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Save time and money by preparing for college while still in high school by following these tips on planning for college.
Foreign Language - In order to get into most colleges you need to take at least 2 years of foreign language in high school. What they often don't tell you is that if you take 3 years of foreign language in high school, then you don't need to take any foreign languages in college. If you aren't planning to major in a foreign language, take 3 years of foreign language in high school and save yourself credits, time and loads of money.
AP Classes - Take as many AP classes that you can while in high school. They count toward college credit, meaning you don't have to take that same class in college. It will save you time and money, allowing you to take classes that matter toward your degree and enable you to graduate faster. I wish I had been aware of the benefit of AP classes while I was in high school.
Community College Classes - I recommend taking community college classes for your prerequisite courses such as basic math, English and science classes. You can take them online on your own time either during the school year or over the summer. Community college classes are a fraction of the cost of 4 year university and college classes, and are generally easier. Just make sure that the classes transfer to your college before enrolling by checking with your academic councilor.
Financial Aid - Even before you know what college you are going to invest in pursuing financial aid. Fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit it in early January, as federal aid is on a first come, first serve basis. Apply to as many local scholarships and grants as you can- there is a surprising amount of money out there for students willing to actively pursue it. Apply for scholarships and grants available through your school throughout the year as well. And at all costs avoid private loans, as they have high interest rates and are harder to defer than federal loans.
School selection - Apply to many schools, as you want your options to be open. Submit applications to both private and public schools and wait to see where you get accepted and the financial aid packages that are offered to you. Go where ever you get the most financial aid and end up paying the least amount of money on tuition and living costs. You will thank yourself later when in 10, 20, even 30 years or more from now you are debt free and your friends are still tied down to their school loans.
SAT - Take advantage of SAT preparation courses and take the test multiple times in order to get a good score. If your high school grades are a little low, you can make up for a bad GPA with a high SAT score.
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