Planning for the Future
You are never too young to start thinking about
and planning for college. In fact, the earlier you start planning, the easier
college admission costs will be to handle.
If you are a junior, check out some
tips to help you. If you are a senior, view the
college-planning calendar SLGFA provides
courtesy of Mapping
Your Future to stay a step ahead.
SLGFA's
Financial Literacy page is also a great resource that can assist in helping
you understand how to manage your money and avoid some of the pitfalls while you
plan for your future.
Talk to Your Guidance Counselor
Guidance counselors can provide valuable advice to help you prepare for
college, including letting you know what college preparatory classes are
available, eligibility requirements for Advanced Placement courses, and schedules and forms for the
PSAT,
SAT I,
ACT,
Advanced
Placement (AP), and
College-Level
Examination Program (CLEP)
exams.
Research Your Choices and Options
A college degree is a big investment, so after talking to your guidance
counselor, start thinking about a career path that suits your skills and
interests.
The
Occupational Outlook Handbook, updated annually by the U.S. Department of
Labor, provides information on the nature of work; working conditions;
employment; training advancement; job outlook; earnings; related occupations;
and sources of additional information for more than 250 different occupations.
Once you have a career path in mind, you can start searching
for universities and colleges that will best meet your needs and expectations.
Don't rely just on websites to find the information you're looking for. Start
scheduling college visits, so you can meet with faculty and get a feel for the
college atmosphere. Be aware of these 10 tips
when visiting a college.
Start Saving for College
A number of tax-free options are available to help families save money and find
ways to pay for college, if you start early enough.
Talk to your parents about the
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and
529 college savings plans. These
accounts allow parents to deposit money into special savings accounts in which
the funds accumulate tax-free.
Be Aware of Financial Aid Options
Saving early helps, but even for those families unable to save money for
college, financial aid is available. So long as you meet eligibility
requirements, you can fill out the
Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for a number of grants and
loans.
Paying for College
Understanding Loans
Keep Everything on File
It's important for you to create a helpful file that includes copies of
report cards; a list of awards and honors; a list of your involvement in school
and community activities; and test scores from the PSAT, SAT I and/or SAT II,
ACT, or AP exams.
As you near graduation, start maintaining a list of
universities that match your skills and interests. Maintaining records on
admission requirements, deadlines, and financial aid opportunities will ease the
stress of preparing for that next step.