College Preparation and Planning Article Archive

• College Prep Guide: 15 Ways To Plan Financially for Your Child’s College EducationPaying for college shouldn’t mean that parents dip into their retirement funds—or that students graduate deeply in debt.
• College Prep Guide: 12th GradeHigh school senior year is college admissions crunch time.
• College Prep Guide: 11th GradeJunior year of high school is the time to start getting really serious about college.
• College Prep Guide: 10th GradeHelp your high school sophomore prepare for college by staying focused on the goal.
• College Prep Guide: 9th GradeThe start of high school is an important step in preparing for college, especially because academic grades start to count.
• College Prep Guide: Middle SchoolWhile the middle school years are still too early to be picking a specific school to attend, it’s the perfect time to start talking about what it takes to reach that goal.
• The Road to College: A Guide to Helping Your Child Find the Right SchoolSchoolFamily.com’s College Prep Guide will help your family navigate the years leading up to college applications and enrollment decisions with less stress.
• College Courses May Motivate Some Bright, Bored Teenagers“Bright but bored.” Teens who fit this description often start to “turn off” from school.
• Help Your Child Prepare for The College Entrance ExamsCollege entrance exam scores are looked at by many colleges when they consider admitting students.
• Campus Visits Are a Must; Here’s What You Should DoExperts say students shouldn’t apply to a college until after they visit it.
• Foreign Languages Offer Students Many BenefitsMost students see foreign language courses as something they must take to earn a diploma.
• Employers Look For These Non-Technical SkillsWe live in a “high-tech” world.
• Help Teens Get a Realistic View of What Things CostTeenagers just seem to know how to spend money—usually yours! Getting kids to understand the value of a dollar is a real challenge.
• Deciding to Go to College: Parents Make the DifferenceParents, even more than grades, make the difference in determining whether or not a teen will attend college.
• Help Your Teenager Find Financial Aid for CollegeThe cost of higher education is increasing each year.
• Is Community College the Best Next Step for Your Child?The local community college might be the best next step for your teen upon graduating high school.
• It’s Not Too Soon to Consider Education Beyond High SchoolIs your child is planning to continue her education after high school?
• It’s Time to Help Your Teen Start Thinking About a CareerThroughout their school years, kids make decisions that affect whether they will be eligible to enter college or a career of their choice.
• Know These Myths, Realities About Student Drug UseStudies show that teen alcohol and drug use is once again on the rise.
• Make Sure Your High School Graduate Has a Good ResumeWhat teens put down on paper about themselves will affect whether they get that job they want when school’s out.
• Now’s the Time to Consider Education After High SchoolCollege is the first choice for many after high school.
• Parents Can Help Make Teens More Aware of TimeThe seventh and eighth grade years are the ideal time for kids to learn basic “personal improvement skills.
• Start Now to Prepare Your Child For College Admission TestsSome students start taking college admission tests in junior high and middle school.
• Don’t Let Your Teen Wait Until Graduation to Explore CareersIt’s more than a cliché—the high school years will pass very quickly.
• Encourage Your Teenager to Take College Campus ToursNothing prepares your teen for college like a sneak preview.
• Encourage Your Teen to Start Preparing for College EarlyIf your high school student is a senior who plans on college, she is probably working on her applications already.
• Check out scholarship offers with your teen’s counselorIt’s usually a great opportunity for a teen to receive a scholarship to help her continue her education.
• Help Teens Overcome Their Fear of College Entrance ExamsMany high schoolers will take the ACT or the SAT college entrance examinations this month.
• Help Your Teen Get the Most Out of His Visits to CollegesFor most students, visiting a college plays a big part in deciding where they’ll go to school.
• Are You Helping Your Teen Prepare for Those Important College Entrance Tests?Here’s a quiz to see if you’re doing all you can to help your teen prepare for these important tests.
• Help Your Teen Make the Most of Campus Visits, ToursThe best way for your teen to decide on the right college is to see it for him- self.
• October is a Very Important Month for College PreparationIf there’s any chance your teen will go to college, have her take some action toward that goal this month.
• Should Your Child Consider Joining the Armed Services?It’s likely that at some point your high school student will have contact with the Armed Forces.
• Should Your Teen Choose to Attend a Community College?This fall, more than six million students were enrolled in one of the nation’s 1,400 two-year colleges.
• You Can Help Your Teen Get Ready to Apply to CollegeThere are things you can do at every stage of high school to help your teen get to college.
• Help College Applicants Focus on Acceptance, not RejectionThe envelope you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. But instead of reading “Welcome to our newest freshman class,” the letter starts with “We’re sorry.”
• Help Your Teen Make Her Own Choice About CollegesChoosing a college is the most important decision your teen has to make.
• A Mentor Can Help Prepare, Motivate Your Teen for CollegeYou want your teen to go to college, but you never had the chance to go your- self.
• Help Your Teen Deal With Rejections for Post-HS EducationWe all would love to have our teens get in everywhere they apply for education af- ter high school.
• Ask Teens Questions Before They Choose Next Year’s ClassesIn many schools, it’s time to sign up for next year’s classes.
• Help Your Teen Choose the Best Courses for FallNext fall may seem very far away to your teen.
• Ease your teen’s transition from high school to collegeIn April, many high school seniors receive letters of acceptance to colleges and universities.
• A Simple Checklist Helps Teens Select Colleges Right for ThemChoosing a college can be overwhelming.
• Help Your Teen Set Long- & Short-Term Goals for the FutureHigh school students are far too young to have their life paths set in stone.
• It’s Time to Decide Which Courses to Take Next YearYour son or daughter will soon be making decisions about what to take next year.
• Make a Plan While Waiting to Hear From CollegesYour college-bound teen may be more interested in the mail than anything else at this time of year.
• Pick a College Based on Teen Needs, Family FinanceThe letters your teen has been waiting for have finally arrived.
• Student Internships Help Teens Explore Career OpportunitiesIt can be scary for teens to think about life after high school.
• Teens Need to Be Self-Reliant Before Heading Off to CollegeParents of preschoolers and parents of high school seniors often have at least one thing in common.
• Teens Should Match Wants, Needs With College ChoicesAccording to the Princeton Review, getting into college can be like getting married.
• You Can Help Your Teenager Write a Great College EssayYour senior has narrowed down his college choices.
• Your Teen Can Explore Careers Just By Asking a Few QuestionsMost teens don’t have any idea of what career they might want to follow.
• Getting Good Grades, Getting Into College Top Teen WorriesIt isn’t easy to be a teen today. In a recent survey, two out of three high school students said their life is tough.
• Your Teen’s Résumé Can Be Enriched With Summer ClassesMany teens have interests that go beyond what they can take in high school.