College Access and Planning
Students
- Think about college as an important part of your future. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your family and with people at school.
- Start saving for college if you haven’t already. Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for high school. Ask your parent or guardian to help you research which high schools or special programs will most benefit your interests. Develop strong study habits. Do your best in school and on standardized tests. If you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a teacher, tutor, or mentor. Become involved in school or community-based activities that let you explore your interests and learn new things. Speak with adults, such as your teacher, school counselor or librarian, relatives, or family friends, who you think have interesting jobs. Ask them, “What do you like about your job?” and “What education did you need for your job?”
- Find out why you should prepare for college now.
Parents
- Continue saving for your child’s college education. If you have not opened a savings account, learn about the tax advantages of saving and find a link to a clearinghouse of state college savings plans. Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests with a college major and career. Help your child develop good study habits, such as studying at the same time and place every day and having the necessary materials to complete assignments. Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and counselor so that they can let you know about any changes in your child’s behavior or schoolwork. Keep an eye on your child’s grades, tests, report cards, and help your student find tutoring assistance, if necessary.
Advice
Everyone you talk to about college is going to offer their opinion. Remember, there's always more to know and it never hurts to listen.