Introduction

Planning for College

» Making the Most of High School

» Getting Ready for College

» Looking Forward to Careers

Taking the Tests

Finding the Right College

Getting into College

Paying for College

Planning for College:
   » Getting Ready for College

Action Plan for High School Freshmen and Sophomores

It's fall -- what should you be doing right now?
Fall is a great time to get organized, even if you do feel more motivated to make a holiday shopping list than a college search list. If you focus now, you'll be a more competitive student when it comes time to apply to colleges.

Learn from your PSAT/NMSQT/PLAN score reports
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT/PLAN, review your scores. See where your strengths are and get help with your weaker areas.

Plan and prepare for SAT/ACT tests
Get familiar with the SAT/ACT by taking it for a test run.

Make the most of high school

• Make sure you're enrolled in challenging courses. Colleges prefer three to four years of English, history, math, science, and a language.
• Immerse yourself in extracurricular activities. A breadth and focus of interests will make you an asset to a college's community.
• Consider taking an AP course and exam in your strong subject(s), if you're not already.

Plan for college

• Meet with your counselor and make him or her aware of your college plans.
• Develop a preliminary list of colleges that match your needs and preferences. Use College Search to make and track your list.
• If possible, make plans to visit college campuses during fall or winter breaks. A good place to start is your local community college.
• Talk to your parents about college costs and together learn what you should be doing to finance your education.

Action Plan for High School Juniors

It's fall of your junior year -- what should you be doing right now?
Fall is a great time to get organized, even if you do feel more motivated to make a holiday shopping list than a college search list.

Learn from your test score reports
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT/PLAN, review your scores. See where your strengths are and get help with your weaker areas.

Plan and prepare for SAT/ACT tests

• Register early for SAT I/ACT and/or Subject Tests. Many colleges require or recommend one to three Subject Tests for admission or placement.
• Focus your practice where you need it the most. You'll find a free diagnostic test and targeted PrepPacks™ in the SAT Prep Center. You can find diagnostic material for the ACT at www.act.org.
• Mark your calendar with dates and deadlines for taking required exams and submitting information.

Make the most of high school

• Continue to work hard and do your best in school. It's never too late to improve.
• Consider taking an AP course and exam in your strong subject(s), if you aren't already.
• You still have time to immerse yourself in extracurricular activities. A breadth and focus of interests will make you an asset to a college's community.

Get ready for college

• Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans.
• Gather any college and career materials you may need. Create a file to organize everything.
• Get dates and locations of upcoming college fairs, and, of course, attend.
• Apply for a social security number if you don't already have one -- it's required for college and financial aid applications.
• Fall and winter breaks can be good times to visit colleges. Discover what type of college suits you best -- private or public, two- or four-year, far away from or close to home, etc.
• Think about which teachers (or other folks) you'd like to write letters of recommendation for you.
• Put together a resume of your classes, clubs, sports, and outside activities. You can organize some of this information in the student questionnaire within SAT registration.
• Consider taking a CLEP/AP exam in your strong subjects. If you do well on a CLEP/AP exam, you can earn the same amount of credit that you'd get if you took -- and did well in -- a one-semester or yearlong college course covering the same material.

Plan for college costs

• Investigate scholarship programs and make note of special requirements. Check your library or do an online search.
• Estimate how much your family will be expected to pay. Financial aid calculators will do the math for you.

Action Plan for High School Seniors

It's fall of your senior year -- what should you be doing right now?
Autumn is an exciting time. You have new classes and clubs, homecoming games and dances, not to mention upcoming holidays. Make sure you don't fall behind on your college planning -- now it's more important than ever to stay on track.

Get and send your scores for ACT/SAT tests
Your score report is mailed about three to four weeks after the test. If you took the October ACT/SAT, your ACT/SAT scores are sent to colleges in early November.

Plan and prepare for tests
Visit the SAT Prep Center to download a free diagnostic Mini-SAT. Focus your practice where you need it most with SAT PrepPacks™. For those taking the ACT, there is a free booklet, Preparing for the ACT Assessment, which should be available through your school.

