WNY Family Magazine April 2019 | Page 70

SHAPE THE FUTURE — by Frances Kweller SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION is now open for children 22 mo – 6 yrs old JULY 8TH - AUGUST 16TH Children enjoy fun & exciting academic programs that help LAUNCH them into a great school year A Premier Preschool for 2-5 yr olds Choose any or all of our weeks to attend 2, 3 or 5 days for the AM or PM session Enroll by April 1st and save the $50 registration fee! Call 716-668-1772 or visit us online for additional information www.launchpadforlearning.com with Fall in Love DANCE this Summer Official School of the Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet 949 Englewood • Buffalo, NY 14223 Awesome August Dance August Ages 3 – 6 Pirates & Princess Camps August 12 - 22, 2019 August 19 - 23, 2019 Summer DANCE Intensive June 1 - July 26, 2019 Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Exciting Guest Teachers!!! RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! 835-3585 or 796-9102 | www.rabanddance.com 70 WNY Family April 2019 Five Ways to Position Your Kids into a Top College J unior year of high school is an exciting time in a young adult’s life since many students that age are preparing for the college selection process. If your child is serious about gaining acceptance to a top college, organization is key: developing a clear plan should begin months before the actual college application appears online. As a parent, there are several things that you can do to best position your child for acceptance to the most competitive colleges and universities in the United States. Here are five ways parents can help pipeline their kids into a top college: Be more than just test-scores. Colleges like applicants with high scores, but they are more interested in a holistic approach to higher education. This means that the whole person they are considering, from top to bottom, is a well-rounded individual, and is engaged in meaningful community involvement. This goes beyond blindly volunteering at a soup kitchen because it looks good; the applicant should demonstrate how they are making a global and social impact, making the world a better place, and that they are doing so in a field of interest that they wish to pursue as a college student. For example, if your child wants to be a doctor, they should volunteer in hospitals, nursing homes, or assisted- living facilities. An applicant interested in law can volunteer for an attorney or intern in a legal department of a corporation to understand how legal issues impact that industry. Be major-minded in high school. Contrary to popular belief, students should not view college as the time to begin exploring their career options; delaying major selection can be a waste of precious time and money that should be spent getting career-ready. Your child should choose a major by the 10th grade of high school and immediately begin participating in opportunities that advance their area of study, such as internships, on-subject classes, and summer programs before they even attend their first college course. Some examples include working at a lab, joining a theater group, or taking a