College Planning FAQ
The college search looks a lot different than it did when you were searching for the perfect school. As a parent, you undoubtedly have college planning questions. Fortunately, we have the answers.
Early College Planning
Did you know that college planning can start as early as middle school? Find out when and how you should be talking to your child about college as well as how you can both begin the college search easily.
College Financial Planning
While a great deal of planning goes into the college search, the biggest conversations should center around who is paying for college. The earlier you begin financial planning talks, the better you will be equipped to find the perfect college within your budget.
-
College payment options?
-
Is college tuition tax deductible?
-
How much does college really cost?
-
What are other ways a student can use to pay for college?
Your student can use their future career path to help them find ways to pay for college too. The below opportunities are often overlooked methods to pay for a college education.
-
Public Service Jobs:
Working in public service after college graduation.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- New Changes Coming to Public Sevice Loan Forgiveness
- Your Guide to the TEACH Grant
-
Military:
Enlisiting or going to school at a military academy.
- How the ASVAB Can Help You Pay for College
- Enlisting in the Military to Pay for College
- Military Family, GI Bill Benefits
- Student Loan Forgiveness for Military Service Members and Veterans
-
Student Jobs:
Working part-time as a college student to pay for classes.
- Part-Time Jobs with Tuition Benefits
- Federal Work-Study Programs
-
Do students apply for financial aid every year?
Students should apply for financial aid every year. To apply for financial aid, your student will need to submit the FAFSA. They must renew their FAFSA each year to qualify for aid for the next school year. The FAFSA opens October 1.
-
When should we apply for scholarships?
Students should begin applying for scholarships in high school and continue applying for scholarships throughout college.
-
Is there a maximum number of scholarships a student can have?
There have been cases where college students have graduated with extra money because they won so many scholarships. However, this scenario is rare.
-
Where can we search for scholarships?
-
Do scholarships affect financial aid?
Students are required to report all scholarships to the college they plan to attend. The school will then reevaluate the student's financial aid package.
-
How do we apply for financial aid?
A student applies for financial aid by submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
-
When do I fill out the FAFSA?
The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st each year. It's ideal to submit your FAFSA as soon as you can to request financial aid for the upcoming school year. High school seniors should submit their FAFSA beginning October 1 of their senior year to qualify for financial aid for college in the fall.
Preparing Academically
Preparation for the college admissions process begins years in advance. Keep your child on track for a college education by helping them navigate their high school courses and standardized tests.
-
How important are high school grades for applying to college?
Grades are important. Good grades can help you earn a full-ride scholarship and prevent you from losing financial aid while in college.
-
Are AP courses necessarry for college?
Advance Placement courses are not necessary for college. However, they can help your student by lowering the cost of college, and by prepping them for the academic rigor of college.
-
What is the difference between the SAT and ACT?
-
Should my child take the SAT or ACT?
Some colleges are test optional or test blind. It's important to learn the standardized testing policies of each college your student is interested in. If a college is test blind and your child doesn't test well, it may be best not to take the SAT or ACT. If the college they're interested in is test optional and he/she tests well, consider taking both tests. High-scoring students could earn institutional scholarships based upon their ACT or SAT test scores.
-
How should my child prepare for the SAT?
Your student can prepare by taking the practice or preliminary SAT (PSAT) their sophomore and junior year of high school. He/she can take it once per year.
Extracurricular Activities
Athletic teams, after-school organizations, and volunteer opportunities aren't just ways for your child to stay busy after school. They will be paramount to future college decisions.
Finding the Right College
There are a variety of factors that go into determining which school is the right college for your child: location, cost, and post-graduate outcomes, just to name a few. Navigate these together.
-
Comparing financial aid packages
-
Are there benefits of going to a 2-year college or community college?
-
When should my child visit prospective colleges?
Applying to College
Applying to college can be stressful for students; that's why many families make it a team effort. Support your child by staying up-to-date on the components and timeline of the college application process.
-
How many colleges should my child apply to?
Experts recommend applying to seven colleges, maximum. Two safety schools, three target schools and two reach schools.
A safety school is a college with an 80% acceptance rate. Target schools have a decent acceptance rate. These colleges would be a perfect academic fit, for your child.
Reach schools are the colleges that have low acceptance rates. These would be academically challenging schools for your child.
-
When should my child start applying to colleges?
-
Should my child apply to college early?
-
What's the Common App?
Choosing a College Major and Career Path
Oftentimes, high school juniors and seniors struggle to make finite decisions about their college major and career path, and that's perfectly normal. Help them begin the major and career decision making process, which can take a few years to figure out.
-
What if my child doesn't know what college major to choose?
-
How should my child find out about majors and career paths?
College Acceptance
The college application is so much more than one form. There are a lot of components, and your child should be prepared for each one.
-
What is the most important part of a college application?
Collectively submitting all parts of a college application is the most important. Some students fail to submit all components of the college application. Treat each section as equally important.
-
How important is a student's GPA for college acceptance?
GPA requirements for college admission are established by each institution. Academics being a fundamental principle of a college education, a student should strive to earn the best GPA he/she can.
A student should demonstrate he/she can be involved in extracurricular activities while also earning good grades. Finding a GPA and extracurricular balance is highly regarded in the college admissions world.
-
Who should write my child's letters of recommendation?
High school teachers, counselors and administrators are commonly asked to write letters of recommendation for students. Your student can also ask community leaders to write letters of recommendation. It's important that your child have a positive experience with the person he/she asks to write their letter of recommendation.
