Do These Two Things Immediately to Prepare forCollege Next Year

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You still have one year left of high school. You can do this! Use this timeto prepare for college with these two essential tips.

You’ve still got another year of high school to survive. How are you going to use thattime? I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you that you should focus on getting goodgrades. You know that. But here are two things you definitely should do to prepare forcollege – as soon as you can.

Have a detailed conversation with your high school guidancecounselor

One of the most important things you can do before you start applying for colleges ishaving a serious talk with your guidance counselor about what types of schools you are

likely to be accepted to – given your grades, test scores, and extra curriculars. Yourcounselor will advise you to apply to a reasonable number of schools, with an emphasison schools where your scores and profile are typical of those recently admitted. (Yourown family budget will also play a role in how many schools you apply to.)

Remember, you want to focus your energies (and application dollars) on schools towhich you have a good chance of getting admitted. Then also apply to an adequatenumber of so-called “safety schools”—that is, schools where your scores and profileare better than the typically accepted student. Finally, depending on your financialresources, apply to one or more schools often called “dream schools” or “stretchschools”—where you really want to go but your scores and profile fall below the typicalstudent.

Have an honest talk with your parents about affordability

Now is the time to have that talk with your parents. Do you have champagne aspirationsbut only a beer budget? If mom and dad can only afford to send you to a local stateschool and have you live at home, but you want to go to a private school far away, talkabout how to bridge that gap.

Do you need to start aggressively looking for scholarships and grants now? Do youneed to take out loans? Who will co-sign for the loans? What will your familyexpectation be about repayment?

You’d be surprised. You have a lot more options and a lot less melodrama when youplan ahead. Trust me: mom and dad want you to be successful. Late at night, after thekids have gone to sleep, it’s what they talk about. Paying for college is a stressful topicfor your parents. Plan ahead and your dreams will be achievable.

Red Kite can assist you and your family in planning ahead for the cost of college.Search for scholarships, grants and fellowships all in one place. Give us a try!