Finalize your College list

• Finalize your list of colleges. Make sure your list includes "safe" as well as "reach" and "realistic" schools.
• Contact each school's admission office to request a catalog/application, brochure, and financial aid information.
• Visit as many colleges on your list as possible. Get a feel for the school by sitting in on a class, taking a guided tour, talking to the students, and possibly staying overnight in a dorm. Also, be sure to schedule an admission interview and an appointment with a financial aid officer.

Apply to college

• Deadlines for applying early decision or early action usually fall in November or December.
• Meet with your guidance counselor about the colleges to which you're planning to apply.
• Practice for college interviews with your parents or friends.
• Ask your teacher, counselor, coach, etc. to write your recommendation letters. Make sure you give them plenty of time so they don't have to rush to meet your application deadline.
• Start drafting your application essays.
• Most regular application deadlines are in January. Be sure to get all the necessary forms from your teachers and counselors before high school offices close for the holidays.

Plan for college costs

• Create a financial plan with your family. Use financial aid calculators to estimate how much money your family will be expected to pay towards college costs.
• Assist your parents with completing CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Check with the schools you are applying to, to make sure that you fill out all of their required financial aid forms as well.
• Use Scholarship Search to find scholarships, grants, and loans that match your skills and interests.
• Check your library and ask your counselor about special state, federal, and local aid programs.

Enroll in Advanced Placement courses in your strong subjects
Talk to your teachers about requirements for enrollment in the course. Talk to other AP students to get an idea of what to expect.

Consider taking a CLEP/AP exam to earn college credit
If you do well on a CLEP/AP exam, you can earn the same amount of credit that you'd get if you took -- and did well in -- a one-semester or yearlong college course covering the same material.

Seven "Excuses" Not to Go to College

1. "I can't go to college -- nobody in my family has ever gone."
   In every family, someone has to be first. Why not you? True, being first can be hard. For instance, you may have to explain to the family why college is important to you. On the other hand, being first is likely to be a source of pride, for you and for your family.
2. "I've been in school for 12 years. That's enough! I just want a good job."
   Give college a chance. It's not like high school or junior high. For one thing, in college you pick a major -- a subject area that you want to learn about. As for that good job -- the best jobs and the best salaries go to college grads.
3. "I can't go to college because I can't afford it."
   Most students get financial aid to help pay for college, and most aid is based on need. This means that the less money you have, the more aid you might get.
4. "I can't go because I don't know how to apply or where I want to go."
   Tell your high school counselors you want to go to college fairs, where colleges introduce themselves to students. Ask them how to write to schools for information. Try to visit colleges that interest you. Keep at it. After a while, you'll get a feel for differences among colleges and start to know what you want.
5. "I can't go to college -- I don't know what I want to do with my life."
   Join the crowd. Thousands of college freshmen haven't decided on a major or on a career. That's how college helps. It exposes you to all sorts of subjects you've never heard of before. College is a great place to learn more about careers you'll love for life.
6. "I can't go to college, because I just won't fit in."
   Not so. Most colleges have students from many backgrounds. Homesick? Need a hand? Look for people with your interests or your background in the African-American club, on the soccer field, or in a Korean study group. Remember, college is a great place to meet new kinds of people with different lifestyles. And the more people you understand and feel comfortable with, the better prepared you'll be for the world after college.
7. "College is too hard for me."
   Not you, too! Most students worry about being good enough for college, so you're not alone. One idea: In high school, don't just study -- learn how to study. Most good students have strategies for studying. Once you learn how to study, chances are you'll do fine. Still need help? Professors are really helpful, and so are tutors.

Why Go To College?

Personal Growth and Expanded Horizons
If you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life. That's reason enough to pursue an education beyond high school, but here are more practical considerations:

• Have more job opportunities
  The world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from.
  
  
• Earn more money
  A person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. On average, over a lifetime, someone who spends two years in college earns $250,000 more than someone who doesn't. That's a quarter of a million dollars more over a lifetime.
• Expand your knowledge base
  A college education helps you acquire a range of knowledge in many subjects, as well as advanced knowledge in the specific subjects you're most interested in. It also increases your ability to think abstractly and critically, to express thoughts clearly in speech and in writing, and to make wise decisions. These skills are useful both on and off the job.
• Increase your potential
  A college education can help increase your understanding of the community and the world as you explore interests, discover new areas of knowledge, and consider lifelong goals.
  
