Freshman Year in High School - Start College Planning Now

If you walk up to most 9th graders early in their freshman year and ask them about their college preparation plans, you are likely to get a blank stare. Teenagers have so many things on their mind at that age, and college usually isn't one of them. This is perfectly natural, of course, but this is why these kids need guidance to start planning for their future.

Parents and the high school guidance counselor can help students design a preliminary four year academic plan to make sure they are on the right track for college. For instance, if you plan on taking AP courses in hopes of earning college credit in high school, you must be on the right track academically so you'll have all the required pre-requisites out of the way.

Grades are very important in maintaining a college acceptable GPA, and your GPA plays a big part in applying for certain scholarships as well. Don't assume that only your senior year GPA is all that matters. Being serious about your grades indicates a maturity level of someone who is college material.

How you accept the academic challenges of high school reflects how you will deal with even more difficult challenges in college. Teachers expect high school students to act responsibly and aren't as quick to remind students when reports, papers, and homework are due.

By applying yourself to doing more than the minimum required, you build study skills that will help you succeed in college. If there is a particular concept in a class that you don't fully grasp, work extra problems to help in clarification. If the difficulty continues, ask for assistance from the teacher or a tutor before the problem gets worse.

Be sure to join clubs that interest you and participate in club meetings and activities. Colleges look favorably on college applicants with good grades and a history of club participation.

Beginning your college preparation in your high school freshman year is important, but don't forget to enjoy your high school years as well because they go by in a hurry. After graduation, all your friends will scatter to the four winds, so enjoy your times together while you can including sports activities, fund raisers, dances, proms, and so forth.

The PLAN Test - A Resource Tool for High School Sophomores

It is never really too soon in a child's life to start giving some thought to college. When you enter high school as a freshman, it may seem as though you have plenty of time, and you do have more time to plan than a junior or senior does, but the earlier you start the more prepared you will be when senior year rolls around.

In your sophomore year, you should consider taking the PLAN test. It is an excellent way to better prepare for the ACT. Nearly all students who take PLAN score higher on the ACT than those who don't.

Even though you can take the ACT earlier, the majority of students generally take the ACT/SAT in their junior/senior year. Many students take the ACT multiple times in an attempt to get a higher score. The higher the score, the better chances you have of admission to your choice colleges and the opportunity to apply for certain scholarships that require high ACT results.

The PLAN test is designed to help 10th graders evaluate their academic development, explore different career paths, and make better plans for the remainder of their high school years in anticipation of going to college.

The PLAN test is also beneficial for students who don't plan to go to college but enter the workforce immediately after high school. So even if you are not sure of your plans after high school, you will still benefit from it. There are four multiple choice tests in Math, Science, English, and Reading. Test results indicate both your weak and strong areas so you'll know where to improve.

Your high school guidance counselor should have information on the PLAN test, such as test dates, locations, and test fees. So when you begin your sophomore year, be sure to make plans to take the PLAN test so you will be on the right path for the remainder of your high school years. The more preparations you make for college early in high school, the better prepared you will be when it comes time to apply and seek acceptance at the school of your choice.

Attend College Fairs to Screen for School Possibilities

Many high schools sponsor college fairs where schools set up exhibits and provide information to potential student candidates. There are also college fairs often held in other locations such as hotels and conference centers that are open to everyone.

These fairs are generally free of charge and vary in size from only 10 schools to more than 100. This is a great opportunity to talk with admission officers about different schools about courses and programs offered, information about the campus and dormitory life, meal plans, tuition costs, financial aid, scholarships, sports programs, and more.

Your high school guidance counselor is a place to start to find out about college fairs to be held in your area and possibly at your school. Here are a few tips on planning for when you are going to attend a college fair:

* Take pen and paper to the fair so you will be prepared to take down information; make notes as you go because you won't remember every detail later

* Take along a bag or satchel to hold brochures, cards, catalogs, etc.

* Using address labels, print several with your name, address, phone number, and date of graduation so you can place them on info cards at the fair rather than writing it every time

* At large fairs, you won't be able to visit every booth or exhibit, so narrow your destinations down to those you are most interested in to avoid running out of time

* Be sure to pick up application forms for any schools you are seriously considering

* For schools that interest you, ask about campus visits because many schools host visitation days with planned activities to help students get the most from their visit

Generally college fairs are held in the summer and/or fall of the year so students have time to plan and evaluate their choices and prepare to apply for acceptance by spring. Even if you have a school in mind you want to attend, going to a college fair can certainly do no harm and you might discover some other schools that interest you that you were not considering before.

