• Home
  • About
    • Brand College Consulting
    • Jolyn Brand
  • Press and Awards
  • Client Testimonials
  • Make a Payment
  • Contact

Brand College Consulting

College assistance for families

Student Dashboard

Schedule an Appointment

  • College Admissions
    • College Consulting
    • College Consulting Registration Form
  • Blog
  • Pro Bono Advising
  • College Students

Quiz: Is Your Teen Ready for College?

February 15, 2015 By Jolyn Brand

Part of the “American Dream” is to send children off to college after high school. We envision them living in dorms, enjoying the true ‘college experience’, learning and growing into adults. The reality is that some children aren’t ready for that independence. Many college students return home after a semester or two of college, usually because of failing grades, lack of friends, or simply too much partying.

So how do parents know if their child is ready to go live on their own? Here’s a simple quiz:

1. Does your teenager wake himself/herself up in the mornings for school?

This is the first sign of independence. Teens should have and use alarm clocks and be self-reliant to get themselves up in the mornings. I know, I know, parents are now shaking their hands, whispering that their teen isn’t a ‘morning person’. I have a lot of experience with teenagers and have 4 children, 3 are teenage boys. Yes, teens like to sleep, but that should not be a reasonable excuse for Mom or Dad to continue waking up a 17 or 18 year old.

 2. Does your teen know how to wash his/her own clothes? How much detergent to use? How to sort?

I’m always surprised when college student complain about dirty clothes or bring home all their laundry for Mom to wash on holidays. How is that helping your child become a responsible adult? High school is the time to be showing them how to use washers and dryers and then ensuring that use them every week.

 3. Does your teen know what to do in the case of sickness? For example, would he know what medicines to take, when to go to the doctors, how to make a doctor’s appointment?

College students are going to get sick: they are in tight quarters with new people with new germs. They shouldn’t be calling home with every cough and sniffle. Teach teens what medicines to use for which symptoms, how to use a thermometer, and when their symptom warrant a trip to the health center.Independent studies

4. Does your teen successfully manage his or her own studies?

This would include scheduling their own activities, class projects and homework. If you have to ask if homework is done, if you’re checking online grades to keep them caught up, if you’re micro-managing projects and supplies, the answer is no.

5. Does your teen know when and how to NOT submit to peer pressure?

Teens who know when to say “sorry, I can’t go to that movie, I have a test tomorrow” are much more successful at college when distractions abound. If your child is constantly using social activities as excuses for why things didn’t get done, your answer is no.

6. Does your teen know how to read and navigate a map?

Be careful here, don’t just say yes because they use Google maps or their iPhones. The ability to get from one campus building to another in just a few minutes will be key in a few months. I have witnessed far too many students completely lost on a college tour and unable to use the directory or maps.

7. Can your teen make meals and snacks for himself?

Many parents think that this isn’t important because college students have a meal plan, but what about times when the cafeteria is closed? What will happen after college? People shouldn’t live off pizza and cereal for the rest of their lives.

8. Does your teen do a weekly chore without a reminder?

This proves the ability to remember or write down important things, which is a very important tool in college. If your teen can’t remember to take out the trash once a week, how will he remember to check the mailbox at college?

9. Do you let your teen handle it if he has problem with a teacher?

If you “help” every time your teen has an issue with a teacher, a missing assignment or a confusing project, you are not doing him any favors. You won’t have that option with professors so teach high school students to talk to their own teachers about these issues.

10. Does your teen have a checking account or debit card that he or she handles independently?

The best time for children to learn how to manage personal finances, how to budget their money and how to spend responsibly, is under an adult’s supervision. College students will be bombarded with credit card offers and arenas to spend lots of money. Parents can provide a debit card during junior and senior years of high school so that teens can learn to budget their money. This should also decrease the number of phone calls home during the first year of college asking for money!

Parents, add up how many questions you answered YES.

Number of YES answers

Result

8-10

Great job Mom and Dad! Your student can be successful living on his/her own. You may want to work on the remaining 1-2 questions though.

