How to Support Your Teen with Learning Differences in the College Admissions Process

Name: Support Your Teen with Learning Differences in the College Admissions Process
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By: Gina Gerrato Greenhaus, M.A.Educational Consultant (College Admissions Expert)

The college process can be stressful enough, but when a student has a learning issue and has struggled academically, a parent’s anxiety will be increased. Most parents admit to feeling lost about how to prepare their teenagers for college. Students will pick up on the parents’ anxiety and concerns, so it is essential to be patient and provide emotional support. Encourage your student to believe in their ability to succeed, and remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

By taking these steps, parents can help their high school students navigate the challenges of college preparation, build the skills needed for success, and ensure a smoother transition to a university setting. As we know, the first step towards college preparation is earning good grades, which requires a supportive educational environment. Many teachers do not fully understand the challenges students with learning issues will experience in most classrooms.

One of the first steps in helping your high school students prepare for college is to help them learn how to independently self-advocate with teachers and learning support staff. This requires the student to acknowledge their disability and fully understand their strengths and weaknesses. When students grasp the nature of their learning issues, they can identify the best accommodations and strategies for them. For example, they might realize that extra time on tests allows them to process information more effectively or that breaking assignments into smaller tasks helps them stay organized. With this knowledge, students can confidently communicate their needs to teachers, counselors, and school staff, fostering a supportive educational environment.

Students diagnosed in middle school or earlier might already have some experience with this process. Still, high school can present new challenges as they navigate more complex coursework and greater expectations. It’s common for students to struggle with explaining their difficulties, but with guidance, they can learn to articulate their needs clearly. This self-awareness and ability to communicate effectively are crucial for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Moreover, when students understand their disabilities and have developed effective study habits, they can confidently approach the college admissions process. They’ll be better equipped to choose colleges that offer strong support services and to advocate for the accommodations they need once they’re on campus. Ultimately, the key to reducing parental anxiety and ensuring a smooth transition to college lies in empowering the student to take control of their education and advocate for themselves effectively.

Action Steps and Timeline:

Freshman Year: Make sure the student fully understands their learning issue.

Helping students understand their specific learning issues, as identified through assessments by educational psychologists or other professionals, requires a supportive and informative approach. Set up a meeting with an educational psychologist for testing and a follow-up appointment to review the testing results in depth. After the appointment, review the results with students when needed, for example, if they have questions about their accommodations at school or when trying to help them articulate themselves in preparation for an IEP meeting.

Begin by providing a clear and simplified summary of the assessment results, focusing on students’ strengths and areas needing support. It’s crucial to explain the purpose of the assessment, emphasizing that its goal is to identify students’ unique learning profiles to tailor educational support better. Normalize learning differences by highlighting that everyone has strengths and areas for growth and reassure students that these assessments are tools to provide them with effective strategies and accommodations.

Addressing emotional reactions is essential, as some students may feel anxious or frustrated upon learning about their learning issues. Create a safe space to express their feelings and ask questions openly. Use concrete examples to illustrate how their learning issues manifest in different contexts, helping them connect assessment results to their everyday experiences.

Review the recommended interventions and supports clearly, demonstrating how these strategies will support their academic success. Encourage self-advocacy by teaching students how to communicate their needs to teachers and seek help when necessary. Offer additional resources for further understanding, such as books and articles, and schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress towards goals, celebrate achievements, and provide ongoing encouragement. By employing these strategies, parents and educators can empower students to embrace their learning profiles and navigate their educational journeys with confidence and self-awareness.

Academic Preparation for College

The college preparation timeline is light years away in the mind of a teenager, and they may not see the need to prepare as early as tenth grade. Still, sophomore and junior years are very important, as colleges will look at the classes students take and the rigor of their academic transcripts. While not all students feel prepared or motivated to take on the challenges of AP coursework, it’s important to build students’ study skills and set them on the right track. We can do this by making sure they meet the academic requirements for high school and college. The first step is understanding that colleges may require more than your high school requires for graduation. This is an important fact for teenagers to wrap their heads around.

