While academic performance is undeniably important, our experience working with hundreds of families has taught us that for neurodiverse students, the truest predictor of college success often isn’t found on a report card.

It is found in the "hidden curriculum" of executive functioning—the ability to self-regulate and execute basic adult tasks.

Thriving in college requires more than just intellectual ability; it demands the grit and maturity to handle real-world obligations without a parent steering the ship. If you are wondering if your teen is truly ready for the leap to campus life, it is time to look beyond the grades and evaluate their "adulting" skills.

Redefining What "Ready" Looks Like

First, let’s take a deep breath and redefine what success looks like. There is a common misconception that "college readiness" means your student must have achieved straight A's throughout high school. This is simply not true.

As parents of students with learning differences know all too well, LD students often have to work three or four times as hard as their peers just to achieve similar grades. Because of this, we encourage you to view college readiness through a different lens.

Think of readiness as your student’s ability to achieve grades in the "B" category overall—not necessarily in every single subject. Even if your student has accumulated a B- or C+ average, they can still experience profound academic success in the right college environment, provided they have the motivation and appropriate learning support.

However, if the grades are consistently C- or below, it might be time to pause. You might consider a gap year or other post-secondary options to build that academic foundation before diving into a four-year degree.

Identifying the "Wins" That Matter

When grades get murky, how do you measure progress? We suggest looking for specific "wins" in your teen's daily life. These are the small victories that indicate your child is building the independence required for college.

Ask yourself these questions to gauge their readiness:

• Are they managing their own workflow? A major indicator of readiness is when a student completes their homework and turns it in on time without parent or tutor reminders. If you are still acting as the "homework police," this is a key area to address before they leave home.
• Are they advocating for themselves? College professors expect students to speak up. A student is ready when they ask teachers for help when they don't understand something, or when they engage a tutor independently rather than relying on you to set it up.
• Can they manage their schedule? Look for the ability to schedule their own appointments and show up on time without parental involvement.
• Do they have a spark? Readiness often looks like excitement about one or more academic subjects or classes. That intellectual curiosity will be the fuel that keeps them going during tough semesters.

The "Adulting" Checklist: Preparing for Launch

Many capable students falter in their freshman year not because they can't handle the reading load, but because they struggle to regulate their lives. Without the structure of home, simple tasks like waking up on time, eating properly, and taking medication can become insurmountable hurdles.

Junior and senior years are the perfect time to prioritize these critical aspects of independence. You can help your student build these "muscles" by gradually transferring responsibility to them.

Here are three vital ways to boost their readiness starting today:

1. Transfer Ownership of Organization

It is tempting to be the safety net that catches every forgotten assignment, but college won't offer that luxury. Phase out your reminders and stop delivering forgotten items to school.

Instead, sit down together and set up systems that they control. Help them establish calendar alerts, a weekly homework plan, and daily checklists so they can independently track their assignments and materials.

2. Hand Off Medication Management

If your teen takes prescription medication, managing it independently is a non-negotiable safety skill for college. Walk them through the process of refilling meds and making their own doctor appointments.

Have them set recurring alerts on their phone to order refills with enough lead time so they never run out. This small step builds immense confidence and self-reliance.

3. Build Self-Advocacy Skills

Your student will need to request their own accommodations in college, a stark change from the parent-led 504/IEP process in high school.



Help your teen script out and roleplay key conversations, such as requesting accommodations from teachers or setting up meetings with counselors. Practice having them take the lead in these conversations now, while the stakes are lower.