they are sure they won’t miss their family, but that’s not the case for even the most confident students. Touching base periodically with family is critical to students’ success and that’s especially true that first couple months as they are adjusting to campus life, being away from what’s familiar and trying to figure out who they are and where they’re going.
Encourage your student to meet new people, find new ways to be involved and to always seek help in whatever way they need it (academic, social, mental). Remind your students to advocate for themselves—it’s never too late to start having your child work on those skills before they leave.
For a teen with anxiety or perfectionism, not knowing what to expect with college can be really tough. This is why Compassionate Counseling St. Louis created a weekly summer intensive designed to specifically target teens who may need a more personalized approach to handling their college anxiety. This program has limited spots and we only want to work with teens and college students who are ready to dig in and work hard. Read more about the specifics of our program and apply for your free phone consultation right here.
Curious to learn more about college readiness for teens? Wondering if your teen needs to meet with a therapist to discuss coping skills to manage their anxiety instead? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis works with kids, teens and college students throughout the St. Louis area. We highly recommend our college readiness intensive for the summer, but for your student who needs more long term therapy services, you can schedule your free therapy consultation right on our website.