How to help your teen if they don’t get into the program they wanted?

Not getting into their first choice of program can be a difficult blow for any teen. Unfortunately, too many young people decide to abandon their studies following this type of setback. The good news is that as a parent, you can help your child overcome their disappointment by boosting their motivation.

Motivation is a force that drives students to pursue an activity and persevere to achieve a goal. It depends on three things: 

1. Believing in one’s ability to succeed 
2. Focusing one’s energy on what can be controlled 
3. Having a goal or project and making it a priority 

Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to boost your child’s motivation.

Motivation fluctuates depending on what’s going on in our lives, so it’s normal to feel discouraged in difficult moments, such as learning you didn’t get into a program of study. Be supportive and encourage your child not to doubt their ability to succeed in college or vocational training. This step is key because research has shown that students who believe in themselves approach academic tasks as challenges. 

Self-belief makes students more likely to do the following:

• Commit to their work 
• Persevere when faced with obstacles 
• Achieve their goals

Not being admitted into a program doesn’t mean that your child couldn’t do well in it. A limited number of available spots, for example, is just one of the many factors that may have led to their rejection. In addition, the same program may be offered in different locations, or there could be a system of rounds in place allowing students to apply to programs more than once. For instance, if your child isn’t accepted into the Visual Arts program in the first round, they could attempt to apply at a different institution in the second or third round.

Lastly, there’s likely more than one option suitable for your child. College and vocational training curricula offer a wide range of programs within the same subject area. Thus, students who don’t get into a Visual Arts program could apply to a related program, such as Social Science and Visual Arts or a Computer Graphics high school vocational program.
 

Ultimately, what matters isn’t that your child get into a specific program, but that they continue their education in a subject area that interests them. As a parent, you can help your child identify where their interests and values intersect to establish a clear objective. Teens aren’t always aware of the range of professions, occupations, and possibilities available to them. For example, if your teen enjoys helping and interacting with people, public speaking, and storytelling, they might enjoy a program in sales, nursing, or communications. It’s important that your teen take the time to explore their interests. Keep in mind that you can lend a hand and encourage them to seek professional guidance.

In closing, remember that getting into a program, even if it wasn’t your child’s first choice, can lead to pleasant surprises! I’ll leave you with a testimonial I received in the spring of 2020: