“I’m the first one in my family to go to college, so my mom and dad don’t know a lot about applying for college or financial aid. My teachers and counselor have really helped me a lot.”--Marcus
You can get a head start on college right now, while you are in high school. (And maybe save a wad of money, too.) Here are four ideas.
Sign up for challenging classes in high school and get the best grades you can. Doing these two things will increase your chances of winning a college scholarship.
Take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams in high school. If you score high enough on AP exams, you can get advanced placement in college or college credit. This can save you time and money because you may be able to graduate from college sooner. Tip: If you are concerned about paying for AP classes, talk to your teachers or counselor. Financial assistance may be available.
Ask your guidance counselor if you can take college classes now. Some high schools have agreements with local community colleges to allow high school students who have completed most of their high school credits to take classes at the college. You can get college credit and not have to pay extra for it!
Serve your country. If you decide to join the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) in high school and continue ROTC in college, the military may pay your tuition. In exchange, you must agree to serve in the military for a certain number of years after graduation.
