Checklist & Timelines for Parents

Parent of a Middle School Student

• Discuss career opportunities with your student. 
• Discuss the learning outcomes of NCC’s 8th Grade Career Day.
• Encourage your student to be involved in extracurricular activities in school and outside of school.
• Instill in your student that successful grades in middle school are important.
• Remind your student to stay out of trouble in school and outside of school.
• Be involved with your student’s four year plan.
• Attend high school orientation with your student. 

Parent of a High School Freshman

• Be involved with your student’s goals for the future.
• Help your student choose courses that support their future goals. It is better to take more challenging courses, and remember that Math and Writing are required in all NCC Programs!
• Encourage your student to earn good grades. Freshman year is the beginning of the high school transcript that will be evaluated for admission to NCC. Every grade counts!
• Help your student develop a list of high school and community accomplishments.
• Promote your student to get involved in extracurricular activities.
• Encourage your student to participate in job shadowing and career exploration opportunities.

Parent of a High School Sophomore

• Visit colleges with your student during the Summer. 
• Attend college fairs with your student. 
• Discuss outcomes of the ACT PLAN test and PSAT. These tests are taken in the Fall of the sophomore year and prepare students for the ACT. 
• Encourage your student to take the ACT in Spring or Summer.
• Begin to research scholarship opportunities with your student. 
• Encourage your student to attend academic summer camps.
• Encourage your student to job shadow career fields of interest.       

Parent of a High School Junior

• Take college prep courses at their high school, or college credit courses at NCC.
• Participate in organized extracurricular high school activities and/or community organizations, and work a summer part-time job.
• Save money.
• Research scholarship opportunities with your student.
• Encourage your student to attend academic summer camps.
• Encourage your student to job shadow career fields of interest.
• Read NCC’s Viewbook and other college brochures.
• Attend a campus visit day with your student at 2-3 colleges. 
• Retake the ACT or take the EdReady (through NCC) assessment if necessary.
• Have a discussion with your student about specific entrance requirements for programs/majors they might be interested in pursuing.

NOTE: Many NCC programs reach capacity early each year. Guide your student to apply for admission the fall of their junior year if they are interested in the Powerline program. Additional programs to consider an early application are Diesel Technology, Automotive & Light Duty Diesel, and Industrial & Commercial wiring. Other programs requiring special admission criteria are Nursing and Radiologic Technology. An early discussion with your student of entrance requirements is highly recommended.

Parent of a High School Senior

Fall

• Encourage your student to retake the ACT or the Ed Ready Placement Assessment at NCC if necessary.
• Attend college fairs with your student.
• Encourage your student to keep a college file that includes all correspondence for colleges they are interested in.
• Visit the college campuses your student is interested in attending.
• Help your student complete an application for admission. NOTE: Many NCC programs reach capacity. Guide your student to apply for admission their junior year if they are interested in powerline, diesel technology, industrial & commercial wiring, nursing, and radiologic technology.
• Help your student complete scholarship applications. Many of NCC’s are due March 1!
• Encourage your student to submit a housing application. Many dorms have different features to choose from and fill up quickly, so apply early to get into the dorm you may want.
• Help your student submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). NCC’s ID number is 004600. The FASFA opens for filing on October 1 of every year.

 Spring

• Help your student submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you did not complete it in the Fall. NCC’s ID number is 004600.
• Attend campus visits with your student if you haven’t already.
• Help your student send deposits for enrollment and housing.
• Check to see if your student’s program of study requires specific technology. Some programs have specific computers and software programs they will need.
• Check with Admissions to see if your child’s program requires the completion of prerequisite courses.

 Summer

• Attend Orientation with your student. Many orientations are in June.
• Help your student list things needed for college. Many colleges have suggested lists of what to bring and what not to bring.
• Encourage your student to connect with their roommate if they’ll be living on campus.
• Remind your student about debt and their responsibility. Review money management and the college budget. Avoid credit card offers!