Talk to the child in question. Ask her if she has considered college for herself, where she wants to attend, what financial plans she has and what she intends to do to prepare for college. Explain that college requires a great deal of independence, since she will have to choose her own classes, make career choices and possibly live on her own.
Make a plan with him of what he wants to accomplish at the beginning of every high school year, and look at it together often.
Ensure that the student takes preparatory versions of standardized tests such as SAT or ACT.
Purchase items for the student's dormitory room, such as bedding.
Allow the student more responsibility in his daily life, such as arranging his own schedule and getting his schoolwork done in a timely fashion.
Narrow down the number of schools to which she wants to apply. This will give her the opportunity to focus more on each school. The College Board recommends that students limit their applications to between five and eight schools.
Provide feedback on the student's application essay.
Encourage the student to take college preparation or Advanced Placement classes and participate in several – but not too many – extracurriculars such as tutoring, sports, community service or performance arts.
Provide an outside view on the student's life to help him understand which parts of his life he should emphasize in his application. For example, if he participates in any volunteer activities or school organizations or has already participated in activities that will prepare him for his career objectives, these types of activities may be more beneficial to his application than others.