1.
Find someone to help.
Let everyone know that you’re going to college and need their help.
-
Never say no.
Don’t ever
take that “no” in your head for an
answer!
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Find family support.
So what if
your parents didn’t go to college? Your
folks may well have real experience and
knowledge that can help you on your way.
-
Call on coaches. Ask your
teachers and coaches for advice on
college–it’s their job to help you
succeed.
-
Gain experience. Track down
places outside school where you can get
real-world experience from adults who
can show you how it’s done.
-
Seek advice. If you can’t talk
with your school counselor, check your
local community college or community
center and meet with the counselors
there.
-
Make connections. Connect with
family, friends, or neighbors who have
been to college and ask them how they
got there.
For online
academic counseling, visit
Facts.org.
2.
Push yourself.
Working a little harder
today will make getting into college even easier.
-
Take the right classes.
To get
into college, start by taking the right
classes in high school. Find out what
classes you need to meet entrance
requirements and sign up for them now.
Lock in requirements. You may not need
them to finish high school, but most
colleges require three to four years of
math, English, science, and social
studies. Plus, most want at least two
years of the same foreign language.
-
Meet the
challenge. Not only are your
grades important, but the difficulty of
your classes are as well. Typically,
most colleges prefer students who
challenge themselves with harder
courses, even if they earn only average
grades, than those who take easier
courses just to get higher grades.
-
Achieve
honors. Honors and advanced
placement courses are the gold standard
for colleges and carry much more weight
than other courses in working out your
grade point average.-
Register for Dual Enrollment Courses.
Talk to your guidance counselor
about taking college courses. There
is no cost to you and you could earn
college credit.-
Tap into
computing.
Courses in computer
science (or even classes that require
you to use computers in researching or
completing projects) will give you the
skills you need to make the grade at
college.
Learn
about Florida's Talented 20 Program.
3.
Find the right fit.
Find out what kind of school is the best match for you and your
career
goals.
-
What’s the right match?
The
kind of college you choose to attend
should reflect your goals and your
personality. Whether you choose a
public, private, community,
technical, trade, or even online
college, make sure it’s the best
match for you.
-
Big
or small?
Do you want to
attend a big university with a
greater choice of studies and social
activities, but also larger lecture
classes? Or would you like fewer
choices but more personal attention
and a greater chance to stand out?
You decide.
-
Home
or Away?
Attending a local
college versus boarding out of
state—what’s better? It depends. For
some, residence hall life is an
important part of the college
experience—but commuting from home
is less expensive.
-
Which major works?
Figuring
out what you like doing most, plus
what you’re best at, can point to
the careers you should consider—and
what majors will help you reach your
career goal.
-
4.
Put your hands on some cash.
If you think you can't afford college, think again. There's lots of
aid out there.
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