School reform has been happening since the 1970’s. Schools created policies that made changes to classroom instruction, school dress codes, and how schools function, hoping to create a culture that breeds student success. But recent developments in technology and research have introduced a new factor in reform, social/emotional learning (SEL). From grit to growth mindset, social/emotional learning has become a major influence for student success in the world of education. The Prepared Student addresses the elements that surround the need for SEL to be a part of a school’s culture and the changing college and employment landscape that demand schools prepare students for the road after high school graduation. Colleges giving the option for applicants to submit test scores for selection and employers rewriting what skills students need to be employable, SEL has become a strength that our students need to be successful in life. The Prepared Student helps school administrators and teachers focus on what needs to be done to prepare our students for their future.