New Year, New Goals: How to Help Your Teen Prepare for College

jessicawhite807
Jan 17, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jan 17, 2025

The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities—and for families navigating the college prep process, it’s the perfect time to set meaningful goals. Feeling overwhelmed with everything your teen needs to do for college? Let’s turn that overwhelm into action. Here’s how to start your year with a plan that works.

Why Goals Matter

Setting goals isn’t just about checking items off a to-do list; it’s about creating a clear roadmap for success. Studies show that students who set specific, actionable goals are more likely to stay motivated, organized, and achieve better outcomes. For example, a recent survey found that high school seniors who established clear college-related goals completed their applications earlier and felt less stress overall.

Whether your teen is catching up academically or fine-tuning their college application strategy, setting the right goals can make all the difference.

How to Set SMART Goals

The SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound—is a proven method for creating goals that stick. Here’s how it works:

1. Specific: Define the goal clearly.

Subset X: “Complete three missing assignments in math class this month.”
Subset Y: “Research and select five colleges to visit by February 15.”

2. Measurable: Include a way to track progress.

Subset X: Use a planner to mark off completed assignments.
Subset Y: Create a checklist for college visits and record key details.

3. Achievable: Make the goal realistic.

Subset X: Focus on manageable steps, like one assignment per week.
Subset Y: Prioritize schools within a drivable distance for initial visits.

4. Relevant: Tie the goal to broader aspirations.

Subset X: “Improving my math grade will help me feel more confident in school.”
Subset Y: “Visiting colleges will give me insight into where I’ll thrive.”

5. Time-bound: Set a deadline.

Subset X: Finish all assignments by January 31.
Subset Y: Finalize the list by March 1.

How Parents Can Support Without Micromanaging

It’s natural to want to guide your teen closely, but striking the right balance is key. Here are some tips:

Encourage Ownership: Let your teen take the lead in setting and tracking their goals. Your role is to offer support and guidance when needed.
Provide Tools: Help your teen stay organized with resources like planners, apps, or our free Goal-Setting Workbook (linked below).
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge milestones, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and motivation.
Model Goal-Setting: Share your own goals and how you plan to achieve them. Seeing you follow through can inspire your teen to do the same.

Start Your Teen’s Journey with Clear Goals

Ready to help your teen set SMART goals for college success? Download our free Goal-Setting Workbook for Teens and Parents below. This practical resource is filled with tips, templates, and examples to help your family get started.

Here’s to a year of clarity, focus, and progress—for your teen and your family! Stay tuned for next week’s blog, where we’ll dive into building strong relationships with teachers and mentors to support your teen’s college journey.