Next Step

Looking Beyond High School

The middle school years aren’t too early to start thinking and talking about your child’s future beyond high school. Your son or daughter may have no idea what he or she wants to study (most kids don’t!). But you can still start preparing the future. Planning for a higher education is a really good idea for everyone. Preparation is the key to success, whether it means going on to college or a technical school.

This section of Next Step covers:

• Types of Schools
• Preparing for Higher Education
• Health Care Transition
• Scholarships

Types of Schools

There are more than 4,000 institutions of higher learning in the United States. So, whether your child wants to be an astrophysicist or a zookeeper, he or she has lots of choices!

Click on the tabs below to learn more about the different school options available.

Preparing for Higher Education

Support your child’s ambitions by jump-starting the planning process.

Here are a few simple things you can do to increase your support:

• Talk positively about continuing education beyond high school. Support your child’s ambitions. You have a huge influence on your child at this age.
• Encourage your child’s strengths and talents. Steer your son or daughter into activities that match his or her interests. Encourage your child to take part in the academic enrichment programs (including summer and weekend programs) available through school or local colleges. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities (volunteer, clubs, and sports).
• If you son or daughter hopes to go to college, work with his or her teachers and counselors to get your child on a college-bound track. Explore electives and extracurricular activities that will enhance your child’s talents. Look over the Individualized Education Program (IEP) with the school staff to be certain your child is on the right track to achieve his or her educational goals. Think about having your child enroll in honors courses or other accelerated classes. Help your child to choose electives that stretch the mind and help develop new abilities.

For more information, click on Individualized Education Program (IEP).

• Encourage your child to read. Reading is great preparation for standardized school admission tests. It teaches vocabulary, comprehension, and sustained concentration. Make it fun! Work on vocabulary by having a family word-of-the-day. Visit your local library or bookstore.
• Promote good study skills. Designate a welcoming and comfortable area in the home for schoolwork. Stock it with fun pens, pencils, paper, and pads. Make sure it is well-lit and quiet. Select a certain time of day for homework and make it a routine—turn off the TV, music, and computer to avoid distractions.

Health Care Transition

Whether your child decides to go to a college or other type of school many miles from home or in your hometown, he or she should learn as much as possible about his or her bleeding disorder. Your son or daughter will need to know how to self-infuse, where to get medical supplies, who to go to for treatment, and what to do in case of emergency. In fact, learning all of this as early as possible will benefit your child when venturing out on his or her own to friends’ houses, camp, and high school.

To learn more, click on Self-Infusion.

Scholarships

Scholarships can help ease the burden of paying for college.

• Start learning about different financial aid programs and scholarships from your child’s school counselors.
• Don’t just think sports scholarships. Check out some of the special scholarships for individuals with bleeding disorders or other chronic conditions, as well as scholarships for kids with talents in other areas, such as music or art.

For more information, click on National Hemophilia Foundation: Academic Scholarships.

Looking Beyond High School

Your middle school years aren’t too early to start thinking and talking about your education after high school. Even if you have no idea what you want to study (most kids don’t!), you can still prepare. Planning for a higher education is a really good idea for everyone. Preparation is the key to success.

This section of Next Step covers:

• Types of Schools
• Preparing for Higher Education
• Health Care Transition
• Scholarships

Types of Schools

You may not know what you want to do after high school, but there’s no limit on what that can be. So, whether it’s becoming an astrophysicist or zookeeper, there are more than 4,000 schools offering courses.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about the different school options available.

Preparing for Higher Education

Meet with your school guidance counselor to ask about the different electives or activities available in your area of interest. Be sure to take the right classes to fulfill high school or college admission requirements.

Now is the time to adopt some great study skills. Set up a regular routine for studying, so that it soon becomes a habit. Read as much as you can—it’s the best preparation for college admission and standardized testing. If you’re falling behind in some subjects, talk to your guidance counselor or parents about possible tutoring.

Here are some tips for middle or high school students who are planning to continue their education beyond high school:

6th and 7th Graders

• Talk to your school counselor about courses that will prepare you for college.
• Take English and mathematics courses, such as pre-algebra.
• Develop good study habits and get good grades (As and Bs).
• Join clubs. Play sports. Volunteer. These are all good way to develop or expand your interests.
• Read! Read! Read!

8th Graders

• Study a foreign language.
• Prepare for and take any standardized tests required for high schools specializing in an area of particular interest, such as performing arts or math and science, that you would like to pursue.
• Focus on your studies. Keep up with homework assignments. This will help you master the study skills you need to be successful in high school and college.
• Join clubs. Play sports. Volunteer. These are all good ways to develop or expand your interests.
• Talk with friends and family about careers and possible college choices.
• Read! Read! Read!

9th and 10th Graders

• Take courses that will prepare you for college. Think about signing up for honors courses or electives that really stretch your mind and help you develop new abilities.
• Take part in academic enrichment programs (including summer and weekend programs) available through your school and local colleges.
• Start visiting colleges and talk with college students.
• Continue to pursue extracurricular activities (performing arts, volunteer work, or other activities that interest you).
• Keep up good study habits and stay focused on your coursework.
• Start preparing for standardized tests required by colleges or other educational institutions you are interested in attending.
• Continue to meet with your school counselor at least once a year. Review the high school courses you must take to meet the admission requirements of the colleges you’re interested in attending.
• And, don't forget: Read! Read! Read!

Health Care Transition

Whether you decide to go after high school to a school many miles from home or one in your hometown, you should learn as much as you can about your bleeding disorder. You’ll need to know how to self-infuse, where to get your medical supplies, who to go to for treatment, and what to do in case of an emergency. In fact, learning all of this as early as possible will benefit you as you venture out on your own to friends’ houses and to camp.

For more information, click on Treatment.

Scholarships

Scholarships can help ease the burden of paying for your education after high school. Start looking now to see what scholarships are available. Some scholarships are offered to individuals with bleeding disorders or other chronic diseases. Others are offered for a specific course of study, like art or science.