1.Is your student doing college-level work now? Many kids buckle down their junior and senior year to do college-level work in high school. Their ability to succeed here is a strong predicator of success. If they’re not doing college level work now, it will be difficult their freshman year.

2.Is your student taking the last semester off or taking a full load? The college landscaped is littered with freshman who took it easy their senior year only to be crushed by the college workload. If they’re taking the semester off, they’re not ready.

3.Is your student organized? This seems straight-forward enough, but given the amount of homework and reading due, disorganized students study the wrong chapters for test, turn in the wrong homework and wait until 2 am to start on the semester paper due at 8 am. The ability to organize is critical to college success.
4.Is your student disciplined? Do they have the discipline to study six hours a day before they go out that night? Do they have the discipline to start a term paper the first week of school, to make early use of the writing center, to show up on time for class? Because students who lack the discipline to even just show up fail out.

5.Does your student have a major in mind? The simple fact is kids who show up on campus knowing what they want to major in tend to graduate faster. They know the preparatory classes they must take, they know where they should intern in the summer and they know the skills required for success. Not having a major or even changing your major isn’t degree threatening, but kids who know what they want out of college tend to get it.

6.Can you afford it? A loan for a college education is one of the best financial decisions you can make, if . . . if . . . if you graduate. While working through college is admirable, if you HAVE to work just to PAY for school, you need to find a cheaper college. Or save up a year. Or you could wind up with a college debt but no college degree.