Students should consider the following while preparing for the future, and particularly for education beyond high school.

Know themselves.  Achievements, abilities, interests, and ambitions are important factors to be evaluated in setting goals.  Initiative, responsibility and personality will determine the degree of your student’s success.

World of work.  Encourage your student to explore the many career fields.  Help them evaluate this info as it relates to their self-evaluation.  Advise them to not select an occupational field or goal just because “Uncle Charlie” is successful or thinks it’s for them.

Help them plan for their vocation as soon as possible.  Encourage your students to have discussions with their families, teachers, and high school counselors.  Have them talk to individuals in the career areas that appeal to them.  Help them find out all they can about these occupations.  If possible, help them get some work experience in these fields.  Have them investigate the projected demand for the career field they may select.

Encourage them to explore college and/or vocational schools.  Your student should check out schools offering training in the field of their choice.  They should try to talk to people who have attended these schools.  The admissions or alumni office should be able to refer your student to area graduates in your student’s areas of interest.  Next, determine the cost of your courses and types of financial aid those schools offer.

Make sure your student is in the right high school program.  Certain courses are required for entrance to college.  School catalogs list what courses should be taken for college admission.  High school counselors can also help.

Make sure your student learns to study.  Teachers can help your student acquire good study habits.  College bound students must work hard to constantly improve study habits – they’ll be glad they did!  Many students who “breeze” through high school barely opening a book and achieving high grades find that they do not have the study skills to succeed in college.

Make sure your student makes and maintains good grades.  Good grades are important.  Most academic or merit scholarships require grades of “B” or better.  If your student is not getting good grades, encourage them to talk to their teachers about improving this area.  Perhaps a study group of other college bound students or a tutor will help your student improve their grades.

Help your student become a well-rounded individual.  Encourage your student to develop hobbies and participate in school, community, and church activities, to broadening their fields of interest through reading and contact with individuals, and to get and stay involved.  These activities can count when being considered for admission to colleges and universities.

Financial planning.  Parents and students should consider a combination of savings, scholarships, loans, and part-time student jobs when planning to pay for higher education.  It’s important to obtain information from recent publications because scholarship requirements and loan interest rates are subject to change.

Learn about college acceptance requirements.  Many degree-granting institutions require applicants to take admissions examinations (SAT or ACT).  Check with high school counselors about the availability and advisability of taking these tests.

Prepare financial aid and scholarship applications early.  Get references, transcripts, financial aid applications, and other materials well before deadlines.  Starting in your student’s junior year is advisable.  Timeliness & accuracy are key when it comes to applying for financial aid.