Students often share their ideas about the coming year and how they finished their foreign language sequence after two years and have completed enough math after advanced algebra. This might be fine if they are struggling, and it might be the right decision to stop at two years of language or take ASL as their language; however, it’s important to consider how this might affect their college choices. They will need coursework like physics and calculus when applying for a STEM major. Students applying to specific colleges must meet the general education requirements and requirements for their chosen major. The College of liberal arts will also likely have a foreign language requirement. This is why it is crucial to do academic planning for college alongside academic planning for high school.

Colleges seek students who prepare for a major during high school, meaning the coursework and extracurriculars align with the student’s intended major. For some students, this is a chance to show their skills outside the classroom, and this gets them excited to start clubs, take on a part-time job, or attend a summer program. Taking on leadership roles comes a bit easier for for students who are extroverts. Introverts often express themselves through artwork, creative pursuits, scientific experiments, and building things to show off their engineering brain. While extracurriculars are a great way to connect to a possible major, the academic transcript is the most important evaluation of a child’s ability to handle college-level coursework.

Develop Strong Study Habits:

Create a Study Routine: Establish a consistent study routine with dedicated daily time for homework, review, and preparation for upcoming tests. Breaking study time into manageable chunks can prevent overwhelm and improve focus.
Use Study Aids: Incorporate study aids such as flashcards, graphic organizers, and summary notes. Visual and interactive tools can help students grasp complex concepts more easily.
Practice Active Learning: Engage in active learning techniques like summarizing information in your own words, teaching concepts to a peer, or using mnemonic devices to remember key facts.
Study Skills: Help students develop effective study habits and time management skills. Consider tutoring or academic coaching to help get the student on track.

Work on Time Management and Organization:

Use a Planner: Use a planner or digital calendar to track assignments, deadlines, and tests. This helps students stay organized and ensures that tasks are completed on time.
Break Down Tasks: Break larger assignments into smaller, manageable steps. Setting mini-deadlines for each step can make big projects less daunting and easier to tackle.
Prioritize Work: Learn to prioritize tasks based on deadlines and difficulty. Tackling harder assignments first can boost confidence and make the rest of the workload feel more manageable.

Seek Extra Help When Needed:

Work with a tutor: If a subject is particularly challenging, consider seeking additional help from a tutor. Tutors can provide personalized instruction and help reinforce difficult concepts.
Attend Study Groups: Join or form study groups with peers. Collaborating with others can provide different perspectives on the material and make learning more engaging.
Assistive Technology: Familiarize them with any assistive technology they may use in college, such as speech-to-text software, audiobooks, or organizational tools.

Getting a jump start on the necessary academic preparation is crucial for success when applying to colleges. It builds a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that colleges seek in prospective students. When students are well-prepared academically, they are more likely to perform well on standardized tests, write compelling essays, and present a well-rounded application that highlights their strengths.

Additionally, strong academic preparation allows students to take on challenging coursework, such as Advanced Placement (AP) or honors classes, which can enhance their transcripts and demonstrate their readiness for college-level work. This preparation also helps students become more confident and self-reliant, enabling them to navigate the demands of higher education with greater ease. In addition to earning good grades, students must take the right courses to be academically prepared for college. This can challenge some students who struggle with writing, foreign languages, and math. Suppose your student has difficulty with any of these skills. In that case, it is best to work with a college advisor, provide supplementary instruction in these areas, and look at alternative coursework like classes online or in the summer, where the student can concentrate on one course at a time.

Applying to College and Creating a College List

Once the student is on track academically, hopefully by the end of their sophomore year, you will need to begin visiting colleges and developing a list of colleges to which your student can apply. When creating a college list, make sure to prepare your custom criteria. This criteria should include the student population, large, small, or medium-sized campus, location, urban, suburban, rural, and campus life. Another factor is how much support will be provided and whether the university offers academic coaching, robust accommodations services, peer mentoring, enhanced tutoring services, and a writing center specific to registered students with the Office of Disabilities.