4-7

Your child is mildly independent. If you have time before college, start working on the questions that got a “no” answer to.If you don’t have time before college, work on these issues during college holiday breaks and summer breaks.

0-3

Your teenager is not independent. If he/she is younger and you have enough time before college, start working on the issues that got a “no” answer.If there is not enough time before graduation from high school, maybe you should consider a community college or local college while he/she gains living skills. Another option is a life coach or college consultant who can help students adjust to college life.

Many college consultants, such as myself, are willing to continue working with college students on issues such as independent living, finding campus employment, interviewing for internships, handling issues with professors, and scheduling courses.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: For Juniors, For Seniors Tagged With: college, college admissions, college advice, college consultant, college help, college students, college workshop, deciding on college

Contact Jolyn Brand

Brand College Consulting Dr. Jolyn Brand Independent Education Consultant Houston: (832) 910- 7990 Philadelphia: (215) 690-1160 You … [Read sticle...]

Press and Awards
Recent Articles

Google Reviews

Brand College Consulting
Brand College Consulting
5.0
Based on 5 reviews
powered by Google
review us on
Joel Delgado
Joel Delgado
16:37 27 Sep 19
Our experience with Jolly Brand was exceptional.
Jacob Gunter
Jacob Gunter
04:27 06 Jul 19
Shannon Robbins
Shannon Robbins
16:26 14 Apr 17
Our experience with Jolyn Brand was exceptional. She was very responsive to us and offered valuable guidance throughout the college preparation and application process. My daughter got in to all of the schools in which she applied, even her stretch school. We credit Jolyn with helping us to make sure her resume, application and essays were top notch.
Marylee Olson
Marylee Olson
00:29 08 Mar 17
Brand College Consulting was GREAT for our son! We met Ms. Brand when my son was in 7th grade! We saw her for an hour consult yearly to help him select his classes, plus a little algebra tutoring in high school. He was ahead of others course-wise and we were able to get 21 hours dual credit in high school, he made the Dean's List, Phi Theta Kappa, and Natl Society of High School Scholars. We are a family of Texas State Bobcats and it's very competitive now to get in but he did and we are thrilled! I recommend Ms. Brand and her services! Marylee Olson, Silverlake, Pearland (Dawson High School)
Chaplain Forever
Chaplain Forever
23:49 05 Oct 16
My youngest daughter attended tutorial services with Ms. Brand. Due to the exemplary, SAT preparation services, my daughter was accepted into several top colleges including the University of Houston, Texas State, Lamar University, and Sam Houston. As a college student, she received scholarships and has been on the Dean's list every semester. Ms. Brand instilled confidence in my daughter. I will be forever grateful.
See All Reviews
js_loader

Client Testimonials

avatarJolyn is wonderful. She's helped me write my essays for college applications and answered all of my questions about applying.

Note: Madison chose Texas Tech University and is currently enjoying Lubbock, Texas.

Madison Romine
Friendswood High School student, class of 2014
Read more››

About Jolyn Brand

Jolyn is a certified teacher who holds a Doctorate in Higher Education from Northeastern University. After years of experience teaching high school and college students, she began assisting with the college process. She's the founder of Brand College Consulting and works with families across the country virtually. A note from Jolyn: I started working with low-income high school students in … More...

Article Categories

  • ACT and SAT
  • Essays
  • FAQ's
  • Financial Aid
  • For Juniors
  • For Seniors
  • Grad Schools
  • Seminars
  • Testimonials
  • Upcoming Events

Recent Articles

  • Spring To Do List For Juniors
  • Timeline for Taking the SAT or ACT
  • Does the PSAT Matter? Should You Prepare?
  • Creating Your Student Resume for College Admissions
  • 10 Things to See and Do on a College Tour
  • Law School Applications Surge
  • After College Applications
  • Open House Days at Texas Colleges

Brand-College-Consulting-header-02.jpgDr. Jolyn Brand

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 | Brand College Consulting

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d