Whether you are looking for help finishing up high school strong, researching ways to pay
for college, or planning for life after graduation, you’ve come to the right place.
In the “Getting Ready for College” section of this website we will help you plan for college
by offering tips to make the most of your remaining time in high school, pick a major, and
pick a college. We then recommend checking out the “Paying for College” section of this website.
An important part of getting ready for college is learning how to pay for your education while
taking on as little debt as possible.
Now let’s back up just a bit. There may be a chance that you haven’t really decided that
college is for you. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers.
Higher levels of education lead to higher earnings and lower unemployment rates. Take a
look at this chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing median weekly earnings by
education level attained:
Life and happiness are more than just how much money you earn. When deciding if college
is the right choice for you future earnings is something to consider. A guide to the wage
you can realistically expect is also helpful in gauging what to spend on education.
Graduating from college is also personally rewarding. It is a great feeling to get that
degree knowing how hard you worked for it. The college experience can pay rewards for the
rest of your life.
Another reason to attend college is that more jobs are requiring higher levels of education.
The career you’ve chosen may require that you have some type of degree beyond a high school diploma.
High School
It is sometimes difficult to make sure you’ve done everything you can do to get ready for college.
Take a look at the Planning Timelines on the “High School” page of this website. They will help you
stay on the right track. Also remember that finishing high school strong can help you get admitted
into the college of your choice. Dual-Credit / AP classes will also give you an idea what college
classes are like while earning college credit.
College Admission Tests and Forms
Many colleges and universities require that you achieve a certain score on either the SAT or the ACT.
Learning which test to take and preparing for them will help you attain a higher score and this might
help get you into the college of your choice.
The PSAT and the PLAN are great ways to study for these tests. The PSAT is a shorter version of the
SAT and can familiarize you with the style of the test. The PLAN can do the same for the ACT. Taking
both tests also gives you a good idea of what test you will score better on. If the college you have
chosen accepts both, take the test you are more comfortable with.
Remember to talk with your admissions counselor at the college you are applying to. Make sure you have
all the needed application forms and be certain to fill them out properly and return them on time.
Picking a Major
If you have a specific career choice in mind you may wish to examine which major in college suits that
career field. If you don’t know what career path you’re headed down, something that may help you is a
Skills Profile, or try an internship to find out if you like working in a specific field. If you are
having trouble finding a major that interests you, take a look at a college course catalog. Read some
information about some of the classes. If they interest you find out what major those classes are required for.
Picking a major and a career path isn’t something you must do right now, but having an idea will be beneficial
when picking the right college.
Picking a College
There are thousands of colleges and universities to choose from. So how do you pick the right one? Knowing
your career path as well as understanding your interests can help. Do you like large groups of people in a
metropolitan setting or do you prefer a small rural type feel to campus. These are just a few of the factors
to consider when picking the right college for you.
Always remember if you have a question about anything on this site, feel free to
drop us a note at outreach@ismloans.org
and we’ll be happy to answer or elaborate on an item that is confusing or unclear.