| It's never too early to start planning for college. You | | | | Start thinking about where you want to live and learn |
| don't want to burden yourself by spending all your | | | | for four years. If you want to live in Northern |
| time in the present exclusively worrying about future. | | | | California, then don't apply to Boston College. You will |
| The future will come soon enough. Enjoy today, but | | | | not be married to your college town, but you will be |
| always keep one eye looking ahead. If you are | | | | linked to it intensely for a few years. Make sure |
| looking to jumpstart your academic future, here are | | | | you're happy about where you end up. Visit any |
| a few ideas to help you start planning for college | | | | schools you apply to so that there will be no |
| early. | | | | surprises about the campus environment and |
| Start saving money. College isn't cheap. You need to | | | | surrounding areas. |
| understand how you're going to pay for school | | | | Start tackling some extra-curricular activities. College |
| before you get there. Are you going to work while | | | | preparation requires that you show interest in things |
| you study? Are going to take out loans? What about | | | | outside of the classroom. Start a German club or |
| scholarships and grants? If you're ready to begin | | | | learn how to play the piano. Try out for your junior |
| preparing for college, you need to consider your | | | | varsity football team and volunteer time at a hospital |
| funding choices. There's plenty of money out there, | | | | or nursing home. Whatever you do, try to look busy. |
| so be sure you understand how to get it. | | | | Admission officers love students that possess proven |
| Start taking college prep and community college | | | | dedication and full schedules. |
| courses while in high school. Beef up your academic | | | | Start developing good study and time management |
| transcript by taking (and doing well in) college prep | | | | habits. Take school seriously and develop your own |
| courses in high school. If you feel like high school isn't | | | | style of learning. When you get to college, it's just |
| challenging enough for you, then start taking | | | | going to be you, your study habits and your time |
| community college courses when you are 16 or 17. If | | | | management skills. Make sure you've honed them |
| you take a class at a community college you can | | | | properly so that you can hang when you get to your |
| transfer the credits to a four year university and get | | | | university. |
| high school credit for your out-of-school work. If you | | | | Don't forget to enjoy your time as a young adult. |
| have the smarts, bypass high school altogether by | | | | Planning for college is important, but so is balanced |
| testing out. | | | | living. If you stress yourself out too much in high |
| Start thinking about what it is you want to do with | | | | school, you run the risk of having way too much fun |
| your life. Self-reflection is a huge part of the college | | | | in college. If you get some of those jollies out early, |
| preparation experience. You need to ask yourself | | | | then by the time you get to your university, you've |
| who you are, what you want out of life and what | | | | already had your fun, and you can focus squarely on |
| you want to do for a living. Probe into your interests | | | | the task at hand. Start preparing for college early, |
| deeply, and be honest with yourself about what you | | | | but just remember not to freak out. |
| find. | | | | |