If you don’t want to be stuck at your part-time, you are going to have to continue on to post-secondary education. In today’s world, college is a necessity even if your career path is non-academic. While it is possible to make a solid living without a degree, our economy is moving towards jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree.
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Prominent public figures, including the President of the United States, have recognized the growing demand for college degrees and have made it national effort to make college accessible. However, getting into college still requires hard work, so take charge and actively prepare for college. Take a look at our resources to help jumpstart your college planning.
Deciding to Go
The first step to getting through higher education is deciding to go to college. Address the reasons for and against a college education. Focus on why you should go to college the many ways a degree will help you reach your long-term goals. Remember that college is a once in a lifetime experience that will benefit you in many along with getting a degree.
Starting College Planning
After you’ve considered career paths, put yourself into a position to successfully get through high school. Keep up on schoolwork and get involved in extracurricular activities. Being well-rounded will make you a better applicant for college and college scholarships. For tips on how to make the most of your high school experience, check out our high school action plans .
Meet with your school counselor to formulate an action plan. Review application requirements, test preparation, and what classes you still need to take to me the graduation requirement. In the meantime, start looking at colleges. After putting together your list of colleges, start narrowing down your options and filling out applications. Once accepted to college, know what to expect in college to properly prepare for your college career.
FAFSA is an acronym. It stands for "Free Application for Federal Student Aid". Please take note that the first word in the acronym is "Free". You do not need to pay to fill out the FAFSA but there are certainly websites out there that will charge you for their assistance. If you are asked for a credit card at any point in the process, you are at one of these sites. If you do not want to pay to complete the FAFSA, be sure to apply at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The FAFSA must be completed by you and your family each year if you wish to be considered for need-based grants from the college or university you are or will be attending as well as subsidized student loans. [...]
A study abroad program can be the beginning of the most exciting chapter of your college experience. Often, the travel, housing, credits and even food are included in the price of the program you choose. However, this is no reason not to look for more financial opportunities! [...]
As you get ready for this next big step in your life, this last year at home can feel like the longest and the shortest you ever had! While you prepare to select a college and research scholarships and financial aid, don’t forget to spend some quality time with your friends and family. While movies, even when based on a true story, are always a little bit fantastic, they are also works of art that share experiences among their viewers. [...]
