A PARENT can only do so much to guide and support the child in choosing the course that best suits her skills, temperament and aspirations.

To help incoming high-school seniors and their parents navigate the road that lies ahead for them, I?ve asked my daughter Pia to share what she found most helpful as she went off on her own journey last year. We hope that you and your children will find this guide helpful, too. At the end of the road, your child?s victory will be yours too.

1. Do not underestimate any exam

I applied to five different schools, even if a couple of these did not have the courses I really wanted. College admission in our country is highly selective and extremely competitive. Give each exam your best shot.

2. Study and review for the exam

Enroll at a review center or find a personal tutor.

The summer before your senior year will probably be composed of daily review classes (Tip: Don?t review with your friends so you?re forced to focus.) where you?ll be refreshed on everything you learned in high school. Inquire as early as February about the programs at review centers to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. Small neighborhood review centers can be very good as well?choose one that best suits your learning style.

Invest in review materials and mock tests. Answer them as if you were actually taking the exam.

From the results, you?ll be able to see where you need to do more work?if you?re a slow reader, brush up on reading comprehension, or if you?re like me and math isn?t your best friend, keep practicing solving problems in high-school Math.

3. Get sufficient sleep and eat before the exam.

It?s extremely difficult to take a test when you?re just dying to crawl back into bed or run to the nearest McDonalds to grab a Happy Meal. If you?re extremely anxious about the exam the night before, try reading a book (Another tip: Don?t review the night before) until you fall asleep.

4. On the day of the exam, bring everything (even everyone) you need

Check your admission slip the night before.

Stock up on Mongol No. 2?s. All the exams?from UPCAT to USTET require No. 2?s, with the exception of the UA&P entrance exam. Have a trusty eraser with you during the exam. It also helps if you have a good luck charm or sharpener.

Also, it helps sometimes to bring a parent or sibling with you, someone who?ll be there to cheer for you as you walk into the building, and someone to talk to right after the exam.

5. During the exam, don?t hesitate to skip a number and just go back to it

The smart thing to do is to eliminate the choices?if you?re left with only two to choose from, it?s best to guess. There?ll always be a 50 percent chance that you?ve guessed correctly.

6. Don?t stress!

It?s probably the hardest thing to do while taking the exams?but you should always bear in mind that these exams were really created to test you and what you?re capable of. Don?t let one number define your mood and pace for the entire exam?chances are you?ll stumble across a whole bunch of numbers you know the answer to.

7. Pray

With the knowledge that you?ve tried your best and God?s guidance, you can be rest assured that He?ll lead you to the college where He sees you best to be in.

E-mail the author at cathybabao@gmail.com