  

Getting a college education is an investment that will pay back for a lifetime. People with a college education have better job opportunities, earn more money, and develop skills that can never be taken away.

It Doesn't Have To Be A Four-Year College
Consider attending a community college. Community colleges are public, two-year schools that provide an excellent education, whether you're considering an associate degree, a certificate program, technical training, or plan to continue your studies at a four-year college. Learn more.

10 Ways To Jumpstart College Planning

Ready, Set...

It's amazing, but decisions you make as early as 8th grade have a huge effect on your college career. They affect how soon you'll go to college, how good the college you go to will be, and even whether you'll go to college at all.

1. Get Involved
   Getting ready for college isn't all work. Find something you really like doing, then dive into it. Maybe you're drawn to sports, student council, music, art ... you get the picture. You'll develop skills and be more appealing to colleges (they like students who'll add something to campus life).
   
   
2. Do the Work
   If you expect to go to college later, expect to study now. No one can do it for you. Don't talk the college talk -- "I'll go to college to get a great career" -- without walking the walk.
3. Take challenging courses
   Colleges look at your grades, sure, but also at how difficult your courses are. They want to see that you've challenged yourself. Plus, if you pursue advanced courses, such as AP®, you may be able to get college credit.
4. Get help
   Having trouble in a class? Many schools have peer tutors, students in upper grades who'll help you (for free). Talk to teachers or counselors -- let them know you want extra help.
5. Read
   Read at least 30 minutes every day, beyond study and homework. Read what interests you -- magazines, novels, whatever. People who read more, know more. And when you take PSAT/NMSQT™, ACT, and SAT® tests, knowing more will really pay off.
6. Don't delay
   You take the PSAT/NMSQT or ACT as a junior (or even as a sophomore). So you have a few semesters before then to take the solid math and other courses that get you ready.
7. Get the college-bound facts
   How do you know all the right moves to get into college? Ask someone who's done it. Get to know your counselors. Ask a career planner at a local college, or a trusted teacher. Do Web research.
8. Involve your family
   When parents or guardians haven't been to college themselves, they may think they can't help you. That's not true. They can talk to counselors and help you stay on the right path.
9. Look for a mentor
   If you don't find support at home, look for other adults who can lend their enthusiasm and help make sure you succeed. You might look to a counselor, a teacher, or someone else you trust.
10. Confront persoanl roadblocks
    If you have a problem that's really getting in the way of schoolwork, try to sort it out. Talking to friends helps, or look for an adult -- parent, coach, nurse, counselor -- who can offer advice.

Getting College Credit Before College

AP and CLEP
Did you know that you can experience college-level work and earn college credit -- even before you apply to college? There are courses and tests that can help you do just that.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program®
AP gives you a chance to try college-level work in high school and gain valuable study habits. If you get a "qualifying" grade on an AP Exam, there are thousands of colleges worldwide that will give you credit or advanced placement for your efforts. AP Exams and courses offer you a chance to:

• Study a subject in greater depth.
• Know your capabilities.
• Gain a clearer idea of your future plans.
• Develop skills and study habits vital to college.
• Improve admission eligibility.
• Prepare for the unexpected.
• Save money.
• Get a head start for college.
• Become eligible for Scholar Awards.

For more information, go to the AP subject list and read course descriptions. Talk to your guidance counselor, too, to see if AP courses are right for you. If, for whatever reason, you're unable to take an AP class, you can still take an AP Exam as long as you've learned the same course material.

College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP)
The CLEP program provides a way for you to accelerate your college career by demonstrating college-level knowledge. By taking CLEP exams, you can:

• Independently accumulate credit toward a degree.
• Earn exemption from taking introductory courses.
• Move ahead to more advanced courses.
• Determine placement, particularly for language courses.
• Save money.
• Save time.

Colleges And Their Credit Policies
Credit policies vary from school to school. Find out if the colleges where you're applying will allow you to transfer the credit.

