Summer Steps to Set Students Up for Success in Post-Secondary
By Erin House and Tracey Ropp
Summer offers a much-needed break from the school year, a time for rest, family, and recharging. But it can also be an ideal window to start thinking ahead to post-secondary life. Preparing early doesn’t mean losing the joys of summer—it’s about setting the stage for a smoother transition to university or college.
Why Early Planning Matters
When we work with students in our practice, we often see that a little preparation goes a long way. Being familiar with what to expect at post-secondary institutions reduces anxiety, builds confidence, and allows students to focus on learning and growth once the school year begins. Parents also feel reassured when they see their teen taking proactive steps.
Shifting the Perspective: Preparation as Empowerment
Instead of viewing preparation as extra work, reframing it as empowerment can make the process more enjoyable. Exploring your teen’s upcoming environment, understanding available resources, and setting up small routines gives them a sense of control and readiness.
Practical Steps for a Successful Transition
1. Stay on Top of School Communications
Encourage your teen to check their post-secondary email regularly. Orientation schedules, course registration updates, and residence details are often sent here. Setting a simple routine for reviewing these emails can prevent last-minute stress.
2. Explore Services and Supports
Knowing where to turn for help is key. Academic advisors, accessibility services, residence staff, mental health and medical services, learning strategists, and career support teams all provide guidance that can make the post-secondary education experience less overwhelming. We often recommend students map out which contacts they might need before school begins and bookmark the links for future reference.
3. Connect Socially
Building community early helps students feel included and confident. Summer and early orientation events offer opportunities to meet peers, explore clubs, and even connect with future roommates. Many schools provide social media groups for incoming classes—these can be great ways to start forming connections.
4. Prepare Academically
Post-secondary academics often look different from high school. Time management, note-taking, and studying strategies may need adjustment. Even strong students encounter a learning curve.
If you’d like a bit more guidance, we invite you to check out some of our past blogs for practical tips on navigating these changes. In particular, you might find our posts on preparing for post-secondary learning and study habits that don’t work in post-secondary especially helpful. Of course, there’s plenty more in our blog to explore—feel free to browse and find the posts that best fit your teen’s needs.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
The transition to post-secondary is full of new experiences, learning, and growth. Going in informed and prepared helps both students and parents feel confident. With years of experience supporting students in university and college, we are happy to provide guidance and support as needed. Through our private practices, we each offer 1-on-1 support to help students in Ontario grow their academic, life, and executive functioning skills with confidence. Learn more about working with us.
Also, keep an eye out for our upcoming book, The Thoughtful Learning Advantage: 12 Essential Skills for Student Success and Well-being - coming soon!
The ideas shared in this post are for general reflection and informational purposes. Everyone’s needs are different, and this content isn’t meant to replace personalized or professional support. If you’d benefit from one-on-one guidance, consider reaching out to us, or another qualified professional. In our independent private practices we offer counselling and psychotherapy virtually to individuals living in Ontario, Canada.