There are lots of things to consider when planning for college. That's why we have provided some college planning fundamentals to get you started in your educational journey. Knowing that planning for college takes time and effort, we have put together a detailed guide to keep you on track starting in your junior year of high school.
THE BIG GUIDE is a free detailed informational guide to start early on planning for college.
Don't leave all the planning to your senior year. Get a jumpstart now so your senior year is more fun and less stressful. College is a major decision. Take your time, start now to get it right for you! View this brief video for the highlights on how to get a great start.
Don't leave all the planning to your senior year. Get a jumpstart now so your senior year is more fun and less stressful. College is a major decision. Take your time, start now to get it right for you! View this brief video for the highlights on how to get a great start.
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You are off to a great start building up your academic skills, joining extracurricular actives and maybe trying out a new sport. Now it's time to get serious about planning and preparing for college.
Visit admissions representatives from several local and out-of-state colleges and universities to get a feel of which schools could be the right fit for you.
Check in with guidance counselors to confirm your class courses are on track for college admissions.
Register and take the PSAT/PLAN.
Prepare to take ACT/SAT test in the spring.
Many start to compile a college list, thinking about academics, affordability, location, and size.
Get excited! Your PSAT scores should be arriving soon.
Attend college planning events offered at your school.
Work with a Guidance Counselor to set your senior schedule. Enroll in one to two classes that are a bit more challenging.
Narrow down the list of factors important to you in your college search.
Students should start asking teachers for recommendation letters. Choose teachers that you know you work well with.
Attend College Fairs
Start researching colleges online.
Spring break is a great time to begin planning college visits. Include a variety of colleges, large and small to see which type is the best fit.
Register for June/August SATS if needed.
Develop a list of colleges that interest you. Go online and request additional information about the college.
Make a list of deadlines and identify what you will need to meet each one.
Take the advanced placement exams and SAT/ACT if you have not done so.
Consider lining up a summer job and volunteering to add to your senior resume.
Consider enrolling in an academic course at a local college, pursuing a summer school program, or volunteering.
If you start a summer job, save money for college.
Ask at least two teachers for letters of recommendation and provide them with your resume for reference.
Register for the commonapp.org
Polish up your resume.
Start putting together a portfolio of writing samples, artwork, music, or audition videos.
Consider volunteering or job shadowing to explore careers.
Contact coaches at college if you are interested in participating in athletics or think you may be able to receive an athletic scholarship.
Visit with college admissions, ask questions and gather information, while enjoying the sights and sounds of our animal friends at Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Tips from our College Planning Experts.
Junior Timeline Tips from our College Planning Experts.
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Do you have questions about college planning? We are here to help you prepare, plan, and pay for college.
Visit our Knowledge for College Scholarship page to learn more and enter today!
A free service offered by RISLA's College Planning Center.
Look for hundreds of hard-to-find local scholarships.
Get started with your scholarship search today!
Do you have questions about college planning? We are here to help you prepare, plan, and pay for college.
Students and families can be overwhelmed with planning and how to pay for college. We have experienced counselors that offer one on one assistance helping families understand all their options start to finish.
We have been offering low cost, fix rate education loans for almost 30 years. Helping students and families borrower responsibly to help achieve their higher education dreams.
Refinancing may help you simplify and save when repaying student loans. Combining outstanding balances, and securing a low interest rate with RISLA may reduce your overall repayment amount and possibly your monthly payment.
Employer Student Loan Repayment assistance is a tax-free benefit allowing employers to contribute towards the repayment of employee student loans. This newest in-demand employee benefit helps reduce financial stress for employees while increasing retention and loyalty to employers.