Preparing

Preparation for college can start early in your student’s life. In fact, you and your student can start preparing for college now by following these tips:

• Think college, talk about college early on, and prepare yourself and your student for college
• Get involved with your student’s education.
• Have your student take college prep courses.
• Encourage your student to get involved in community service projects.
• Encourage your student to get involved in school organizations.
• READ! READ! READ! Reading is the number one method for your student to improve their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Discuss with them what they are reading and how exciting reading is. Set aside family reading time.

During High School

9th Grade

• Talk with your student about challenging classes that will satisfy college requirements. Challenging coursework will prepare them to succeed in college.
• Have your student get to know their career or college counselor.
• Help them get involved in community service activities. (Keep track of your event participation.)
• Encourage them to get involved in school organizations.
• Help them get organized! (Keep a folder on all college items and include college brochures.)

10th Grade

• Check in with your student’s counselor and make sure that your student is enrolling in college prep courses.
• Encourage your student to run for office (President, Vice President, Secretary, etc.) in a school or extra-curricular activity in which they are involved (church, student council, band, etc.)
• Search the Web with your student. Get online with your student and check out cool careers. For example, try visiting careers.org.
• DOUBLE CHECK! Make sure that your student is taking the necessary courses for admission to the colleges in which they are interested.
• Make sure your student registers early to take their Pre SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Note: Your student may qualify for a waiver. Visit your student’s guidance counselor for details.

11th Grade

• Make sure your student is continuing to take college prep classes and encourage them to keep up the good grades. They’ll be glad you did.
• Get ready. Visit assessment.comand have your student take the MAPP test. Help them make lists of their abilities, social/cultural preferences and personal qualities. Help them list things they may want to study and do in college.
• Attend day and evening college fairs. Encourage your student to introduce themselves to recruiters and encourage them to ask questions. You may want to help your student make a list of questions to ask the college recruiters. Go with your student to evening fairs. There are plenty of questions that you will want to ask as a parent.
• Start learning about financial aid. Read the U.S. Department of Education’s Funding Your Education. You can find it online by visiting studentaid.ed.gov. It’s got great information about federal financial aid programs.
• Consider people to write your student’s letters of recommendation (teachers, counselors, employers, church leaders, etc.) Be sure that these same people know your student, knows WHAT their dreams/goals are, and can honestly assess your student’s potential.
• Spring to it! Encourage your student to register to take the SAT and/or ACT during the Spring Semester. This is the perfect first time to take it!

12th Grade

• BEWARE OF SENIORITIS! Talk about college often and how important it is for your student to keep their grades up. College and universities will look at ALL senior year grades.
• Make sure your student REGISTERS and RETAKES the SAT and/or ACT and any other exams required for admission to the colleges/universities to which they are applying.
• Have your student email or call colleges to request information and applications for admission. Have your student ask about admission, financial aid requirements and deadlines (early decision, early action, rolling admission, etc.)
• Make sure your student prepares their applications carefully. Make sure they know how important it is to follow the instructions and pay close attention to deadlines. IT’S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY – not anyone else’s – to submit ALL necessary documents (letters of recommendation, official transcripts, etc.)
• Recommendation Letters. Make sure the person writing the letter on your student’s behalf truly knows them well. Be courteous and give them a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with the requirements. Provide them with at least one month notice and friendly reminders once a week. Be sure your student sends them a hand-written “thank you” note for the recommendation letter.
• JUST DO IT! Research financial aid opportunities.

After High School

Fall

• When your student is calling or emailing colleges, request financial aid information, including what forms to file and their respective due dates. Be sure your student asks which are the “post date” and “received by” deadlines. Mark your calendar with these dates.
• All colleges/universities ask that your student fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and some require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. In addition, ask if your student’s college requires their own financial aid forms.
• Have your student obtain the contact information (name, telephone number, email address, etc.) of the Freshman Financial Aid Counselor, if the college has designated one.

Spring

• Your student must Register for their Personal Identification Number (PIN) in early January by logging on to the U.S. Department of Education’s website, pin.ed.gov. By the way, you, as a parent, will need your own PIN, too! You can sign up at the same web address.