Gap Year between High School and College - Good or Bad Idea?

Not everyone who attends college does so right after they graduate high school. There are varying reasons for this. Some of these are: 

• Financial complications - there may have been delays in financial aid processing or a student's needs more time to apply for scholarships and possibly work to earn money for school while seeking student aid 
• Gainful employment - the desire to gain work experience first and have time to decide on a major; you may be able to explore some areas of job interest to determine if they are right for you 
• Test grades - time for attempts to make better ACT/SAT testing scores in hopes of landing a high level scholarship
• Travel - the desire to do some traveling before going right back into school when the summer ends
• Internship/Volunteer program - becoming involved in an internship or volunteer program that allows you to travel expenses-paid and/or learn more about a particular field you are considering

There are many people who have successfully obtained a degree who did not attend college the first year after they graduated high school. It simply isn't the same for everyone, and can be a positive experience as long as the year is not wasted laying around on the couch watching television or lounging by the pool; the time should be utilized for something constructive.

There are some things to consider when making the decision to delay beginning college for a year: 

• Tuition costs generally go up from year to year as opposed to going down, somewhere in the neighborhood of around 8% to 10%
• Not everyone with intentions to come back to college actually makes it; priorities change during their time off
• The later you start college, the later you'll start your career; depending on your profession, that could result in a loss to the tune of whatever your starting annual salary would be
• By waiting until you are ready to start rather than when your parents or peers want you to may result in you being more prepared for college and more receptive to your studies when you do start back to school. 

Many colleges allow you to go ahead and apply while in your high school senior year. Once accepted, you simply request that your acceptance be deferred until the following year. There may be time limits on when you must start school in order to retain your acceptance, and not every college offers this option.

Fall College Planning Tips for High School Seniors

In the fall of your senior year in high school, it is a good time to start putting your short and long term goals for going to college into place. A good basic plan is as follows:

Fall Term of High School Senior Year

* Make a list of potential colleges and school, a max of 8 and a minimum of 5

* Discuss your choices with parents and the high school guidance counselor

* Obtain applications forms for each college on the list and inquire about scholarships and financial aid; review all requirements because some of them may take some time to obtain and/or complete

* Narrow down the list of colleges to between 3 and 5

* Request letters of recommendation from pertinent individuals; these can be from neighbors, employers, teachers, the guidance counselor, and sports coaches

* Start working on application essays early so you can ask teachers to review them

* Make sure all student aid and scholarship applications are submitted by their due dates

Important Considerations

Because most college applications require an application fee, it is important to have the most accurate list possible as applying to numerous schools you may not even be interested in attending can be costly.

Universities and colleges have scholarships offered specific to them and will require individual applications. You can view most of these online. Your high school guidance counselor can also advise you of other scholarships that are not specific to a school but are local scholarships offered only in your area.

If you are planning to apply for early college admission, many schools will need your SAT/ACT scores as early as November. You must research to find out testing dates in your area and register in advance. Allow sufficient time for test results to be calculated and delivered; this usually involves weeks so don't wait until the last minute.

Your senior year will pass quickly so it is important to start early in your preparations for the many tasks that must be completed in order for you to enter college after you graduate. Don't wait until the last minute; start getting organized early.

Challenges of Preparing the Home Schooled Child for College

According to numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 there were approximately 54 million children living in the country between the ages of 5 and 17. Based on the numbers of kids who are home schooled, that means 1 out of every 25 does not attend public schools. There are also other children in Christian schools not included as part of the public system.

Some children are a part of an "underground" community because the families face compulsory attendance laws. The parents don't register their children and attempt to school them on their own.

This estimated 4% of America's children still have needs to go on to higher education, no matter how they get a diploma. There are varying opinions on the merits of home schooling, and valid arguments can be made both for and against.

Some home schooled children display a much broader grasp of their required studies than many of those in the same age group who attend public school. The quality of education for home taught children has climbed as the numbers being taught have increased.

