College Prep - Heading to the Big C?
If you’re in high school, sooner or later you’ll be thinking of going to college. This thought process entails a number of considerations and questions such as:
- Who am I and what do I want to do with my life?
- Considering the economy, should I even go to college right now?
- How will the college I choose affect my future career?
- Which type of college would be a good fit for me?
- Is an online education as good as an on-campus college experience?
- What do I need to do to prepare for taking the SAT and other tests?
- What do I need to do before I make a campus visit?
- What will I need to do to apply to the colleges of my choice?
- What requirements must I meet to get into the college of my choice?
- What if I don’t get into the first college on my list?
- How can I pay for college?
- Are there scholarships I can apply for?
Each of the above questions is important in making decisions about attending college and furthering your education. While it may seem overwhelming, remember you can break each important step into baby steps and talk it all over with your family and friends. Preparing for college is nearly an education in itself, so we’ve created College Prep, a series of articles that will help guide you through this process. You’ll find ideas, advice, tools and links that will not only provide food for thought, but actual steps you can take to get you to your goal.
In College Prep, you’ll find a section on self-assessment to guide you in the process of self-discovery, your thoughts about what you might like to do with your life and career choices to consider. You’ll find a section on choosing a college and what type of college would be a good fit for you. We’ve included a section on preparing for a college visit as well as a series of articles on application, admission and strategies for paying for college.
As you read through the articles, make lists of what you’ll need to do for each step of the preparation process. Take the time to discuss your thoughts and dreams with your parents and other people you respect. It is important to include your family in these discussions and decisions, as they know you the best and want what’s best for you. Your high school guidance counselor is trained in helping students make college and career choices. He or she can guide you in meeting college academic requirements, preparing for standardized tests and the SAT, the application process and getting admitted to the college of your choice. Chances are, your guidance counselor can also assist you in applying for scholarships. And don’t forget, Academic Info is here to assist you with the information you’ll need on all of these topics with useful tools and articles.