As parents one of the most important topics that we discuss with our teenage children is “where and how” your child will attend college. There are a few simple steps that you can take as a parent to begin to prepare your teenager for teenager for college.
Step 1: ACT/SAT
Most parents assume that their teenager will not have to begin to prepare for college testing until their junior or senior year, but it is a good idea to have your child take either the ACT/ SAT as a underclassman to see where they stand academically.
• By doing this you teenager will be acquainted with the testing layouts and requirements.
• As a parent you and your teenager can assess and begin to study for “difficult” testing subject. For example, if essays are difficult for your teenager, by taking the test as an underclassman he/ she will have time to prepare for the essay as a junior/senior in high school.
• The ACT/SAT will be a determining factor in where your child will be attending college.

Step 2: Maintaining a 3.0 in High School
There are hundreds of thousands of scholarships that are available to teenagers throughout the United States, but the requirements for obtaining a college scholarship will most be determined by your teenagers high school grade point average.
• Some teenagers and parents are under the misconception that as long as you work hard your senior year and maintain a 3.0 GPA that he/ she will be eligible for a scholarship. While there may be some truth to this, most universities, like an attending student to be consistent.
• Set the standards high for your teenager. It is ideal for the student to be consistent during high school and maintaining a strong 3.0 GPA from his/ or her freshman year until graduation will be important when applying for the many scholarships that are available.
• If your teenager is struggling with a certain academic subject, suggest tutoring, study groups, and speak with the teacher if needed. A strong high school academic consistency during your teenager’s high school years could be the determining factor to obtaining a scholarship.

Step 3: Understanding Financial Aid
As a parent, understanding financial aid is essential to your child’s future education. It might be a good idea to get registered with FASA as soon as possible.
• Financial aid is based the teenage child’s parents income.
• The easiest way to find out if your teenager is eligible for financial assistance is to visit the FASFA website and fill out an application.
• After you fill out the application, it normally takes 2-4 weeks to find out if you have qualified for financial assistance.
These are just three steps that can help you as you begin to prepare your teenager for college.