College Planning for Today’s High School Senior

Did you just begin your final year of high school? Is college on the horizon? Preparedness is key for successful college planning.

Staying on top of deadlines and remembering all the requirements can be a task in itself. As you prepare to move on to the next phase of your life, college planning is a critical stage. Incorporating a timeline or a checklist to your organizational tools, such as this High School Senior Timeline and Checklist, can help you stay a step ahead of college deadlines.

Don’t forget to include your support system through this whole process; they are just as excited for you to go to college (if not more!) Here is their very own checklist to help them help you along the way: Help Your Child Prepare for College.

Amid other responsibilities, there are 15 Crucial Tasks for High School Seniors this Fall & Winter. Don’t wait to the last minute to start your college career. Meeting with your school’s guidance counselor can be a great way to jump-start your college planning. Your counselor can help you plan classes accordingly and give you more information on the colleges you have in mind.

Schedule your campus visits in advance. This will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the area and get more in-depth information about the campus. This way, if there is something you don’t like, you have plenty of time to either find a solution or change your mind.

Keep everything college-related in one place. Make a file for all your paperwork geared towards college planning and be sure to keep it up to date. This should make it easier and quicker to refer back to certain information when needed.

What about the money? College can be very expensive, but there are ways to make it affordable! Meet with a college planning expert like Westface College Planning to make sure you’re taking advantage of available scholarships and financing. Our next College Funding Workshop is a great place to start!

College planning can be a very stressful process for everyone involved. Students and parents must keep their goal clearly in mind and stay on top of all incoming information. If parents and students can do this and stay prepared, the transition from high school senior to college student will be seamless.

Photo Credit: Koramchad