Kirkwood JREC offers college planning for parents

     Kirkwood’s Jones County Regional Center in Monticello invites parents/guardians of high school students to a public event on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 6-7:30 p.m.

     “How to Counsel Your Student Toward College and Careers” was organized with the intent to help parents become more engaged with their kids about the college and career-planning process.

     “We want them to feel confident enough to help their own students,” said Craig Stadtmueller, JREC career development coordinator.

     JREC Director Lisa Folken said the center fields a lot of questions from parents about helping to navigate their students when it comes to figuring out what career pathway to take.

     Whether students plan for a two-year or four-year degree, both Folken and Stadtmueller said applying for college and knowing which courses to take can be a daunting task.

     “We want to provide the tools, guidelines and resources to parents to steer their own students,” said Stadtmueller.

     This event will help bring parents up to speed on the college preparation process.

     “We want the kids to have meaningful conversations with their parents about the future,” added Stadtmueller.

     So much goes into applying for college, no matter the degree or career path: financial aid, living situation/housing, meal plans, scholarships, transfer credits, etc.

     “It’s about starting the conversation early,” urged Folken, “from the big picture to the little details. There has been a lot of confusion about the whole process.”

     Stadtmueller regularly works with the school counselors in all eight of JREC’s partner schools. He said his expertise is an extension to those school counselors.

     Utilizing the free services offered through JREC, Stadtmueller said there is no direct cost for students and their families to explore the various career options.

     “We want them to continue to see us as a resource to know what’s available,” added Stadtmueller.

     While JREC’s services are student-focused, Folken said they wanted to offer something for parents.

     “This is not an easy process to navigate,” said Folken. “We see it from all sides.”

     For more information on JREC, visit www.kirkwood.edu/jonesregional or call 319-465-2302. You can see the latest events at JREC on their Facebook page: “Kirkwood Jones County Regional Center.”