AP Subjects

Art History	Human Geography
Biology	International English Language (APIEL)
Calculus AB & BC	Latin
Chemistry	Music Theory
Computer Science	Physics
Economics	Psychology
English	Spanish
Environmental Science	Statistics
European History	Studio Art
French	U.S. History
German Language	World History
Government & Politics

Why You Don't Have To Be Rich To Go To College

There's Money Out There Looking For You
If you think you have to be rich to go to college, think again. More than $74 billion in financial aid goes to college students every year. Most of those dollars go to students who really need them. In fact, the greater your need, the more financial aid you may get.

What Is "Need"?
College aid is tied to need, and need, the way colleges define it, has two parts.

1. What college costs One kind of cost is the cost of going to school -- tuition, books, fees, and supplies. The other is the cost of living while you go to school -- food, housing, transportation, and personal expenses.
2. What you and your family can afford Colleges consider your family's income and expenses. For example, if your family has a low income, colleges will figure you need a lot of aid. And if you have big expenses? Say, Mom makes a good salary, but there are three kids, one already in college, one in daycare, and grandpa needs long-term care. Again, colleges will figure you need lots of aid.

What Is "Aid"?
After a college decides what you need, it decides how much aid to offer, and what kind. There are four main types:

1. Grants: Given based on need, grants don't have to be repaid.
2. Scholarships: Given based on need or another basis (e.g., a good PSAT/NMSQT™ score), scholarships don't have to be repaid.
3. Loans: From the government, banks, or colleges, loans must be repaid after you graduate or leave school.
4. Work-study jobs: Given out by colleges, work-study lets you earn money while doing something like working in the library.

You Won't Get Financial Aid If You Don't Ask For It
To get aid, you and your family have to fill out forms -- lots of them. Check with colleges to see which ones you should file. Check with your guidance counselor to get help filling them out. Whatever you do, don't say, "Nobody would give me money for college." If you don't send in an application, how will they know you're there?

Breakdown of College Costs

The Bill
Where does all that money go? Here's a sample breakdown of typical college costs, for a private four-year college and a public four-year college in-state:

	Private	Public

Direct Education Expenses
tuition & fees	$17,123	$3,754
books & supplies	$765	$736
Living Expenses
room & board	$6,455	$5,254
transportation	$600	$668
personal expenses	$1,127	$1,564
TOTAL COSTS	$26,070	$11,976

If you plan on attending a public school in a state other than the one in which you live, add an average of $5,764 out-of-state tuition to public college costs.

Tuition & Fees
Tuition is the charge for instruction. You know, the main reason for going to college -- an education. Fees cover the services your college provides, such as the library, student activities, or health center. Be sure to investigate these services before deciding on a college.

Books & Supplies
Every college student has to buy books, pens, notebooks, and other things. Some courses require more supplies than others. For example, if you enroll in an art class, you may need to buy brushes and paint. Buying used books can lower costs -- just be sure you have the right edition.

Room (where you live)
Most colleges offer a variety of on-campus housing, including dorms, larger suites, or townhouses. These are usually assigned on a lottery basis, giving the upper-class students first pick. Some students choose to live off-campus in order to pool their expenses.

Board (what you eat)
There are a variety of meal plans used by colleges. Some offer an all-you-can-eat system where you're allowed to go back for seconds or thirds for each meal. Others use a point system -- you're given a certain amount of points for the semester which you use to buy your meals.

Transportation
Students who commute daily have to absorb the costs of gas and parking or pay for public transportation. Living on campus doesn't mean you'll never leave the school for the years you attend. Students usually go home several times a year for holidays or on breaks.

Personal Expenses
Of course, you'll have some personal expenses for such things as laundry, toiletries, recreation, stereo equipment, inflatable chairs ... This is an area in which you can certainly get thrifty.

Savings Chart: The Benefits of Saving Early
How much would you and your family need to save to have $10,000 available when you start college?

It's Pretty Clear
Saving money is the best way to prepare for meeting the costs of college. The earlier you and your family begin saving, the smaller the amount you'll have to set aside each month. That said, it's never too late to start setting aside money and to plan a strategic approach to your college financing.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education

Planning for College

Making the Most of High School

» Getting Ready for College

Looking Forward to Careers

The White House Initiative gratefully acknowledges collegeboard.com for providing the content found on this page.