Getting Organized

Your sophomore will soon be receiving what may seem like a deluge of information from colleges, the U.S. military branches, scholarship sources and businesses wanting to garner your student’s attention. Staying organized will reduce frustration and stress for both of you.

Why It Matters

Being organized helps with decision-making.
A focused career intent will help your student eliminate any materials that don’t match the career path or potential college major. For example, a student planning to join the military will be able to discard postcards being sent by cosmetology colleges.
Organized planning prompts earlier decisions.
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. With 10th grade wrapping up, the earlier those decisions are made the easier your student will find it to plot the most beneficial course.

What Your Student Can Do Now

Create an organizational system.
You may wish to categorize and label specific folders or envelopes in a system that works for you and your student. You might label large folders for two-year and four-year colleges, by the specialized degree programs each one offers, or by location. Your student’s preferences will drive the categories and labels.
Develop a list.
As more information arrives, college and career options will begin to rise to the top of your student’s preference list. It may be helpful to keep a list of the top ten. Consider using an electronic method, such as an Excel spreadsheet or Google doc, that can be quickly and easily revised for additions and deletions. Be sure to label columns that pinpoint the reasons for the option landing on the list, such as size, available facilities, weather, surrounding community and financial feasibility.
Decide on a college major or career program.
If your student’s intended path includes college, one of the biggest decisions to make is choosing a major. It’s the starting point to researching and eventually visiting and deciding on the college that will offer the best return on your student’s investment. ISL Education Lending’s Return on College Investment tool has functionality where users can select both a degree type and the career field they are interested in. It then displays specific jobs that fall into that category. For example, selecting a bachelor’s degree and a career in elementary education returns multiple career options in addition to elementary teacher. Choosing a particular job will display more information about that career, its approximate starting salary and projected future openings, as well as the potential financial return on investment in multiple educational scenarios. Your student will also find out the percentage of college graduates from related majors who are currently working in the career.

What Your Student Can Do Later

Update the list.
Your student can continue exploring programs online and refining the list of possibilities for after high school. The overall cost of attendance of each program should be carefully considered along with other factors at this time. Future articles will address college costs and other considerations.
Look into scholarship opportunities.
If your student is likely to apply to a particular program, it’s not too early to investigate the availability of and qualifications for scholarships. Knowing the eligibility requirements early will give your student the opportunity to increase required grades or test scores or to take particular classes in high school.
Consider earning college credit.
Your student can work with the school counselor on dual enrollment, Advanced Placement and other opportunities to earn college credit now that will transfer easily to those schools he or she is most interested in applying to. Earning the credit now may allow your student to progress more quickly to college graduation later, saving on the overall cost of attendance.

What You Can Do

Create a joint email account.
A new email account that both you and your student have access to can help streamline the college planning process. Your student can provide this email to colleges and programs and on standardized tests and other documents to ensure that all information comes to a single place. Sign up for ICAN’s Tip of the Week and other subscription information to come to that email as well. Remind your student to check it often, and check it yourself so you can remind your student of to-do items and updates.
Guide without judgment.
You likely know your student better than anyone else. You can provide an objective idea of whether your student is likely to feel comfortable too close or too far from home, enjoy particular facilities or programs, or become frustrated by crowded classes and registration difficulties.
Be honest about finances.
If a particular institution starts to surge to the top of the list but seems like it may be unaffordable for your family, discuss options with your student. Encourage exploration of similar, but less expensive, programs and campuses and discuss possible ways to make up the cost difference without going too deeply into debt.

Next Steps

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

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