Is your high school student College bound?

Scott Delzer

March 22, 2011  •  1 Minute Read

Financial Tips, Student/Financial Aid

Getting your child ready for college is a sad and happy time in their lives. Whether they plan to attend a community college or university, there are so many things to consider when getting your child and their financing ready for this big step.

It seems really early, but your school counselor should begin prepping your students in the middle of their Junior year as there are so many things to prepare for. First they need to select a college, technical college, university or private school, which should be based on the curriculum they have to offer. Be prepared to be overwhelmed with email and postcard communications from a variety of schools looking for your son or daughter to choose them! There are several other factors to consider during the elimination process and for most it might simply come down to the cost.

College should be about affordable higher education and most schools will provide financial aid options like loans, grants, scholarships and military ROTC benefits. Keep in mind that if your student is considering an out of state school they may have additional costs incurred to attend but be sure to check out if the school has reciprocity before crossing them off your list.  Also, if your student qualifies for any state grant or scholarships, they may not transfer out of state either. The ACT test is a huge determiner when it comes to scholarship qualifications, this test score is also a qualifier for most universities and private colleges so be sure your student studies and takes all pre-ACT test prep classes that are available!

The sooner you begin the college prep process, the better equipped you will be setting your student up to really enjoy their college experience.