By Danez Marrable Lockhart
NFL Continuing Education Consultant
Choosing a college is a VERY important step and investment into your future. For many, this is the first truly major decision you make in your life. You owe it to yourself to spend some time planning, researching and selecting the college that is the best fit for YOU! Here are a few tips to assist you in planning for your future.
- Identify your goals and priorities. What is most important to you in choosing a college? Is it the academic programs offered (what majors are you interested in? How do the programs measure up amongst your schools of interest)? Is it the athletic department facilities and support? Are both equal? By identifying your goals, you have the opportunity to create your own checklist as you begin researching schools/programs of interest. You are encouraged to visit as many of the schools you are interested in to make sure your goals/priorities line up with the college’s mission and programs. As you visit, make sure to ask plenty of questions to make sure you will be a good fit at that institution. Take notes so you can compare the schools at a later time.
- Be prepared academically. Make sure you prepare for college by giving your all in high school. Study hard! Take advantage of the resources your high school provides to prepare you for college (your guidance counselor, tutoring and test preparation for the college entrance exams). Make sure you take the college entrance exams (ACT and/or SAT) in plenty of time to evaluate your performance and send the scores to your colleges of interest. People often take one (or both) of the exams more than once so leaving enough time to meet all deadlines with your desired score is important.
- Be prepared financially. Know your options for college funding. Make SURE you know the deadlines to apply for scholarships and federal grants. As a potential college student, you should be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply to all schools in time to be considered for scholarships. Remember not every student receives a full scholarship so exhausting all funding options is important.
- Plan Early! It is NEVER too early to plan for college. If you are heading into your freshman year, this is a PERFECT time to begin with your goals and priorities. They may adjust over time but it is great to have a start. There are several resources available to assist in planning depending on where you are in the process. The younger you are, the more time you have to prepare each step. The older you are, you have less time but don’t stress, you can still make it happen.
- Seek Advice! Realize there are A LOT of people who have been where you are trying to go. You do not have to reinvent the wheel. Seek advice from others who have gone through the same process (selecting a college). Your family, friends, teachers, counselors and coaches will be great resources. Listen to the advice keeping in mind your goals/priorities and then make an informed decision based on what best meets your needs.
So remember, planning for college success begins with YOU! Be sure to invest in yourself and begin planning now so you have the experience you desire and deserve. As you begin/continue planning, feel free to use some of the following resources:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
http://www.actstudent.org/college/checklist/
https://sat.collegeboard.org/home
http://www.actstudent.org/
http://mappingyourfuture.org/MiddleHighSchool/
https://fafsa.ed.gov/