College Planning: Overview
2006-12-01
By D.E. Herrod, BEdE, MDiv
As a teacher one of my responsibilities was to help juniors and seniors prepare for college. Many students failed to take preparation for college seriously. Every year I had seniors reach May with no plans for college. It is heartbreaking to see a student lose a scholarship or fail to be admitted to the college of their dreams because of a lack of preparation. College is a viable option for most students, but proper planning is vital.
Start Early
When your child is in elementary school begin discussing future plans. Talk about when he/she will go to college and not if he/she will go to college. This will help your child start thinking about the future. I can remember my parents and grandparents discussed college and careers. They never pressured me to make a decision but rather they encouraged me to explore things that interested me. Guide your child in investigating possible careers and post-secondary education in 8th or 9th grade. One technique I have used with my students is a career investigation project. Select a career cluster that interests them and research the requirements for this career. If possible, arrange for opportunities to interview someone who is currently in the field. Internships are also a good way for students to explore careers as well as gain practical experience.
Encourage Dreams
One of the things I find the most inspiring when working with teenagers is their ability to dream. No goal, no matter how unrealistic in their minds, seems unreachable. While it is important to encourage dreams, help your child remain rooted in reality. Discuss with your child his/her strengths, weaknesses and interests. Help your child to set goals to reach dreams. Once the goals have been determined develop a plan.
Planning
Be sure that your child takes the correct high school courses. Prepare for the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT tests. It is a good idea to take the PSAT both in 10th and 11th grades. Only juniors may compete for scholarships, but taking the test as a sophomore helps your child become familiar with the test. I encouraged my students to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of their junior year to become familiar with the test. Then have them take the test again in the fall of their senior year. This provides time to retake the test if necessary. Many schools give scholarships based on these tests. Also, consider taking AP tests. A listing of AP courses and exams is available at CollegeBoard.com. AP classes can allow your child to earn college credit in high school. My husband was able to complete his undergraduate degree in three years because of the amount of AP credits he earned in high school. He saved both time and money. One last thing to consider when planning for college is community and volunteer service. Many scholarships and colleges want students to have community service. I taught in a Christian school and my students participated in mission trips and church activities. Unfortunately some colleges and scholarship committees do not consider these activities community service but rather proselytizing.
College selection requires a great deal of planning. Help your child begin thinking about future plans at an early age. As your child enters high school select courses and other enrichment activities that will help your child be prepared for college. Be sure to include extra-curricular activities and service opportunities as well.
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