College Life

When a student visits the guidance counselor, they usually do not have a clue to what to ask. They are usually confused with the entire college and scholarship process and want to be led by the hand for assistance. If you are that student then you should be better prepared to ask the right questions and get the information you need for scholarships, graduation requirements, and other things pertinent to a college career.
 
The first question the potential student needs to ask is what the requirements for graduation from high school are. Just because the student is a senior, there is no guarantee that they will walk with their class in June. Not only does the student need credits, but they need to know what credits will be valuable to the scholarship and college admission requirements. The consolers can advise the student to what they need to take and what scores they need to get into a good college.
 

When looking for the right college, most people look at cost or the type of programs that the college offers. The question that does not get much attention is which college is best, private, or public. This question should be at the top of your cue when deciding a college, because there are benefits and drawbacks to each system. Each system is capable of giving you the best education in what you want to do, but there are certain nuances that one system can achieve over the other.
 
Public colleges get revenues and funding from the state. This money keeps tuition lower and also helps to fund projects around the campus. The state mandates certain regulations for this fund and the college and students benefit from the mandates. The funds generate revenue for sports programs, student housing, and other important functions that are attributed to a academic institutions. You also have the security of knowing that your professors are highly qualified and have to meet state standards.
 

There are many programs that allow a parent to save for the college tuition of their son or daughter. Some are even state sponsored. These programs allow you to put away a little money each month so that when your child graduates high school and is ready for college, the tuition will already be paid for. College tuition is very expensive and seems to get more expensive every year. With the savings plan in place you will be able to meet that financial challenge and get your child through college without taking on a second job or putting a second mortgage on your house.
 
Pre-paid tuition just makes good sense. You are earning interest on your money instead of paying interest on a student loan. Interest bearing student loans can be as high as 8% and if you are not guaranteed an interest rate and it is variable, it could be much higher. The interest rate you earn just goes right back into the account where it can be used in the future. You don’t want yourself or your children to be burdened by student loans and the grief they can cause students when they get out of college.
 

When considering college, a student or potential student needs to know exactly why they are going to take four years out of their life to earn a degree. Most teenagers in their senior year have no idea why they are supposed to go to college or what their options are if they don’t go. College isn’t for everyone and before you make the decision to spend the time and money that it takes to go to College, the potential student needs to go through a lot of soul searching to make sure that college is the right path for them.
 
First the student needs to look at where they are now and where they want to be in five years. This five year plan should include what kind of job they want to be in, how much money they will make in the job, and what kind of lifestyle they want to live. If they want a nice car and a nice house, college is a way to get those things but there are many jobs out there that can provide the same things without an education. For example, the coal field in Wyoming pays more for unskilled labor than the teachers of Wyoming schools.
 

When you are in high school the student has many options to look at it when thinking about their future and what they want to do with their life. The military, tech school, and college seem to be the only choices except to go out in get a job. Our culture and probably most parents put pressure on a student to go to college because traditionally the wages and quality of life was better for a college graduate than for a high school graduate.
 
College seems like a long way away and unattainable for a lot of students, but studies still support the idea that a college graduate will make more money and live better than one who does not attend. Finances are the biggest obstacle for a freshman college student to overcome.
 

High school guidance counselors are typically overlooked by many students. They actually play an important role in developing your future, but you will need to seek out their assistance. If you are attending a large school, this is particularly important to ensure that you don’t fall through the cracks. Here are a just a few things that your guidance counselor can do for you.
 
First, they can help you begin crafting a plan for your college education. Whether you need to focus on academics or broaden your horizons, your counselor will be able to advise you on any problem areas that you might have. Let them know what you see for your future and ask them for their help in making it happen. If your expectations are unrealistic, they will be able to help guide you on a better path or offer advice on what they feel is best for you.
 

Before you even begin the process of applying to colleges, it is important to discuss your future with your high school guidance counselor. They will be able to help you build a comprehensive plan for your future and can be terrific sounding boards when you get a little frustrated. Here are a few important questions that you will need to ask your counselor during this process.
 
1. What should I be doing to prepare for college? You will need to find out what extracurricular activities will be most beneficial for you. Whether it is volunteering in your community or special books that will help you prepare, there are numerous ways that you can get ready for your college education. Ask them to supply you with a reading list to help you be more prepared for your entrance exams.
 

Many students don't realize that by going to college they are eligible for certain tax credits. Yes, the government is actually rewarding those who choose to further their education. The key is to knowing what credits a student is able to claim in order to benefit from this great opportunity. There are two different tax credits available to students, but they have rules for each one. There is the HOPE Scholarship which is actually a credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax. One of the rules is that only one of the credits can be used for the same year for the same student.