In this post, our education consultant Andrea Glovsky, talks about how to help your child build a suitable resume for college, without pushing them to do too much!
For many of my clients it is senior year and panic time is upon them: they worry that they do not have a strong enough resume! Their question is always, “what should I do?” A resume, not too long ago, was something an adult used to get a job. Now teens everywhere are being forced, encourage or cajoled to do activities to build their resume for college. They are overscheduled and exhausted. I know parents of children as young as 10 that ask me if an activity is good for “my child’s resume” for college.
Somehow we have gotten it all wrong. Manufactured interest and passion rarely works. Often it actually backfires: the dancer who starts at age four, suddenly loses interest in high school. The commitment, discipline and time interfere with the normal activity of being a teen and exploring their own interest. They want time to be with their friends, play a sport, act in a play, explore different mediums in the art studio. It is normal to want to try new things. That is what teens do. The more over-programmed they are, the less time they have for new experiences; the kind that help in college, career, and life decision-making.
A passion truly comes from within, not something manufactured by an overzealous desire to position oneself for college acceptance. Children need to find and explore areas of interest throughout their developing years. Usually they prefer to focus on things that come easyily, are comfortable, they do well in, or include friends. Teens rarely want to be different. Sports is an area that many students begin at an early age, futbol for one, some start at age 4 or 5 and continue through high school. Many of my students tell me they do not love their sport, but they think it will help them get into college. A sport does not necessarily translate into a college acceptance. But team sports does give students a great deal; physical activity, group cooperation and team work, a structured schedule and often confidence: all good if they are doing it willingly and wouldn’t rather be doing something else. Of course doing nothing or playing computer games is not an acceptable something else.
What should a parent do to guide and encourage their teen to explore activities without pushing resume filling?
Help your child experience many different activities early; that is before junior year. Avoid convenience and ruts and focus on their strengths. By high school your student should begin to find areas of preference and proficiency.
Pay attention to real successes and strengths and help them build on them. Find ways to help your child find related activities. The dancer who started at four, might like to help teach four year olds the fun of plies.
Often you can identify exploration summer programs throughout the US or after school and weekend activities locally. There are math and science clubs, courses on the internet, local theater or dance groups, art studios, music groups etc.
Though exploring is important, no college likes joiners. Having a long list of club memberships and activities in unrelated topics is a negative. More is never better; quality is far better than quantity;
Encourage them to select a few interests/activities in high school and find ways to connect or expand upon them. For example, community service activities might include working with children in different ways, like tutoring, doing art projects, coaching a sport. Music might include, not just playing an instrument, but joining a band or ensemble, even volunteering to play for some organization.
Passion grows. Be patient. Some students are adults before they find a real passion. Some people never find one. You cannot give one to anyone, only facilitate it.
So if you are looking to build that four page resume for you high school senior, it doesn’t work that way. It does not translate into college acceptance. Passion grows over time, not in a month, a term, or even a year. Helping your child explore and be connected to things that matter cultivates the beginning of commitment and passion for the future.
Summer@brown.edu, is the most well known exploration summer program. Many colleges and private schools run summer programs. In late winter I will share my thoughts of what to do for the summer.
Please send questions to amg@findingcolleges.com or amglovsky@gmail.com. I would love to hear your questions. Next month: teens and technology.
ASK ANDREA
Andrea Glovsky of AMG Educational Consultants is a nationally known speaker on college and prep school placement, adolescents, and educational issues. She counsels families both in the US and internationally on applying to colleges and independent schools. She also conducts seminars on topics such as adolescent motivation, homework, and the financial aid process. An educator for over 35 years, she taught in both public and private schools.
Feel free to email questions to Ask Andrea at amglovsky@comcast.net and please visit: www.findingcolleges.com.
To read, Andrea’s previous education article, click on the link below:
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