Question: Ever since my son was a toddler, we have believed that he would go to college. He has consistently been a B or better student in high school. I read about all these kids who are not ready for college and have to take remedial classes in math and/or English during their freshman year. How do we know our son is academically prepared for college? -- Anxious
Answer: Last year the National Assessment of Educational Progress released test results that showed dismal results in the number of students prepared for college. So your concerns are right on target. Having to take remedial courses in college not only increases the cost of a college education for students, but it also increases the likelihood of their dropping out.
Fortunately, there are several clues to your son's readiness for college. His grades are good -- showing he has been a successful achiever in high school. Second, hopefully he has taken or will take such early tests as the PLAN for the ACT and the PSAT/NMSQT for the SAT. His scores on these tests will be a good indicator of how well he is likely to be prepared for college. Plus, his scores on standardized tests are good indicators of his mastery of basic subjects.