Get Your Kids Ready for College

Getting your child ready for college begins ideally in middle school.  If the middle school offers high school level language or high school level math, a student should challenge themselves.  This sets up to be able to take 5 years of foreign language (or 3 and then room for an elective) or 5 years of math:  alegbra1 geometry algebra 2 pre-calc and calculus or statistics.  Career decisions and majors do not and should not be decided at this time.  The student should be setting himself up to have that available in the high school years.

High school is a new school.  With that embrace opportunity to try new things:  a new club or sport starting freshman year.  Keep exploring and get involved with what you like.  Consider volunteer work that interests you.  www.handsonportland.org is a great site to find different types of volunteer work.  Organize a group of friends to volunteer say once a month and be the contact person.

9^th grade:  try something new.  Keep up your grades.  Challenge yourself.

10^th grade:  depending on the student, if they are open to it, looking at a few local colleges is a great way to start:  University of Portland, Portland State, Lewis and Clark, Reed College and maybe even PCC.  5 different campuses within the city limits!  The national college fair in November is a great way to get a feel of different schools.

Keep up the grades, challenge yourself, keep at those activities you find interesting.  Take some AP or IB classes if your school offers them.

11^th grade:  The fun begins!  PSAT in October, college fair in November, time to start thinking about where you might want to go.  This is a good time to plan to make some college visits maybe to Seattle or around the Northwest.  It is also a good time to assess where you might see yourself going, how far away, what seems important in a campus?  ACT and SAT tests should be scheduled for the spring, take both as they are different tests.  AP/IB tests will be administered in May and typically finals in June.  As colleges come to visit your high school, take advantage!  This is an easy way to learn more about a school without travel!  Additionally, keep up the grades and stay involved.  Also, think about and possibly ask teachers for recommendations that will go with the application before school gets out.

Summer in between junior and senior year:  Start narrowing in on the list of schools you will apply to.  Summer is a good time to be working on essays.  The Common Application goes live Aug 1, but can be previewed earlier to get an idea of what information will be needed.  Summer jobs and activities are important, stay busy!

12^th grade:  Finalize the list of schools to apply to.  Retake tests if necessary.  Make a chart of deadlines for schools’ applications.  Decide if you will apply early or in the regular round.  Make sure you have teacher and counselor recommendations requested and they have been submitted.  Request transcripts to be sent.  Search for scholarships.  Keep up your grades.  After January 1, parents can work on the FAFSA.  As acceptances come in, keep track of housing requirements and once you have decided on a school, deposit for housing and deposit for tuition by May 1.