Table of Contents
(Click on Chapter Headings for Chapter Highlights)
1:
On Your Mark--The Survival Skills--Having What It
Takes
2:
Get Set--The College Game Starts in 8th Grade
3: Go!--9th
Grade--The Clock Starts
4: 10th Grade --
The Clock is Ticking
5:
If Only Money Did Grow On Trees--Paying for
College
6: 11th Grade -- The
Halfway Mark
7: 12th Grade --
The Final Countdown
8:
Planning Ahead When You Have Special Concerns
9:
Those Last Few Minutes
Appendix: College Call Checklist
Reference
Glossary
Index
Tear Out Sheets
1:
On Your Mark--The Survival Skills--Having What
It Takes
Highlights
* Time management skills will help you not
only do better in school but will allow you
to have a social life as well.
* Risk taking and learning go hand in hand.
Think about taking a harder course in high
school or try going out for a team.
* Reading is the connection of all learning.
Not only will it build your vocabulary,
you'll be better prepared for the all
important PSATs, SATs and the host of
other college admission exams.
* Learn how to express yourself. Writers and
speakers are not born. Practice, practice,
practice.
2:
Get Set--The College Game Starts in 8th Grade
Highlights
* Work out your 9th grade schedule now,
keeping in mind what classes will be
accepted by colleges. Also, make a
rough course plan for the rest of your high
school career, based on your 9th grade
choices.
* Parents, begin the Financial Aid process
now. Examine your present financial
situation and set up an appointment to
speak with a financial planner or tax
professional.
* Goooooaaal! No, this isn't a European soccer
game, it's your life. Start asking yourself
now what your strengths and weaknesses
are and what you enjoy learning. These
answers will help you map out your high
school career and make decision-making a
lot easier.
* Remember this phrase, "Solid Top 5". They
are the five core courses that nearly every
college will be looking for in your
transcript. No matter how many sports,
clubs or elective courses you have under
your belt, without math, science, English,
history, and a foreign language, college
admissions people won't waste their time
looking any further. These five core courses
will almost guarantee you acceptance into
that dream college of yours.
* One thing the college admissions people
don't care about is class rank. Don't waste
your time worrying about it. The key
here is to do your best, take that AP course,
and deal with a C+. It will be looked upon
much more favorably than Study Hall 101
where you got an A.
* For students considering private or
parochial high school, you need to map out
a timeline. There is a process you have
to follow, including school tours,
recommendations, and even financial aid,
much the same as the process for college.
Start now and remember, this is excellent
practice for junior year when you do it all
over again for college.
3: Go!--9th
Grade--The Clock Starts
Highlights
* Get yourself a resume. This will help you
when you are applying for summer
programs, jobs, even when you are
filling out college applications. It will be
your own checklist of your student career,
which will help you figure out what
you may need to cut back on and add more
of.
* Be a joiner. In case it hasn't been emphasized
enough yet, colleges want well-rounded
individuals. They want to see that you can
juggle a few things and do them well. But
beware of getting in over your head, go for
the three or four clubs, sports, volunteer
groups, that truly interest you.
* If Uncle Sam calls, you'd better answer. If
you are thinking of pursuing a military
career and education, start the process
now. It is very detailed and time-consuming
path and must start in 9th grade.
4: 10th Grade --
The Clock is Ticking
Highlights
* It's time to begin the long, sometimes painful
process of choosing a college. But this can be
easy. All you need to do for now is to
familiarize yourself with what is out there.
* Get on the Web. Experiment with search
engines and figure out where to go for
important information.
* Take the PSAT for practice. The score
doesn't matter and will make the next time
around - when it counts - a lot easier.
* Familiarize yourself now with the different
tests out there for college. If you are sure
you know what school you'll be applying to,
find out now exactly which exams they
require. If you aren't sure yet (which is fine,
you have plenty of time left), consider
taking both the SAT and the ACT.
* Be a risk-taker. Colleges love them. If you
think you can handle the added work,
study, and possible stress, take a college
level class.
