Start the New Year Strong: 14 College Planning Resolutions for Parents of High School Students

ByAimee Heller
A photo illustrating International College Counselors kicks off the new year with 14 resolutions to help parents of high school students navigate college planning.

As the calendar turns to a new year, high school students have a prime opportunity to set the stage for academic success and personal growth. Embracing the fresh start that January offers can lead to a fulfilling and productive year ahead. Here are some strategies to help students begin the new year on the right foot:

1. Approach college admissions as a team

A calm, measured outlook from parents helps students manage stress and view the process authentically. The most successful students have supportive parents and mentors who understand the pressure students face and help them navigate their new academic and extracurricular responsibilities.

2. Shift from manager to partner

As students move through high school, they need increasing ownership of their decisions. Resolve this year to collaborate rather than direct. Invite your child into conversations about goals, schedules, and plans. This partnership builds confidence and prepares them for the independence they’ll need in college and beyond.

3. Strengthen communication through listening

Teenagers are far more likely to open up when they feel heard rather than judged. Make space for open, honest conversations. Ask questions, validate their feelings, and resist the urge to immediately problem-solve. Strong communication now lays the foundation for a healthy, trusting relationship long after high school ends.

4. Help your student set—and revisit—realistic goals

January is a natural time to talk about goals, whether academic, extracurricular, or personal. Encourage your student to define clear objectives and break them into manageable steps. Periodic check-ins help students reflect on progress, adjust plans, and build lifelong goal-setting skills.

5. Encourage exploration 

High school is a time for discovery. Encourage your child to try new activities—clubs, sports, creative pursuits, jobs, or internships—even if they’re unsure they’ll excel. Growth often comes from exploration, and colleges truly value curiosity and initiative. 

6. Ask for help when it makes sense

One of the most valuable decisions parents can make is recognizing when outside support may benefit their student—and the entire family. Needing help does not mean something is wrong. It means you’re being proactive.

The college admissions process has become increasingly complex. Many families find it helpful to bring in expert guidance. Advisors from International College Counselors support students and parents through every stage of the process—from course planning and extracurricular strategy to college lists, essays, applications, and deadlines. Their guidance helps reduce stress, maintain perspective, and ensure that important details are not overlooked.

Similarly, if your child is struggling academically, feeling overwhelmed, or lacking confidence in a particular subject, targeted tutoring can make a meaningful difference. Working with a tutor through Bright World Tutors provides personalized academic support that strengthens skills, builds confidence, and helps students develop effective learning strategies—not just higher grades.

7. Gradually hand over time management

Younger students may rely on parents to track deadlines, but high school is the training ground for independence. Support your child in using planners or digital calendars to manage assignments, tests, activities, and commitments. Allow room for small missteps, learning from them is part of the process.

8. Encourage routines that support focus

Rather than enforcing constant productivity, help your student establish consistent study times and a distraction-free workspace. Structure reduces stress and builds discipline without burnout. Progress comes from habits developed over time, not last-minute cramming.

9. Talk openly about friendships and influences

Relationships play a powerful role in shaping confidence and decision-making. Encourage your child to seek out peers and mentors who support their growth, even if that means outgrowing familiar social circles. Positive influences matter more than popularity. Positive relationships are foundational to long-term success.

10. Prioritize wellness, not just achievement

Sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and mental health are foundational to success. Extracurriculars and sports aren’t just résumé builders, they support stress management, focus, and emotional well-being. Many students see academic improvement when their physical and mental health are prioritized.

11. Help your student manage information wisely

Encourage your child to regularly check and organize school email. Important academic updates, scholarships, programs, and opportunities are often communicated this way. Learning how to sort through information and prioritize what matters is a critical life skill.

12. Watch for senioritis and encourage consistency

Once college decisions arrive, motivation can dip. Remind seniors that final grades and conduct still matter. Colleges expect students to maintain their academic and personal standards through graduation. For underclassmen, strong habits built now create momentum for future years.

13. Celebrate milestones big and small

Applications, exams, interviews, and decisions all require perseverance. Take time to acknowledge effort, growth, and resilience—not just outcomes. These moments pass quickly and deserve recognition.

14. Take care of yourself, too

Your well-being sets the tone at home. Model balance, perspective, and healthy habits. When parents prioritize their own mental and physical health, students learn that success doesn’t require burnout.

The high school years and the college admissions process can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate them alone. With perspective, partnership, and the right support, this year can be one of confidence and growth for both you and your student.

Here’s to a steady, successful, and hopeful year ahead.

Aimee Heller serves as the Director of Communications for International College Counselors and the Chief Operating Officer of Edit the Work. She is an award-winning advertising copywriter who knows how to best showcase a student’s unique achievements, personality and passion in 650 words or less (or more if the essay requirements specify). For 25 years, she worked in New York on a number of accounts including Coca-Cola, IKEA, The History Channel and Moët & Chandon. She also wrote for major news outlets including CBS and The Miami Herald. Aimee graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in communications and has a Master’s degree in education from City College of New York. She has worked with students in high schools and boarding schools throughout the United States, helping them attain stellar results with colleges, graduate schools, summer programs and scholarships.