Are you or your kids ready for college?
Well, you have made it to ISM - so you are off to a good start. Let us break down
the list of things to do and figure out how we are going to handle college costs.
The good news is that there is a lot of help available - and whether you are a freshman
trying to get a handle on it all, or a senior trying to wrap up the final details,
ISM is here to make sure you are as ready as you possibly can be.
Take the Right Classes - Core 40
IF YOU ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, THIS IS IMPORTANT!
For college-bound students, it is not just the high school diploma that matters.
High school coursework must include a core set of classes (CORE 40).
Indiana's four-year public colleges expect students to have completed CORE 40 to
be considered for regular admissions. Some Indiana private colleges have higher
requirements.
Look Forward to Plan Now
One of the best ways to plan for college is to begin thinking about what you would
like to do after college. Is it a career in medicine? Teaching? Astro-physics? We
know this is a big leap, but there is no pressure here - just think of it as creative
brainstorming.
So, what do you like to do - and how can you go about getting a degree to help you
do it?
A good first step in choosing a future career is to understand what interests you.
Visit the on-line resources we have assembled for you and start looking forward
to help you plan now.
Money Matters
To help you begin thinking about college (and a career), it is helpful to know the
facts about earning power.
According to the most recent studies, even a little college education can produce
19 percent more income per year than a normal high school diploma. And, when graduates
of four year college programs are compared to their high school counterparts, the
earnings advantages for males is 63 percent higher and for females, it is 70 percent
higher. Money is not the only reason to go to college, but it is a nice little thing
you can add on to cheering for the team or making friends from 8 different states.
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.