TO DO:

• Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of English, at least three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), three years of mathematics, and three years of science, and many require two years of a foreign language. Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.

• Get involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.

• Ask your guidance counselor or teachers what Advanced Placement courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.

• Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool to research your career options.

• Start a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Update it throughout high school.

• Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College, which suggests some actions you can take as you start thinking about education beyond high school.

• Browse the College Scorecard to see what types of schools interest you. Big or small? Close to home or far away? Programs focused on engineering or art? Keep your preferences in mind as you talk with your parents and school counselors.

• Learn about budgeting your money.

• Explore reasons to consider college or career school, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your parents, school counselor, and older students as you prepare.

TO DO:

• Talk to your child about college plans as if he or she will definitely go to college.

• Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades—stay involved.

• Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement or other challenging classes.

• Add to your child’s college savings account regularly; and make sure you are fully aware of the provisions of the account.

• Address your concerns about whether your child can or should go to college or career school.

• Use the College Scorecard to instantly compare expenses and projected loan payments across schools that your child is interested in attending.

TO DO:

• Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

• Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), or check out the ACT Aspire exam "sandbox."

• Explore the College Scorecard for information about test scores of students accepted at the colleges you want to attend. Work to achieve those scores or higher.

• Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).

• Go to career information events to get a more detailed look at career options.

• Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search.

• Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

TO DO:

• Find out whether your child’s school has college nights or financial aid nights. Plan to attend those events with your child.
• If you aren’t able to start visiting colleges yet, now is a great time to get key information using the College Scorecard for the schools your child is thinking about. Visit each school’s website to see if virtual tours are available.
• Help your child develop independence by encouraging him or her to take responsibility for balancing homework with any other activities or a part-time job.
• Learn about the standardized tests your child will be taking during 10th through 12th grades.
• Get a brief overview of financial aid from Do You Need Money for College? Apply for Federal Student Aid.

TO DO: ALL YEAR

• Explore careers and their earning potential with the Occupational Outlook Handbook search tool. Or, for a fun interactive tool, try this career search.
• Learn about choosing a college and find a link to our free college search tool.
• Attend college fairs and college-preparation presentations hosted by college representatives.

TO DO: FALL

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT. You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

TO DO: SPRING

• Register for and take exams for college admission. The standardized tests that many colleges require are the SAT and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
• Use a free scholarship search to find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.
• Find out what government financial aid you can apply for, and how, in Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Apply for Federal Student Aid.
• Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft as you look for financial aid and then attend college.

TO DO: SUMMER BEFORE 12TH GRADE

• Create a StudentAid.gov account. You’ll need a StudentAid.gov account to access your federal student aid information and electronically sign your federal student aid documents. Learn about the StudentAid.gov account, and create yours. Note: You must create your own StudentAid.gov account; if your parent creates it for you, that’ll cause confusion later and will slow down the financial aid application process. Watch this video about creating your StudentAid.gov account.

• Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.

• Contact colleges or browse their websites to get information and applications for admission. Research financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.

• Decide whether you are going to apply for admission under a particular college’s early decision, early action, or regular decision program.

• Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to get an estimate of what federal student aid you may be eligible to receive.

• To supplement any federal student aid you may receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow so you have less to pay back later.

TO DO:

• Take a look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for college.
• Get in-depth information on the federal student aid programs.
• Create a StudentAid.gov account if you don’t have one yet. Note: You must create your own StudentAid.gov account. If your child creates it for you, or if you create your child’s, that’ll cause confusion later and will slow down the financial aid application process. Need help? You and your child should watch the Why Do My Contributors and I Need Our Own StudentAid.gov Accounts for the 2024–25 FAFSA^® Form? video. If you don’t have a Social Security number, you’ll be able to get a StudentAid.gov account to access and fill out your portion of your child’s 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form online.
• Talk to your child about the schools they’re considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child, and help them clarify goals and priorities.
• Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college representatives. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.
• Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.
• Make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.
• Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.
• Learn about student and parent loans.

TO DO: ALL YEAR

• Work hard all the way to graduation—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.

• Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

TO DO: FALL

• As soon as possible after its release, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen college or career/trade school may require. You should submit your FAFSA form by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.

• After your FAFSA form is submitted and processed, you should receive an email with instructions on how to access an online copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary for the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025) or Student Aid Report (SAR) for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). These documents list your answers to the questions on your FAFSA form and give you some basic information about your aid eligibility. Review the documents, make any necessary corrections, and submit the corrections.

• If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

• Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

• Well before your college application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit the required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.

• Complete any last scholarship applications.

• Understand the FAFSA process better by watching the videos at YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid.

• Follow or like the office of Federal Student Aid at Twitter.com/FAFSA and Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid to get regular financial aid tips.

REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance, and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, ask your school counselor about getting the fee waived.

TO DO:

• Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA form.

• Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when they apply for financial aid.

• Use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s financial path to graduation tool to determine each school’s net price—your child’s actual out-of-pocket cost.

• Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.

• Understand the benefits of federal student loans.

• Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing “What should I consider when taking out federal student loans?” with them.

• With your child, look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information.