Parents play a significant role in their child’s education. However, sometimes parents/guardians are unsure of how to support their child who is planning for postsecondary education. There are some things parents can help their child to navigate this important phase of life.
Assess Your Child’s Academic Performance
Provide a learning environment at home for your child. Plan out a studying routine with them, including some dedicated time for reading. Motivate your child to get good grades.
Explore your child’s interests. Talk to your child about their plans as early as grade 9. During their high school course selection, guide them in choosing courses that align with careers they find interesting. Check with them on their academic performance regularly. Identify the subjects they are performing well in, which can indicate their natural abilities and interests and potential career choices in that subject area.
Have discussions with your child on their future plans before or during grade 11. Encourage them to explore different majors and careers. Ask them what career path they are thinking about and where they see themselves in the future. However, let them research programs and postsecondary institutions, as it should be their decision. Find grade 11 and 12 courses required by postsecondary institutions for admission to a particular program. Early planning gives your child ample time to research and think about their options and not rush in making decisions during application season. Contact us at admissionelements@gmail.com or schedule a 1-Hour Session Package for guidance on planning high school courses and what careers and universities would be a good fit for your child based on their personality, interests, and abilities.
Support Your Child’s Extracurricular Interests
Support and encourage your child if they are interested in extracurricular activities. They might want to play sports, attend art classes, cultivate a hobby, volunteer in the community, or do a part-time job. You can drive them to their activities or help run their events. Being involved in extracurricular activities helps the child build communication, teamwork, time management, and social skills. Extracurricular activities are an asset in a student’s university application.
Explore postsecondary options with your child
Parents can have strong opinions on some careers/programs or postsecondary institutions, which may not align with their child's wants. Allow your child to take ownership of this process and keep an open mind to their preferences. If their career path requires attending a university, read our blog, “Why Should You Go to University?” about how universities can help students achieve their future goals.
You can schedule campus tours and take your child to visit different colleges and universities. These visits are important as they help the child decide which campus they like when finalizing a university. If time and cost are an issue, visit nearby colleges and universities to give them a glimpse of university life. Ask them to take notes about each campus they visit. You also take your own notes on visits and compare your observations with that of your child.
Try to seek advice from people in your social and professional circle regarding their postsecondary experience and careers. Read our blog, “Whom Should You Talk to When Searching for Universities?” on whom your child can speak to when deciding on universities.
Help your child find important information about universities like programs offered, clubs and societies, support services, admission process and requirements, application deadlines, and useful online resources.
Budget for Your Child’s Higher Education
Financing your child’s higher education is one of the top priorities. Tuition fee varies depending on the program and institution your child attends. According to Statistics Canada1 data, the weighted average annual tuition fee ranges from about $5,000 to $24,000 for full-time Canadian undergraduate students for the 2022/23 academic year, depending on the field of study.
One also needs to consider the cost of living, like housing, food, school supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. These expenses can be about $10,000 to $15,000 annually, depending on location and individual needs.
Parents should look at their family’s financial situation. Create a budget for funding sources, like savings and loans, and compare it with university expenses. Determine if you can pay from your savings or have to take out a loan. Talk to your child about how much you can afford to pay for their education.
Choosing to save early on for your child’s education can be helpful in the long run. One way to invest in their education in Canada is the Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP). If you are living in Ontario, you can check if you or your child will qualify for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). You can also look into student lines of credit or student loans from financial institutions. Governments, companies, organizations, and universities also offer grants and scholarships to students.
Parents Guide During and After Your Child's Application Process
Parents can guide their child in finalizing the list of universities the child would be interested in applying to and attending. You can sit with your child when they are filling out university applications and scan for any mistakes. You can also proofread their supplemental essays for spelling and grammatical errors if required for their chosen program.
Celebrate the good news with your child when universities send their acceptance letters. If your child is denied or waitlisted from a university, be supportive and don’t let them get disheartened. Avoid deciding for your child which university they should attend when it is decision time. However, discuss factors like distance from home, tuition fees, class size, extracurricular activities, and campus life.
Help complete and verify paperwork and forms when enrolling your child in their chosen institution and make payments for tuition and housing fees.
You can shop and plan for items your child requires when starting university. Read our blog, “What Should You Pack for a Dorm?” for a list of items needed for your child’s dorm.
Conclusion
Parents have many roles to play in their child's admission process. Open and honest communication between the parent and child is critical to a child's success in getting admission to a postsecondary institution. Monitor your child's high school performance and support them in their extracurricular endeavours. Plan how to finance their education and talk to them about how costs may affect their university experience and beyond. Discuss with your child which universities would be a good fit for them, but let them decide. Support and encourage your child in every possible way and guide them towards the path that is best for them.
1 Source: Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000301
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