As the Director of High Five College Prep, it is my belief that I need to be forthcoming when I feel a high school student may NOT be ready for college. Not all rising high school seniors have the maturity, responsibility or self-confidence to advocate on their own. And guess what? That is OK. There is no shame in not being College Ready. When high school seniors are going through the college application process it is important for parents to recognize their student's strengths and weaknesses and talk to them about their concerns. Students need to be able to self-advocate, be able to fail and pick themselves up, rebound from disappointment, be inclusive and friendly and open to making new friends. They need good study habits and time-management skills, need to be able to talk to their professors and TA's about their academic concerns and be able to balance academics and social life away from home. Additionally, students need to be able to communicate to others if they are struggling with any mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Freshman year at college is difficult and there are a multitude of changes in the student's life that for many will be their first time away from home. Every experience will be a first. It is our jobs as parents to make sure our kids are ready to "leave the nest" and be able to adult on their own. Sure, we will be there to guide them and help pick them up when they fall, but it is the student's job, not the parents, to be successful on a college campus and for that, they need to have skills to manage life on their own. The following article talks about College Readiness. It is excellent and I highly recommend you read it! https://www.linkedin.com/content-guest/article/beyond-storage-bins-shower-shoes-your-real-packing-list-riegel?fbclid=IwAR2FRRREADhusb6cn4F8Wi2HDsMXu89jb2Y7EOOfK-X9btsURVmL5mB-t6A