Ten Mistakes People Make in Charting Their Course to College

     Budget cuts are taking a toll on the availability and accessibility of Guidance Counselors in schools. Today’s economic situation has more and more students and their parents wondering how to prepare for college.  What classes should be completed and, at which stage in the students middle and high school years? What college or university does the student want to attend? What requirements must be completed to be qualified to apply to those institutions? What additional experience or class work will place the student in a more desirable position than others of an equal academic standing? Which colleges and universities should a student investigate if they already know what major they are interested in? Will that major ultimately prepare the student for the career they dream of? How much will it cost? How will college be paid for? Do you have a plan? When should you start to plan?

     A lot of questions have just been presented very quickly but the reality of the situation is that these are the questions the college bound student needs to ask, and ask early. Middle school is not too early...