Your teen should take advantage of career-planning activities, shadowing, and other ways of looking closely at the connection between academics and the world of work. Your child should make sure he is on track for ACTs, SAT I and II, Advanced Placement tests, and any other standardized tests that colleges use to compare students from different parts of the country. The ABCs of selecting colleges becomes a priority. Kids experience a lot of anxiety around the college admissions process and often think that they have no control over the outcome. Selecting a college should be a match between your child's strengths and interests and the school's offerings.
Parents can put together a financial-aid plan that takes their child through all four years.
After a student has completed one year successfully, there are often more opportunities for scholarships and work-study. You both might be surprised.