Preparing Teens for College and Career: Tips for Boosting Executive Function
by Kara Canale M.Ed., NCSP, Clinical Assessment Consultant at Pearson
College attendance is up. While total postsecondary enrollment was down the past few years, it finally rebounded above pre-COVID levels in the Fall of 2024, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Undergraduate enrollment rose 4.7% YoY, while freshman enrollment rose 5.5% YoY, meaning more high school students are contemplating postsecondary education. At the same time, students in this age group are grappling with more mental health issues than ever.
High school educators have a golden opportunity to help students prepare for the transition, whether they are heading to a community college, attending a four-year school or training for a full-time career.
Understanding Executive Function in High Schoolers
The Harvard University Center on the Developing Child describes executive function as an “air traffic control system in the brain, helping us manage information, make decisions, and plan ahead.” Academically, executive function allows students to complete assignments, study for exams, manage their time and stay focused despite distractions — which are plentiful in today’s environment, such as smartphones that vie for students’ attention
Today’s high schoolers often juggle an impressive load with rigorous academics, extracurriculars, family obligations and, frequently, a part-time job. Yet, many students starting college struggle with basic tasks and life management skills, such as task prioritization and time management, that are impactful to academic performance. Fortunately, the Harvard Center underscores that we aren’t born with executive functioning skills, and we can develop them.
Educators can play a pivotal role in supporting students as they grow and practice their executive function. Here are some of the specific executive function challenges high schoolers may experience and practical tips educators can use to bolster healthy habits.
Executive Function Challenge 1: Managing multiple responsibilities
While a supportive high school and home environment are beneficial, they may not always provide students with the autonomy they need to thrive on the next step in their journey. In college or a career, students will be treated as adults and expected to manage multiple responsibilities, including scheduling, paperwork, and budgeting.
Support high school students in building autonomy by:
- Prompting them to take ownership by regularly checking their own grades in the online portal and tracking their progress toward semester-long goals.
- Integrating financial literacy and budgeting topics into your curriculum, especially if your high school isn’t among the states where these courses are required.
Executive Function Challenge 2: Adapting to overly flexible schedules
College life can also mean more free time and schedule flexibility. For the first time in their school lives, students are free from the typical six-to-eight-hour structure of the school day and extracurriculars. Classes may meet just a few hours a week with the expectation that students will make time for independent study and test prep. This newfound flexibility can be liberating and challenging as students must take responsibility for getting to class on time without the familiar bell schedule and completing academic requirements.
Enable high school students to hone effective time management skills by:
- Coaching students to use planners, calendars or apps to schedule tasks and set reminders.
- Introducing time-management strategies. One popular method is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves eliminating distractions, working for 25 minutes and taking a 5-minute break.
Executive Function Challenge 3: Succeeding on open-ended assignments
In college, students are often assigned projects or papers with a final due date but no regular check-ins. This shift can be unsettling, as students must adapt to managing their time and tasks independently. Without a structured approach, many students may fall prey to procrastination and leave everything until the last minute. However, deadline pressure rarely yields the best work — and can lead to all-nighters, unnecessary stress and incomplete coursework.
Help high school students develop independent study habits by:
- Using "milestone-based" assignments that break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks with intermediate deadlines.
- Encouraging students to create their own study or project plans with to-do lists and personal deadlines. Have them track how long they spend on specific tasks so they can adjust as needed.
Executive Function Challenge 4: Practicing these skills while a caregiver is still involved
Caregivers play an equally important role in enabling students to cultivate executive functioning. While it’s a prime opportunity for kids to practice while they are still under watchful eyes, caregivers can unintentionally impede the process by performing tasks their children can handle themselves.
Empower caregivers to nurture independence by:
- Encouraging caregivers to gradually release age-appropriate responsibilities to their children, such as:
- Managing morning routines (e.g., waking up on time, getting breakfast).
- Organizing materials and gear for school and extracurricular activities.
- Prioritizing tasks and managing weekly schedules.
- Suggesting caregivers set aside time each week to review schedules, create checklists and discuss goals to strengthen planning techniques.
Executive Function Challenge 5: Uncovering underlying challenges
Some students may struggle with executive function because of underlying challenges, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. It’s essential to recognize that executive function deficits can be a symptom of a larger issue.
Identify potential causes for executive function gaps by:
- Conducting universal screenings, using assessments like the BASC-3 family, to identify students who may be at risk for executive function deficits and other mental health concerns.
- Collaborating with mental health professionals, including school counselors and psychologists, to provide students with appropriate support.
The Role of Executive Function in Preparing Students for Success
As educators, we help shape the future success of our students. By prioritizing the development of executive function in high school, we can prepare them to face their next steps toward college and/or a career with confidence and set our students up for a lifetime of achievement and fulfillment.
For more information on how Pearson can help you support student executive function, visit our Mental Health Resource Center.
