4 Steps To Prepare Your High School Student for College (Without Doing Everything for Them)
- Sean McCormick
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
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Getting your student ready for college requires more than buying a dorm fridge or submitting applications.
They need to be building the life skills and executive function habits they’ll need to actually thrive once they get there.
In this article, you’ll learn my top tips to help your student gradually take on more responsibility so they feel capable and confident when it’s time to head out on their own.
Let's go through it👇
Why is Preparing Your High School Student For College So Important?
Moving from the structure of home life—where meals are made, laundry is magically clean, and bills are invisible—to independent college life is a massive transition.
It’s especially overwhelming for students with ADHD, autism, or executive function challenges.
Helping your student practice the basics of adulthood in high school leads to a smoother launch and fewer panicked calls during their first semester.
It also gives them a sense of self-efficacy—“I can do this”—that’s critical for managing classes, roommates, time, and stress.
And frankly, preparing your student is part of good parenting.
If the goal is raising an independent, capable adult, then teaching these skills now is the most supportive thing you can do.
Why Parents Often Skip or Delay Preparing Their High School Student For College
Reason #1: They Haven't Had Time To Plan It Out
Between jobs, school events, and daily life, many parents just don’t make a step-by-step plan.
Then, college move-in day sneaks up out of nowhere.
Reason #2: They Give In To Pushback
Students might say they’re too busy to do their laundry or set up a bank account.
Parents cave and do it for them.
Later, they regret it.
Reason #3: They Don't Realize How Intense The Transition Is
Once your student is in college, you can’t just call their professors or access their records.
Your child is legally an adult.
Without preparation, this shift hits hard for both of you, especially if your child struggles with executive function skills.
Check out this YouTube video for more tips on managing executive dysfunction in college:
Step-by-Step Process to Help Your High School Student Prepare for College
Step 1: Create a Transition Plan
List out the core life skills your student needs to learn before college. For example,
Laundry
Meal planning
Scheduling appointments
Spread them out over the year with target dates for each one.
You can use my pre-made ideal week template to help add schedule items like these into your routine and use your time effectively.
Step 2: Implement The Transition Plan
Don’t just talk about the plan—live it.
Have them do their own laundry weekly.
Cook dinner once a week.
Manage a monthly allowance.
If you're struggling with this, you're going to have to work on how to set boundaries.
Check out my article on how to set boundaries with your child.
Step 3: Give Them Opportunities To Practice independence
Walk them through things like setting up a bank account or ordering a prescription with a 3–5 step checklist.
Keep directions short and specific to avoid overwhelm.
Step 4: Offer Just Enough Support
Think “scaffold,” not “rescue”.
Be available, but resist the urge to jump in and do it all for them.
Let them struggle a little—it’s how they build problem-solving skills and confidence.
If you want more resources on how to help your student be successful at college, check out my Semester Success Blueprint course.
The Bottom Line
Preparing your high school student for college is crucial for building skills they can take with them.
Start now, and make the process part of your parenting routine.
Here’s your quick recap:
Create a transition plan with deadlines for key life skills.
Have your student start doing things like laundry and meal prep now.
Provide short, clear directions when teaching new tasks.
Support your student without taking over.
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.