Each year, I am surprised by the number of underclassmen that put off starting their college search and financial aid planning because they’re not seniors yet. With the abundance of resources available to students (on the Internet and in their schools), the message should have been loud and clear by now – the earlier students start the process, the more prepared they will be. Even more troubling, many students still believe the myth that scholarships are only available to high school seniors, which means they are letting free money for college slip through their fingers. But students aren’t the only ones wasting valuable time in the college planning (and funding) process; parents also seem unaware of what steps they can be taking right now to help their child find the right college and create a plan to help pay for it, too. Here are a few tasks parents and students should be working on right now, if students plan to attend college within the next four years.
1. College Search
It’s never too early to start looking at potential colleges. Students should take every opportunity to attend high school college fairs, area National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) events or even take a tour of some of the area colleges to get a feel for the campus culture. Students can also narrow down their options by using one of the many online college search tools, sorting colleges based on desired location, cost of attendance, size or even for specific degree programs. Students may also want to consider taking a college road trip over the upcoming spring semester to visit campuses that may be within their state or within driving distance. The earlier students begin the process of narrowing down their college choices, the less stress they will feel at the beginning of their senior year.
2. Discuss Family Contribution
I highly recommend that parents sit down with their children during their sophomore or junior year and have a frank discussion about finances. Students are often clueless about what their parents earn or what their parents can afford to contribute toward a college education. Parents should be honest with their children about how much has been saved, whether they would be willing to take out a loan to assist with expenses, and how much they expect their children to contribute. Students (and parents) can also get an estimate of their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by using the FAFSA4caster tool. It may be a real eye-opener for many students, but it will also help them to set realistic financial goals.
3. Create a High School Résumé
Students should create a high school résumé as early as freshman year. It’s much more difficult for students to try and recall all of their activities over four years than it is to continually update a current record. Students should list all courses (and grades), extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, awards, work experience, and other pertinent information that may be required for scholarships and college applications. Any letters of recommendation from teachers, employers or other important contacts should also be included with the résumé.
4. Prepare for Tests
Students can take the Preliminary Standard Aptitude Test (PSAT) as early as freshman year. Although some schools may charge a fee for the test, it is worth it. Students can use the PSAT to gauge how well they will score on the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT) and focus their efforts on the sections that need the most work. During junior year, the score from the PSAT will actually count and will be sent to potential colleges. Depending on their scores, students may also qualify for certain scholarships, as well. There are many free, online resources that can help students study and prepare for the PSAT, SAT and ACT exams.
5. Apply for Scholarships!
One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting to apply for scholarships in the spring semester of their senior year. As early as their freshman year, students should be searching for and applying to as many scholarships as possible. Scholarships are offered for a variety of reasons, such as merit (grades), need (income), athletics, music, volunteer work, and much more! Students should check with their guidance counselor, parent’s employers, church, community organizations and clubs to see what is available locally. Students should also register for two or three free, online scholarship search services, such as ScholarshipExperts.com. A good rule of thumb for students is to select five to ten scholarships per month to complete, paying close attention to the scholarship deadlines, criteria and required documentation. It may take a few applications before students see any results, but those who put in the effort could be rewarded with thousands in free money for college.
It really is never too early to start the college planning process. As they say, the early bird gets the worm! Those who wait until their senior year may already be too late for certain scholarship opportunities and may struggle to achieve the necessary test scores needed to qualify for other institutional and state financial aid. Students who follow the above tips, and plan early, will not only have a head start over their peers, but may also find that they have time to actually enjoy their senior year.