1. Share your story

Many college-bound students will be the first in their family to get a degree and are completely unfamiliar with the process. Other students are overwhelmed with messages about what is the right path to college. Sharing your personal story to and through higher education only takes a few minutes but can make all the change in the world. Hearing the stories of others highlights the diverse paths to a degree, helps students visualize what college might be like for them, and shows students that although they will encounter obstacles, they can overcome them — especially with support from people like you!

2. “How are you doing? No really, how are you doing?”

High school students, particularly juniors and seniors, are most likely already stressing out about college (and many other things)! Sometimes, asking a student point-blank about college can increase their feelings of overwhelm. Make sure to take a few minutes each day to check in with your student and chat about life, not just college. It may take some time before your student feels comfortable sharing, but showing up for your student and showing that you care about their wellbeing could be just the kind of encouragement they need to get through those stressful college applications.

3. Visit a college campus

College campuses can be intimidating for high school students. For many, they are just photos on a computer screen or descriptions in a big college guidebook. Take a student to visit a college campus! Whether it is an ivy league school, your alma mater, or your local community college, spending time on a campus makes the dream of higher education that much more of a reality. Show your student everything a campus has to offer: beautiful grounds, libraries, student centers, sports facilities, classrooms, dorms, and students enjoying their time.

4. Celebrate every milestone and accomplishment

People thrive on positive reinforcement, especially youth. Over here at ScholarMatch, our rule of thumb is that every personal statement completed, scholarship won, and college acceptance (whether it be to Community College or an Ivy League), is worthy of celebration. The college application process is daunting and stressful. Because of this, many under-resourced students get discouraged and give up before their hard work can pay off. Remind your student that their efforts and dedication is something to be proud of and celebrate!

5. Sign up to volunteer

True story: you have the power to change the course of a life, in just a few hours. There are over 800,000 high school students across the United States without access to a school counselor. Working with a student on their college list, personal statement, FAFSA, and scholarship applications doesn’t take much time or skill, but it is a service that many under-resourced and first-generation college students desperately need. Sign up here to volunteer with ScholarMatch or find a local college access organization in your hometown!

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