GapWell and Admit U, two college counseling companies, recently came together on a webinar to give students and their families tips on how to set young adults up to succeed in both college and in life.

GapWell founders Seth Kessler and Lee Sosin launched their company around two years ago, working hard to bring together those who might be anxious about the transition from high school to college or to a career. Their mission is to help young adults be more successful on their journey past high school. They provide one-on-one coaching for all-aged college students and interactive products such as videos. Through their combination of videos from either current college students or graduates from all over the world, students get helpful tips on how to navigate through broad and specific college endeavors.

Here are some of the ways that are recommended to prepare graduating seniors and their families for the journey to college through a four-step parent and student process:

Step 1: Connections

Connecting with peers is the best way to foster relationships with others around you. Making time to be with your parents can create a healthy relationship going into the big transition. That way, you are both able to be heard about the different feelings that each side is going through. Instead of always looking at the positives of college (which there are many), think about what might be troubling you or what may be troubling your parents. 

Step 2: Listening to one another

The second step coincides with the first, which includes listening to each other. Asking open-ended questions from, “What was your college experience like?” to “How do I do my own laundry?” 

Step 3: Learning opportunities

The third step features finding as many learning opportunities as you can. Spending time with one another can open new ideas such as learning how to manage a calendar, getting up on time, budgeting money, etc. These might sound like easy tasks that you can “learn as you go,” but preventing getting stuck in tough situations such as not being able to manage your work, money and others can lead you down a bad path. 

Step 4: Confidence 

The fourth step is to have confidence in yourself and your parents. You should always steadily remind yourself that you can get through this and know your parents are there for support. Being open with your parents or a parent being open with a student can build a strong relationship. Learning these steps can set you up for success both in college and post-college. 

GapWell holds a strong belief in getting help and advice from older students. They have many packages that have been created to tailor to every student’s needs. The GapWell College Crash Course is a collection of 10 videos on topics such as how to make friends and how to deal with a roommate. Through the GapWell Guide (tailored to first-year students), older students are able to give advice and encouragement through five to six videos on each specific topic.