Get Ready for College Applications

Be proactive to ensure your student’s high school coursework aligns with admission requirements for education or training programs after high school.

Why It Matters

Meet requirements.
By graduation, your student will need to meet requirements for state-specified curriculum, high school graduation and, possibly, entrance into the college or program of choice. These may not all be the same. It’s important to understand what classes must be taken (and passed) and which are not essential.
College admission may depend on it.
Your student’s ability to enter the desired education or training program will depend on coursework completed by the end of 11th grade and planned for 12th grade, particularly if multiple four-year colleges are under consideration.
Create balance.
Many colleges are looking for students who balance rigorous coursework with electives that allow them to express creativity, get a taste of careers and demonstrate leadership.

What Your Student Can Do Now

Reassess career options.
To help narrow down possible options after high school, your student can take interest assessments and experience ISL Education Lending’s Return on College Investment tool to determine careers of interest and the future demand for people to fill jobs in those fields. This will help your student determine courses for the rest of high school and programs to apply to during senior year.
Check program entrance requirements.
As your student learns more about interests and potential careers, he or she should check the requirements to enter the appropriate education or training program. College or program websites list entrance requirements. Your student should ensure the required coursework can be completed before high school graduation.
Revisit the four-year plan.
Your student can use the high school course listing to make a balanced and complete plan for classes over the next two years, including electives like creative writing and activities like Math Club.

What Your Student Can Do Later

Make adjustments.
Course offerings and availability will change throughout high school, as will your student’s interests and plans. Periodically, your student should adjust the plan to suit these changes.
Make room for exploration.
Some students are tempted to take as many high-level, rigorous courses as possible. Your student may wish to take classes that allow a taste of possible future careers, such as a robotics or design class.
Consider courses for college credit.
Dual enrollment in community college classes, Advanced Placement classes and other options may be available to your student in high school. These can range from technical and trade classes to college-level coursework and may be conducted at the high school or elsewhere. Some may be free while the student is in high school, allowing more money to spend on other education or training after or the freedom to graduate early for less cost.

What You Can Do

Help your student consider the class options.
Sit down together with the class listing and discuss the benefits and disadvantages of various plans. Emphasize the importance of staying on track academically to be in the best possible position after high school graduation.
Explore options.
Does your student wish more, or more advanced, classes were available in a certain area? Many high schools don’t have the resources to offer everything but may be willing to work with you and your student. Your student can self-study for Advanced Placement courses and take the test to earn potential college credit. Local community colleges may offer online or in-person classes your student can explore.

Registration is still open through March 29 for a scholarship for Iowa high school students, not just seniors. The scholarship awards $1,000 College Savings Iowa deposits, which can be used when your student is ready to pay educational expenses. Register at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/ScholarshipSignUp.

Next Steps

Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!

Additional references, handouts and talking points are available in the right sidebar to use at your leisure. They may prove beneficial to reference now or after receiving future emails — we’ll leave it completely up to you. Use our emails like a recipe for a successful outcome — assemble the recommended ingredients and then follow accompanying directions to add flavor and depth.