The process of preparing for post-secondary education can seem like a daunting and overwhelming task, but with all of the helpful resources and assistance available to students now a days, preparing for life after high school won’t seem as challenging as it appears.

Typically, the best time to begin preparations for college is during a student’s junior year of high school. Selecting schools, gaining information about the schools and their admission requirements and fees, and standardized college admission tests such as the ACT and SAT are things that should at least be taken into consideration during this period. Since most universities and other 4-year schools require an ACT or an SAT score for admission, doing well on these tests should become a high priority for students choosing to take this route. The exams play such a large role in the college entry process that entire classes are devoted to preparing students for them. Studying rigorously and taking more advanced classes in general are also helpful when preparing for the ACT or SAT.

 The best time to actually apply for college is during the latter half of their first semester of senior year. Usually a student is notified whether or not they’ve been accepted into whatever school(s) they applied for in December or January. Besides academic qualifications, admission costs and financial aid are another important factor to take into account when applying for colleges. The idea of having to figure out a payment plan for college fees can be intimidating and off putting to students, but applying for financial aid reduces the stress that accompanies this step. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most common source student’s use for financial assistance throughout college.

Students should take the time to speak with their counselors about forming a multi-point plan for college preparation and assigning specific deadlines to certain things that need to be accomplished such as taking standardized tests, applying, going to college visits, applying for financial aid, etc.  If a student doesn’t feel like they possess enough life skills necessary to live on his or her own and conduct his or her business independent from interference from their parents, there’s also the option of attending a community or “junior” college. These colleges are usually closer to home, don’t have as large of a curriculum or campus and focus more on general education rather than post-secondary majors, minors and special interests.

Unlike 4-year schools, community colleges usually do not require an ACT or SAT score in order for students to attend. A student may also choose to attend a community college for a certain amount of semesters and then transfer to a university when they’re ready. Whether or not credits earned at a community college transfer over to the university the students eventually attend depend on the college the student attends, what university they intend to transfer to and what their community college’s transfer policies are.

Certain programs such as the College Now program provided by Johnson County Community College (JCCC) allows high school students to earn college credit while still earning their normal credits required for graduating high school. This gives students early experience and knowledge necessary for being successful in college and lowers the overall cost of admission once the student actually attends JCCC. It also allows students access to their resources for study and even offers free and/or affordable tutoring.