You can’t begin planning for college early enough - and that’s not just families saving up for skyrocketing tuition and fees. Below are seven straight-from-the-hip tips to get yourself on track to a four-year college, from middle school through grad night.

1. Seventh grade - Know your times tables by heart (through the 12 times tables). Yes, you learned these a gazillion years ago in third grade!  Math skills are critical for college prep, so if you’ve forgotten your times tables, still use your fingers to add, or really can’t get through basic problems without a calculator, now is the time to grill and drill.  There are excellent - and fun! - websites that let you practice math, and, of course, nothing beats flashcards and a friend to nail those times tables.
2. Eighth grade - be proficient in Algebra. One of the greatest predictors of college success is your 8th grade math proficiency.  The ideal is to be proficient - as in, a C (70%) or higher - in Algebra at the end of this year.  If you are not at that level, look into tutoring or summer classes to get you there.
3. Ninth grade - draft a four-year class plan. Here’s the rule: the classes and grades you need to graduate from high school are not always the same as those you need to get into every college.  So that thing you do right now, where you walk into the counseling office and take whatever classes you’re handed?  Yeah, STOP THAT.  Go online to the website of a state school, a private college in-state and a private college out-of-state.  Check each Admissions section for their recommended or required courses, then choose classes that will do double-duty: get you out of high school AND get you into college.  Follow these Seven Steps for Formulating an Academic Plan to get started.
4. Tenth grade - establish or maintain a long-term commitment. Colleges aren’t just looking at grades and test scores; they want to see you commit to something and show growth towards excellence.  If you’ve played a sport for years, been in the marching band, counseled at camp each summer or more, you are well on your way!  If you’ve never done anything for more than a few weeks, this is the year to find a passion and pursue it for the next couple of years.  It’s not just for admissions; it’s crucial for personal growth.
5. Eleventh grade - prep for the tests. Don’t even think about taking a standardized test without taking a prep course first.  If your school doesn’t offer them for free, work with the counseling office to organize one for your school, or check The CLIC for community programs that offer them nearby.  Be sure to call local libraries, as well!  You’ve got state exams to prep and pass for - which you’ll practice for in class.  Next is the SAT or ACT - they’re very different tests, so consider taking both since most colleges that require standardized tests will accept either.  One tip: you have to take the PSAT in your junior year to be eligible for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.  Here’s one more test you may not know about: the college placement exams you will take once you are admitted.  Those determine if you are allowed to register for classes - so be sure to check for practice tests online or at the school to get a head start on studying.
6. Senior year (part 1) - pace your apps. It’s a full-time job to effectively apply for college.  Make sure that each month has a focus, for example: early admissions, private schools, public schools, then honors programs and colleges.  Between the applications, recommendations and the essays, you’ll be deep into December before you’re done.
7. Senior year (part 2) - focus on financial aid. While you’re submitting apps, you also should  check the colleges’ sites for their financial aid policies and offerings.  By December, you will want to wrap apps and fully surge into the aid search.  Let your family know that the FAFSA has to be done by the end of January - then find a FAFSA training session for them yourselves.  Yes, the FAFSA deadline on most campuses is March, but if you wait that long to get the form to the federal government so they can calculate your expected family contribution, most of the available money at colleges will be gone.  Schedule a finance night with your family each week by January, at minimum, where you go after private scholarships and your parent(s) and guardian(s) tackle the federal forms (and the CSS profile if your campuses require it).

One key point: these are grade-level minimums to get ready for college.  Ideally, your scholarship search will begin by sophomore year to give you prep time to be eligible for the most possible aid.  And the best possible practice to stay on track with your courses is to check your transcript every semester against the admissions requirements for at least your three sample schools.  Still, it doesn’t matter what grade you are in when you first review these steps.  Whenever you begin, work backwards to get a full picture of how you can improve your eligibility for admissions - you may even surprise yourself with how ready you are for college.

As always, share your own recommendations and experiences below!

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DMA is the CEO of The CLIC, the revolutionary new site where students can powerfully plan for college and institutions can effortlessly recruit students from a single home page in our FREE interactive network. CLIC students can connect to college matches, scholarship searches, college access programs and the nation’s first master calendar of all college-related deadlines and events, with streaming video tips and much more, at www.theclic.net.

Tags: college prep, college tips, college-bound, get ready for college, getting ready for college, preparing for college

September 4th, 2011 | CLIC Communities, CLIC Families, CLIC Students |

Last Modified: Sunday, September 4th, 2011 @ 16:57

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