If your children are home schooled, you obviously have your reasons for taking this route. As a parent, it requires dedication and hard work to provide a quality education at home, and preparing for college is a serious part of the home schooling process.

Probably the greatest challenge that faces the home schooled child is the vast difference from the atmosphere at home and that in college. The way a parent prepares a child has a great deal to do with how successful the college experience will be.

Thirty years ago there were only around 20,000 home schooled children. Thanks to the increase in numbers of the home schooled, the internet emerged as a highly used teaching tool. Today parents are better equipped with the right resources and information to present a more structured learning environment and program.

Parents also must educate themselves as to what is required for their home school child to be accepted into college. The role becomes that not only of parent and teacher, but guidance counselor as well. Fortunately, information is available to guide parents as far as courses required for certain diplomas, testing requirements, and more.

Preparing a home schooled child academically and socially for college is a challenge, but the well prepared parent does have the advantage of more one on one time with their student; home school does provide an impressive "teacher/student" ratio.

Also, many home school support groups are available which create opportunities for home schooled children to interact with others and participate in group activities for a more well-rounded education.

A child schooled at home has just as much chance to succeed as any other child in college academics, if the parents have done their job right.

School Resources for Efficient College Planning - The Guidance Counselor

When the high school years roll around, parents are often less involved at their child's school than they were in the elementary and middle school years. However, there are benefits to opening up communications with certain individuals at the school to help with college planning. This usually includes the school guidance counselor and members of the teaching staff as well.

An often overlooked yet useful school resource is the guidance counselor. They are generally the ones responsible for handling transcripts, tracking student credits to be sure they have what is required for graduation, and much more.

They know what is required for the different types of high school diplomas offered, college scholarships students can apply for, admissions requirements for many different schools and colleges, and tips on applying for financial aid.

Let the guidance counselor at your child's high school know early in the freshman year that your student has plans to attend college. By doing so early, the counselor can better guide you and your child with regard to many different aspects involved with college planning.

Sure, there are many things you and your child can, and should, do on your own for college preparation. However, a trained and experienced guidance counselor can help make the process much easier and possibly steer you toward some benefits and advantages you might not find otherwise.

It is important to avoid taking a back seat with something as important as college planning for your student. The proper planning will assure that your student is fully prepared when it comes time to undergo the proper testing, apply for scholarships and aid, and apply and be accepted at the college they wish to attend.

The high school counselor can provide not only guidance in steps for proper planning, but also other resources such as study materials, suggested clubs your student should join to enhance their college application, and advanced placement course information which can help them sign up for classes that can earn them college credit while still in high school.

Communication between parents and the school can usually be handled via email for parents who work during the day. So don't delay letting the high school counselor know of your student's college intentions. It will help both you and your child plan better for the college years ahead. 

Avoiding the Senior Slump: Staying Motivated in Your Final Year

After all the hard work of Junior Year, and with all the distractions of enjoying the final year of high school, Senior Year students often find themselves sliding a bit, resulting in the Senior Year slump – with dropping grades and a lack of enthusiasm for life after high school. Here are three tips for rising Seniors to keep on track and stay motivated.

Take the Long View

It can be hard to see beyond the life at high school and imagine what your college life will be like, let alone life after formal education. Take a few minutes to visualize what you’d like your long term life to be, how you would like to live, what career you’d like to succeed in, and what goals you’d like to accomplish, whether they be as simple as trying skydiving or as complex as owning your own business. Being able to see what your longer term goals are can help you place in context all the work you’re doing right now, and enjoy each step you complete.

Keep Your Balance

High school Seniors often find it difficult to find a good work/life balance, swinging to one or the other extreme by studying too hard or socializing too much. Finding a balance with study time and achieving academic goals and also spending time with friends and activities you like is important to keep your motivation high and avoid burnout. Further, learning how to maintain this balance in high school puts you one step ahead in college, when the pressure for studying and the increase in distractions can make it even more difficult.

Celebrate Small Successes

With the looming goal ahead of you of getting into your ideal college, it can be easy to forget celebrating small successes as you strive for the future big success. However, constantly deferring celebration can be demotivating and you may feel as though you’re not really making progress in your Senior year. Take time to reward yourself for getting great grades on tests, winning events in your extracurricular activities, or even simply hitting timelines as you complete your college application process, to stay motivated.