Is My Child Actually The Laziest Person On Earth?: How To Motivate Your Child To Kickstart Their College Search

You watched your child shine while juggling a challenging course load, grueling sports practices, piano recitals, community service, and more. They were excited to tackle a new summer job as a lifeguard or a fast-paced internship on a political campaign, and you were excited for them! But that was “BC”: Before Coronavirus. 

Now, your child’s schedule looks a little more like this: sleep until noon, Xbox, Netflix, Xbox, Hulu, Xbox, and then they’ll wind down for the night with some more Xbox. Is your kid actually the laziest one on the planet, you wonder? What happened to that passionate, driven, future-focused student? 

First, some good news: Your kid is not the laziest one on the planet. We promise. We’ve pushed literally thousands of kids to achieve higher test scores and college acceptances the whole family will be proud of, and many of those kids had little interest in or ownership of their college process at the start. 

But if your child runs out of the room anytime you utter the words “SAT” or “college,” it’s time to bring in some backup. Teenagers just don’t want to listen to their parents. You’re only their mom… what do you know about college admissions, right? 

Luckily, we know a lot. Enlisting an outside source, like a test prep tutor, college counselor, or trusted mentor can eliminate your feeling of constantly nagging, and get real results for your child. Your child is more likely to trust in someone else’s expertise and take their advice. And, by outsourcing the prompting and reminders to someone else, you’ll be able to spend your time having the meaningful conversations that matter most. 

Right now, it’s especially difficult to stay focused on the future when the present is overwhelming. It’s hard to remember what normal life was like, and harder to imagine what college could be like. Take advantage of this time to learn what your child wants. What are his hopes for the future? Does she envision moving to a different part of the country for college, or does she want to stay closer to home? Will he be happier attending a school in a big city, or does he want an intimate, liberal arts experience on a more traditional campus? What does she see herself studying? Asking your child about their dreams, and really listening to their answers, without judgment and without projecting your own dreams onto them, can give direction to their college search, and more importantly, remind them of their “why.” 

Want to speak with us about your child’s college process? Sign up for a free call with Morris here to learn more about the comprehensive college guidance programs we offer.