Getting Started Program
Year after year the biggest regret we hear uttered by parents of juniors and seniors intending to attend college is that they've "waited too long" to get started with their child's College Planning. Here's what they say:
- "Why didn't anyone TELL us we should have started sooner?" or
- "We KNOW we're really late in getting started!" or
- "When did this get so complicated?"
TODAY's Take-Away: Don't Wait, Start NOW!
We've designed a special College Planning Program to help families start early (which actually means on time)! We're reaching more and more parents of 9th and 10th-graders. We're glad you've found us! Your single take-away from this page is that you shouldn't wait until your child's senior year in high school to begin a deliberate and decisive college plan, but rather join the growing number of parents who are starting early.
We've made it easy and affordable (and even fun!) for families to turn to us for professional guidance and counseling throughout their entire college planning season. We've entitled our program - appropriately - GettingStarted. It's designed for 9th and 10th grade students and their parents. We want to help families get started on time - so they're not overwhelmed or regretful in the junior or senior year of high school, as so many parents come to be.
So how should a 9th- or 10th-Grader be planning for college?
There are a couple of "homework" assignments we have for them:
- The first assignment is to begin our MCP (My College and Career Plan) Program. Parents often feel that it's too early for a student to start thinking about careers and specific colleges. We've found that 9th and 10th grade is the PERFECT time to begin laying a strong foundation for College Planning. We invite you to read more about this in the MCP Section of our site.
- The second assignment is PSAT Test Preparation. The PSAT is NOT a Practice SAT as so many families assume it to be. It's a Preliminary SAT, its purpose being to help prepare the student for the actual SAT exam. Students should have a deliberate study program in place to take their first PSAT in October of the sophomore year, and then a second PSAT (the one that counts) in October of their junior year. Read more about why the junior sitting is so important in the PSAT Section of our site.
And what should the PARENTS be doing so "early"?
There are a couple key items for parents with 9th- and 10th-graders:
- The first is to learn your EFC (Expected Family Contribution), no matter how high or low it may be.
- The second is to begin to formulate a plan to pay for college - for all the kids - without jeopardizing the parent's retirement plan.
