Yup, it’s that time of year. Summer is pretty much behind you and you are getting ready for school to start. You’re out shopping with your child & getting the necessary supplies for school. You’re looking through the weekly circulars to make sure you’re getting the best deals on clothes and everything else your child will need to get through this next school year. If you’ve got an incoming freshman, you may be doing some extra coaxing and counseling as s/he nervously enters the first year of high school. There are schedules to synchronize and activities to sign up for. You are busy. For many, school is starting right after Labor Day. Yes, the lazy days of summer are gone and it’s time to look forward to the Fall and get ready for the upcoming school year.
There are so many things that you will need to do in order to prepare your child for the upcoming year. However, now is also the time to look beyond the immediate upcoming year and think of preparing for your child’s college plans. There are a lot of things to accomplish in that regard during the school year. The earlier you get a jump on things, the easier things will be for you (and your child) down the road. We would like to be a part of the process with you.
We have divided this newsletter so you can go directly to the section that pertains to your child. You will also receive extra bonus points for going through the entire newsletter! Well, not exactly, but it will definitely be useful for you to peruse through all of the sections, as they will either pertain to your child in the future, or to other children on the college path. Getting your child through high school, let alone college, is no easy task. Regardless of which year your child is in, there are always things that can be done to help your child along his/her path to college attendance. We would like to help you along that path. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. We know how difficult and time consuming this process can be and would like to provide the necessary guidance that can make things just a little bit easier.
FRESHMAN YEAR
If your child is starting the first year of high school, this is a great time to get a jump start on the plans for college. Your early efforts will definitely pay off in the years to come. It’s never really too early to start and you will want to provide the best foundation for your child that will support him/her in the years to come.
• Plan to meet with your child’s guidance counselor
This is the start of your child’s high school career. Make sure you start it off on the right foot. Make an appointment with your child’s guidance counselor to go over academic plans for the next 4 years.
• Increase your child’s vocabulary
There are several ways to do this. One of the best methods is through reading books. Find interesting but challenging books for your child that will expand his/her mind and vocabulary. You can also have your child write down the words that s/he is not familiar with and afterwards you can go through the words together.
• Plan to have your child take a challenging course load that also fulfills college requirements.
It’s important that your child chooses classes that will fit the requirements for college acceptance. Be aware that most colleges have “core requirements.” Your child’s acceptance may literally depend on how well s/he did in these core classes. They are usually as follows:
o Math: Three to four years (including algebra, geometry, and calculus)
o English: Four years (composition, literature, speech)
o Social Sciences: Three years (history, sociology, psychology, political science, geography, economics)
o Science: Three years (earth science, biology, chemistry, physics)
Depending on the college your child would like to attend, there may be additional requirements. These courses are, however, what most colleges use when considering students for acceptance.
• Have a heart-to-heart with your child
Freshman year is notoriously difficult for many students. Your child is officially with the “big kids” now and that is a daunting idea for many teenagers. Take the time to go over what is to be expected when starting high school and let them know it’s all right to feel overwhelmed. If your child knows s/he can depend on you, things will go a lot smoother throughout the year.
• It’s never too early to get your financial plan together
Protect the money you’ve saved. If you have money saved outside of your company’s retirement plan, talk to your College Funding Advisor about repositioning those assets into accounts that are not exposed to the financial aid formulas.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Your child is now officially NOT a freshman. This often is followed by a huge sigh of relief from many incoming sophomores! Your child is no longer “learning the ropes” but is, by now, used to high school and what is expected. If freshman year was a rocky start, then take the time to help your child feel comfortable and confident going into this next academic year.
• Plan to take “The PLAN,” if your child’s school requires it
There are some schools that require 10th graders to take the PLAN in order to prepare for the ACT. Check with your child’s school to see if this is a requirement. If so, schedule a time to have your child take the test.
• Have your child sign up to meet with his/her guidance counselor regarding the PSAT
The PSAT is administered in October. The PSAT is a preliminary test that provides students with practice for the SAT. Your child can also enroll in the PSAT/NMSQT. This stands for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It gives students a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs.
• Have your child take NCAA approved classes as part of his/her course load
If your child has an interest in sports and wants to pursue that interest in college, then you should be aware of the requirements set forth by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Make sure your child takes classes that meet their requirements.
• Protect your money!
You’ve worked hard for your money. Protect that money by talking to your College Funding Advisor about keeping those dollars out-of-sight from the financial aid formulas.
JUNIOR YEAR
If your child is a junior, high school could now be more of a piece of cake. S/he has maneuvered through the freshman and sophomore years and is now ready to tackle the junior year. S/he has now officially joined the ranks of the “Upperclassmen.” Things will start to heat up this year. You will want to start thinking seriously about which colleges your child is interested in.
• Register for the October SAT
It’s September and we’re several weeks away from the SAT that is administered in October. Make sure your child is registered this month so s/he is ready to take the test in October.
• Have your child plan to save samples of his/her work throughout the year
It’s a good idea to keep an academic portfolio. This should include all of your child’s best work throughout the academic year. Keep samples of your child’s best papers or projects in this portfolio.
• Have your child attend an ACT/SAT preparation workshop
If there is a workshop in your area that offers a preparation course for the ACT/SAT, then it would be a good idea for your child to register for this workshop. If not, there are practice books or software that you can purchase that will also help to prepare.
• Have your child consider running for leadership positions
Junior Class President. It has a nice ring to it, yes? Well, not only does it have a nice ring to it, it looks great on high school transcripts and college applications. Colleges love to see students who have participated in leadership positions. If your child feels up to it, have him/her consider running for office!
• Get your financial game plan in place!
Guard the money you’ve worked so hard to put away. You want to protect what you’ve saved for your child. Perhaps you have money either in mutual funds, bonds, stocks, or CDs. Those funds are typically calculated against you in the financial aid formulas. However, by working with your College Funding Advisor, there may be ways of moving those funds to accounts that won’t be held against you when you’re applying for aid.
SENIOR YEAR
You’ve got an incoming senior. Wow! Your child has successfully completed three years of high school in order to get to this stage. That is no small task. This will be a busy year. You will have a lot on your plate and staying organized and on top of things will certainly benefit you in the long run. Here are some tips that will help your high school senior along the way.
• Have your child request all of the applications from the colleges s/he is interested in
The application process can be long and tedious. The sooner your child gets a jump on things the better. Have your child write, call or request online all of the applications needed for admission and financial aid.
• Keep a chart of all of the application deadlines
It’s not easy to keep track of all the deadlines for each school. Make a chart that has all of the colleges and their deadlines in one spot so you and your child are always aware of what is coming up next.
• Register for the October/November SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject Tests or the September/October ACT
September will be gone before you know it. Make sure to register for the tests that you and your child decide are best for the institutions where s/he plans to apply. The deadlines are fast approaching so make sure you register as soon as possible.
• Plan to have your child meet with his/her guidance counselor
Start the year off right by meeting with the guidance counselor at the beginning of the school year. Your child and the guidance counselor can go over his/her academic and co-curricular record to make sure that everything is accurate and appropriate for the schools your child would like to attend.
• Keep your money safe from Financial Aid Formulas!
A College Funding Advisor is there to help protect the money you’ve worked so hard to put away for this important occasion.
Soon there will be a crisp breeze in the air to remind us that Fall is officially here. Let us help you start off this school year right. Call on us with any questions you might have about getting your child ready to attend college. We would be more than happy to help!
As always, please do not hestiate to contact us if you have any questions...
Michael Giffin, CLU, ChFC
President
Ensphere College Planning Services
PO Box 1347
McMurray, PA 15317
(724) 745-0305
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