Researching Colleges

Disability Services: Look for colleges with solid disability services programs. These offices can provide information on accommodations and support available, such as tutoring, liaison, housing accommodations, and early summer start programs.
Visits and Meetings: Visit potential colleges and meet with disability services staff to discuss your teen’s needs and how they can be met.
Accessibility of Services: Ensure that the services are easily accessible, both physically and administratively. Some colleges may require extensive documentation, so knowing the process in advance is essential.

Campus Culture and Inclusion

Inclusive Environment: Investigate whether the college promotes an inclusive environment for students with learning disabilities. If possible, speak with current students to get a sense of the campus culture.
Student Organizations: Some colleges have clubs or organizations specifically for students with learning disabilities, which can provide a strong support network.

Academic and Emotional Support

Counseling Services: Check if the college offers mental health and counseling services. These can be vital for managing the stress associated with college life. Some colleges only offer a few sessions for students, and there is a waiting list for services.
Academic Coaching: Some schools offer academic coaching to help students develop effective study habits, time management skills, and organizational strategies.

Documentation Requirements

Up-to-date Evaluations: Ensure your student has current and comprehensive evaluations documenting their learning disability. Colleges typically require recent documentation (within three years) for accommodations.
IEP and 504 Plans: While Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and 504 Plans don’t carry over to college, they can help establish the need for accommodations.

Transition Programs

Summer Bridge Programs: Some colleges offer transition programs for students with learning disabilities, helping them adjust to college-level work and independence before the semester begins.
Orientation Sessions: Find out if the college provides orientation sessions tailored to students with learning disabilities.

Academic Programs and Support Services

Specialized Programs: Some colleges or schools have specialized programs for students with learning disabilities. These programs often offer more structured support and can include smaller classes or individualized instruction.
Tutoring Centers: Investigate the availability and quality of tutoring centers, particularly those with staff experienced in working with students with learning disabilities.

Tips on the Application Process

Personal Statement: If appropriate, help them include information about their learning issues in their personal statement, highlighting their resilience and the strategies they’ve developed to succeed.
Special Testing Arrangements: Ensure they get the necessary accommodations for college entrance exams (e.g., extra time, separate testing room).

Ongoing Support

Disability Accommodations

Continued Accommodations: Students may need to regularly coordinate with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to ensure that their accommodations (e.g., extended test time, note-taking services) are being implemented effectively.

Time Management and Organization

Academic Coaching: Some students benefit from ongoing academic coaching, where they work with a coach to develop effective time management, organization, and study habits. Coaches can help students break down tasks, set goals, and maintain a balanced schedule.

Self-Advocacy Development

Advocacy Training: Continued support in developing self-advocacy skills is essential. This includes learning to communicate needs effectively, request accommodations, and seek out resources independently.
Workshops and Seminars: Colleges may offer workshops on self-advocacy, communication.

Health and Wellness

Health Services: Regular access to health services, including medical care, nutrition counseling, and fitness programs, is important for overall well-being.
Stress Management Resources: Colleges often provide resources for managing stress, such as meditation sessions, yoga classes, or wellness workshops. Encouraging participation in these activities can help students maintain a healthy balance.

Monitoring Academic Progress

Regular Check-ins: Some students benefit from regular check-ins with advisors, professors, or disability services staff to monitor their academic progress and address any challenges early on.
Early Intervention Programs: Colleges may have programs designed to identify struggling students and provide early intervention to prevent academic failure.

Conclusion

Early preparation in high school is crucial for students with learning disabilities as it lays the foundation for their future success. By developing strong study habits self-advocacy skills, and utilizing available resources, students can better manage their challenges and build confidence in their abilities. Engaging with support services, learning to navigate accommodations, and practicing effective time management during high school can help ease the transition to college. These strategies empower students to overcome obstacles, enabling them to focus on their academic and personal goals. By understanding their unique needs and proactively seeking support, students with learning disabilities can transform potential barriers into opportunities for growth. This early preparation fosters resilience and equips them with the tools needed to thrive in college and beyond, ensuring that their learning disability does not hinder their pursuit of success. If the student can find success in the first year of college, they will succeed towards their goals.