PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

By:  Tina 

Wow! Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that your son or daughter was a toddler and you were preparing for kindergarten. Now they are 18 years old, a high school senior and preparing for college. Parents, are you ready for this? Are you ready to accept that your child is facing the next four years of their life away from home, away from the safe-haven of mom and dad? Brace yourself parents because it can not only be an emotional rollercoaster, but a financial one as well. Preparing your child for college takes proper planning that begins early in the high school years.

It is a good idea to begin preparing for college during the freshman year of high school. Here are some ideas:

• Start by making sure your teen is taking courses that will challenge learning.
• Ask about an Advanced Placement test that can offer college level courses during high school. 
• Make sure your teen is practicing independent study habits while being responsible and organized with their homework.  This will help prepare them for the college setting. 
• Along with your teen, explore college majors and colleges of interest. 
• Stay in touch with the high school guidance counselor.
• By the time your teen is a senior, the choice of colleges should be narrowed to three.
• Make sure your teen is preparing to take entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT Assessment. These tests are usually given at the high school and can be taken several times in an effort to score higher.   

I recently interviewed a high school guidance counselor asking her questions that will keep students on track for college. She did not want to be identified so I will refer to her as Mrs. C. Take a look at our interview below.
 

Q: In regard to course selection during high school, what is the biggest mistake students make?
Mrs. C: “The biggest mistake that students make is listening to their friends. They are misinformed, and they think that they really have the knowledge.”

Q: What advice do you offer for getting students interested in their own futures?
Mrs. C: “I think its constant communication with the student in the classroom, sending newsletters home, and bringing in guest speakers”.

Q: How can a counselor anticipate and then respond to students’ changing interests?
Mrs. C: “The last time I saw, 60% percent of high school students will check “undecided” on their college application. I feel the more knowledge they have about themselves when they graduate high school, the more informed and better choice they will have for college. In the long run, this can save them money, because then they are not transferring from college to college or continually changing their major. That’s why I meet with students individually every year.”

Q: Is there any other advice you would like to add?
Mrs. C: “I think it is important for counselors to get out there and take the first step to meet with students. Students may feel intimidated to visit the Guidance Office so I get out there and show the students that I am here for them. Also, I tell parents when students are in their freshman year of high school to start talking to their child about college and their future.”

From a financial standpoint, parents should be familiar with the FAFSA form. The FAFSA form is available online January 1st of every year. This is the first application you will need to complete. The FAFSA is the application most colleges use to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. To be considered for federal financial aid, you must submit a completed FAFSA form on time. Information can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The high school guidance counselor can also assist with other scholarship applications and deadlines. Remember, the “Early bird gets the worm!” There is only so much money out there that is available to college students, so the earlier you start the process, the better.