Plan Today for College Success Tomorrow
- Larry Faulkner
- Jan 11
- 3 min read
The new year is more than a date on the calendar, it’s a critical moment to prepare for what comes next. For students planning for college after high school, and for parents who want to help them succeed, these practical tips help focus energy, ease stress, and build a strong foundation for success.
Begin studying, preparing, and then scheduling diagnostic tests for their SAT (PSAT) and ACT (PreACT) once they graduate to the 10th grade.
Begin taking courses online or in person at the local community college once you reach 10th grade (or even earlier in some states). These classes will count on college grade point averages so students should do their best.
Academically gifted high school students who have taken advanced placement classes
(AP) can gain college credit by taking AP exams given by their prospective college.
Additionally, students can also self-study for these exams. High AP test scores can earn
college credits and students can skip certain classes. AP exams are usually offered in
May, so high school students need to plan ahead.
Participate in extracurricular activities to broaden perspectives and increase the attractiveness of future college application(s).
Consider spending the summer attending a high school academic summer program at a
local university. Successful completion of a college summer program is looked upon
very favorably by college admissions offices.
High school juniors can begin taking SAT/ACT tests, which leaves them plenty of time
retake the tests if needed to improve their scores. It is not unusual to take the exam 2 or
3 times to improve scores.
The summer before junior year in high school, students can start working on their
college applications. Early preparation will give students plenty of time to edit
applications to improve the chance of admission to the universities of their choice.
Seniors should immediately start working on their college admission essays. It will likely take several revisions to make the essay the best it can be. The student can also get someone to review it for typos, grammar and style.
Ask for recommendation letters from teachers now. Asking at the last minute may not fare well.
Submit all the required materials for college admission if you haven't already done so. Follow-up with the college to assure all the paperwork has arrived. Be sure to save a copy of everything that was submitted.
High school freshmen who want to go to college can start watching math and science
videos on YouTube to increase their academic skills and abilities.
Students who have an interest in learning about another country should consider a foreign exchange program to enhance their future college applications. Below is a link to one of many exchange programs:
Future college students who take out school loans can easily determine what their
payment and total repayment amounts will be. Go to a school loan calculator and enter
the loan balance and interest rate. Here are a couple examples of school loan
calculators available online:
Students can enhance their opportunities by attending summer business programs. High school students can google local summer business programs for their areas. Some notable national summer high school business programs are listed below:
In recent years, entrepreneurship has become an increasingly popular area of study for
high school students. 60% of high school students now say they want to start and run
their own businesses. High school students who run their own businesses gain a big
college application enhancer.
Students should begin saving half the money they get from presents and odd jobs at an early age. All the money kids receive for birthdays, chores, and various gifts could be equally split between spending and saving pots.
Scholarships are available for high school students who own and run their own
businesses. Search universities to see what business scholarships are available and
don’t forget to search for national scholarships.
Determine which high school classes will be required for future college admission. Students can make sure they include those classes in their class schedules.
The best time to start filling out college scholarship applications is the summer before
the senior year of high school. Some scholarships require at least a year of waiting
before they are awarded. Starting looking for scholarships now so you can be ready to complete the applications before the due date.
Explore non-college educational opportunities to obtain a skill more cost-effectively.
~Larry & Lisa Faulkner
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