Press Releases

9TH AND 10TH GRADE STUDENTS: “BACK TO SCHOOL” MEANS PLANNING FOR COLLEGE

TERI’s Top 5 Tips on College Planning for High Schoolers

September 10, 2007

Over a lifetime, an individual with a college degree will earn an average of $2.1 million - nearly twice as much as a high school graduate. As students and families ease back into school year routines, it’s important to remember that going to high school isn’t only about classes, homework, sports, and hanging out. It’s about planning for college. This is true for all high school students, not just for seniors.

These days, students need more than a high school degree to succeed. Having a bachelor’s degree is becoming a requirement for most well-paying jobs. With more and more students applying to college, it is increasingly necessary to begin planning early for the college application process.

Here are 5 tips for 9th and 10th grade students to plan for college over the next few weeks as they go back to school:

    1.  Meet with a guidance counselor, and sign up for college preparatory courses.
    Colleges look favorably upon students who take more difficult courses. By not taking these, students may limit not only the colleges to which they are accepted, but also their ability to succeed in college. It is important to do this starting in 9th grade.
    2.  Get involved in extracurricular activities at school or in the community.
    Extracurricular activities and enrichment programs are a great way to develop talents and interests, and colleges like to see that applicants have interests beyond their school work. Students should maintain a list of these activities, starting with those they took part in during the summer before 9th grade, so they can include them in their college applications in 12th grade.
    3.  Talk to everyone about college and careers.
    Students should constantly talk with their family, teachers, and other adults about their desire to go to college and about the careers they might like to have in the future. The more people students talk to, the more support they will have to reach their goals.
    4.  Visit colleges.
    There are more than 100 colleges and universities in the Greater Boston area. Students should take advantage of this by visiting schools to get a feel for what it’s like. Those who are ambitious should call the admission office in advance to schedule an appointment and/or college tour. Students should dress appropriately to make a good impression, and come with a list of questions about the college.
    5.  Request College Catalogues.
    After students have visited a couple of local colleges, they may be interested in what’s outside of Massachusetts. They should request catalogues from those institutions, over the phone, in writing or online. These catalogues explain what admissions departments look for, and help with early planning. Don’t worry if colleges seem expensive. Students may be eligible for financial aid to help with college costs.

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TERI, a nonprofit organization in Boston, Massachusetts was founded in 1985 and promotes educational opportunities for all through its college access and loan guarantee activities.

TERI’s loan guarantee programs help students close the gap between education costs and their other resources such as financial aid, savings and family support. TERI is the oldest and largest guarantor of private (non-government) student loans with more than $17 billion in outstanding guarantees. TERI brings together lenders, schools, students and families to make available low-cost, high quality financing for postsecondary education. The organization works in a very successful strategic alliance with The First Marblehead Corporation in this effort.

TERI is a national leader in promoting strategies for improving college access. The company manages college access programs that target low-income individuals and those who are the first generation in their families to attend college. These programs raise student and adult aspirations to include college and other post-secondary education, provide guidance and information directly to students and their families on planning and paying for college, and support increased student achievement in middle and high schools. TERI is also the managing partner of the Pathways to College Network, an alliance of over 30 nonprofit organizations and funders committed to advancing college access and success for underserved students.

For more information, please visit www.teri.org.