5:
If Only Money Did Grow On Trees--Paying for
College
Highlights
* Tuition is not the only college expense.
There are other expenses to consider, such
as room and board, books, travel, and
personal needs. Keep these in mind when
you figure out your financial situation.
* Make sure you get a rough idea of your EFC.
Once you have it figured out, the process of
financial planning for your next four will be
easier.
* Every school wants a FAFSA and some
schools want The Profile. You must fill these
out and get them to the appropriate school
on time, as soon as after January 1st of your
senior year as possible. This is the one thing
you need to do if you want to be considered
for financial aid.
* There are many ways to lower the cost of
going to college. Look into 2 year colleges,
tuition freeze programs, and AmeriCorps,
for example.
* The Web has an invaluable amount of
information on scholarships waiting for you.
* There are many forms to fill out and
deadlines to meet, just for financial aid.
Make good use of the financial timeline so
you don't miss or forget any part of this very
important process.
6: 11th Grade -- The
Halfway Mark
Highlights
* The onslaught of tests begin this year, and
they aren't for practice anymore either! If
you don't feel confident in your scores, take
a prep class to help. Remember, though, you
can take them again this year and even next
year, but you must start now!
* There are all kinds of colleges out there. It's
up to you to sift through the mounds of
paper piling up in your room and discover
your dream college. This research has to
start now so, in a year's time, when you
start filling out applications, you'll be one
step ahead of the game!
* Use your College Call Checklists to help
organize all the mounds of school paper
into logical system so can make good
decisions.
* Like you don't have enough lists right now?
Well, this is one vital. With it, you will oh,
so easily narrow down the list of schools
that interest you. And you'll clean your
room at the same time!
* While we are on the topic of cutting that list
of schools, why don't you visit some schools
that make that cut? This will give you the
real live experience of that particular
school.
* "Clean up that room!" Now, do you really
want to listen to that for the next two years?
The point here is to get organized and stay
organized. You think your room is messy
now? Wait until all those colleges are
finished sending you stuff. Stay on the ball
form the beginning so you avoid the
nagging.
7: 12th Grade --
The Final Countdown
Highlights
* Practice before you go on an interview. This
is the only chance you will get to show
PleaseAcceptMe U. that you're not just a
name on a piece of paper.
* Make sure your application is perfect before
you send it out. Don't forget to include
anything, whether it's your processing fee
or a teacher recommendation.
* Keep things organized and throw out what
you no longer need. Don't miss any
deadlines--use the Application &
Scholarship Checklist to stay on track.
* You need to keep checking on rolling
admissions, scholarship updates, and thank
you notes.
8:
Planning Ahead When You Have Special Concerns
Highlights
* Testing Accommodations
* Physical Disabilities and Medical Support
* Blind or Visually Impaired
* Deaf or Hearing Impaired
* Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(AD/HD) and/or Learning Disabled (LD)
* Gifted and Talented
9:
Those Last Few Minutes
Highlights
* Computers and the Internet are the wave of
the future. A college's access to the Internet
and the quality of its computer labs are
major factors that determine how good
a college is. Look into this very closely.
* You'll also have to start managing your own
money. You can do with it what you want
but whose is going to replace it if it runs
out? You will have to keep a watchful eye
not only on spending money, but book
money, scholarship information, and
student loans. Ask your parents to show
you simple budgeting so you're not broke
by October.
* Make sure to use the checklist provided of
items to bring with you to college. This isn't
like going on vacation or camp. You are
moving out on your own and won't have
Mom or Dad to help o if you forget to bring
something.
* Parents, this is a new journey for you as
well. You will be excited and terrified for
your child as well as for yourself. Keep in
mind that once the initial shock is over,
it will be a wonderful time for all of you.
Appendix: College Call Checklist
Reference
Glossary
Index
Tear Out Sheets
Copyright © 2000 [The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.]. All rights
reserved.
Copyright © 2005 [Wildwood Country Press]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
August 09, 2005
.