Preparing for Life After High School
Finishing high school presents a dramatic change in the life of every student. Suddenly, the student must make decisions he or she has never had to face and they are decisions with wide-ranging consequences. While this opens exciting new opportunities, it can also be terrifying.
The most pressing decision is what to do next. The options range from the ordinary to the exotic. While some students will remain at home and work or attend classes, others will set out to see the world. Should the student simply find work, go to a tech school, sign-up for the military, or attend college? There is no answer that is right for everyone. Some issues to consider are:
- Does the student have goals that require more education?
- Is there are reasonable chance that the student will have success in college?
- What do the parents wish for their children?
- Is college necessary, or is a tech school adequate?
- What is the highest goal that is reasonable for the student?
- What is the student's ability to pay for training?
- What interests does the student have?
For those chosing to attend college, there is the decision where should the student go for further training? The college search should be broad at first, then become narrow as various options are eliminated. The things to consider regarding the institution are academic standards, spiritual values, location, cost, philosophy, values, and the majors offered.
Choosing a college is only the first step, then comes figuring out how to fund it. Some students are blessed with parents that are able to pay for it with all their own resources, but most will need to pay for college with some funds from parents, some from the student, some from loans, some from scholarships, and some from other miscellaneous sources. College financing is much more sophisicated than it was formerly, so the student will need to do much research as well as meet deadlines.
Related to financing is when to attend college. It is always best to start college immediately after graduating from high school, but there are some situations where a delay is necessary while funds are accumulated or while a family situation is resolved.
For lots of general information on specific colleges: www.collegeview.com.
From the US government, planning and paying for college: www.students.gov.