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Prepare for College

 
As you get closer to graduating from high school, there are many important decisions to make about your future. Once you decide which college or career school to attend, one of the most important decisions is how you’ll pay for it. Knowing your personal needs will make choosing the right school easier. After all, the college you choose may determine the jobs available to you, and where you’ll live and work in the future.
 

Questions to Ask as You Consider Specific Colleges

  • Does the college offer the courses and type of program you want?
  • Do you meet the admissions requirements?
  • Is the college accredited?
  • Does the college offer a quality education?
  • Have many of the college’s graduates had successful careers?
  • Is state or federal student aid available at the college?
  • Does the college offer the services you need and activities you are interested in?
  • What measures are taken to ensure the safety of the students?
  • What is the college’s reputation?
  • Does the college have good job placement results?

Getting the Answers: Your Fact-Finding Mission

 
Getting the information you need to make an informed decision about a college may seem easy, but it’s not. While there are numerous websites, catalogs, and colleges offering what seems like a limitless stream of advice, your job is to separate the good information from the bad. Once you decide what you want and set your priorities, it’s time to research each college under consideration.
 

Course Catalogs

Often students compare colleges on the basis of course catalogs, yet this can be an unreliable predictor of course quality. Some colleges have student organizations that publish rankings of professors and classes based on the opinions of students from previous semesters.
 

College Fairs

Many admission officers travel around the country and spend quite a bit of time talking with students. Colleges use fairs to promote themselves and attract new applicants, so they’re great places to pick up informational booklets and ask questions. For information and dates about college fairs or upcoming visits from college admission counselors, contact your high school counselor or scholarship coordinator.
 

College Visits

The best way to determine if a school’s right for you is to visit the campus. Try to visit each college you are interested in attending. If this isn’t possible, visit your favorites among the schools to which you’ve been accepted before making your final decision. You can take a firsthand look at life on campus and spend the night in a dorm.
While you’re visiting, be sure to pick up the college newspaper to see athletic events, information about student organizations and activities offered. The more you do and ask on your visit, the more accurate an impression you’ll get. Contact the school’s undergraduate admissions office for more information.
 

Books and College Guides

Picking a college is one of the biggest decisions of your life, so don’t trust just one information source. Visit your local bookstore or library and access the numerous college guides and books offered.
 

The Internet

There are literally thousands of resources available on the Internet to help you find the college that’s the best match for you. Many websites have college search engines that compile a list of colleges based on your interests.
 

Campus Reports

Ask each college you contact for a copy of their campus security report. This report provides information on campus and local crime statistics and security policies.
 

Coming Up With the Cash

College is an investment in your future, but it doesn’t come cheaply. Whether you choose a community, private or public college, one of most ominous parts of the process is finding the financial resources. Many students need help paying for tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.
 
There are many options that will allow you and your family to finance your education. It is important that you understand both the costs associated with going to college as well as the financial aid options. Creating a strategy takes effort and time, so you’ll need some and it’s important to start early.
 
Here are some steps to get you started:
 
  • Talk to your family about financing your education.
  • Learn what college fees pay for by breaking down college expenses. There are many books available at your local bookstores that provide recent trends regarding college tuition and financial aid.
  • Understand the financial aid process.
  • Don’t limit your options by ruling out high-cost colleges. The financial aid system works proportionally, making up the difference between what you can afford and required expenses.
  • Learn how much you and your family will be expected to pay toward your education and create a financial plan accordingly.
  • Research loans and scholarships by talking to your guidance counselor or to the admissions officer at the colleges in which you are interested.
  • Apply early and accurately. While there are various options, financial aid is often limited, so the earlier you apply the better.
 
For more information on securing the money needed to attend college, visit the Financial Aid portion of our website.