College and Career PlanningThis page is filled with information to help you decide what to do after high school...whether you plan to go straight to work, join the military, or attend college, we hope you find the information here to help guide you.
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College
If you are hoping to attend college after high school, you should be making A's and B's (preferably A's) in the toughest classes you can manage. There is no big secret to college admissions; colleges are looking for good students with a proven ability to succeed in their academics. Make sure to visit the webpages of the colleges you are interested in early in high school...or better yet, visit the colleges themselves! Look for "freshman class profiles" on college undergraduate admission pages to see what a typical accepted student at the school looks like as far as test scores and GPAs are concerned.
Some factors to consider when choosing a college are:
Some factors to consider when choosing a college are:
- Major/Field of Study - does this college offer the program I'm interested in?
- Competitiveness - how close do I resemble the college's typical student (look at "freshman profiles")?
- Location - how far away from home do I want to be?
- Cost/Financial Aid - how much is the college's tuition rate and what aid/scholarships can they offer?
- Family Responsibilities
Not sure where to begin your college search? Start with these informative sites:
GA FuturesGeorgia's college and career search engine. Info on planning, applying, and paying for college. Great site for students in all grade levels. Formerly known as GAcollege411.
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Big FutureCustomizable search engine that lets you explore colleges and provides information on deadlines, majors, campus life, applying, and tuition rates.
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College Documents and Resources
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Paying for College
There are three main types of financial aid for college:
- Need-based Aid
For students who have demonstrated financial need. To qualify for this type of aid, students and parents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is free and available beginning October 1st at fafsa.ed.gov.
ALL students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA form, even if you think you won't qualify for need-based aid. The FAFSA also serves as your HOPE scholarship application and indicates to your colleges that you are interested in receiving financial aid. - Loans
Money that is required to be paid back when a student graduates or stops attending school. Student loans awarded through FAFSA are low-interest loans with extended payback plans. For more information on loan programs, please visit Federal Student Aid. - Scholarships
Financial awards that are generally given to students who have demonstrated high achievement in academics, or some other areas such as fine arts, athletics, or community service. There are literally over a million scholarships available to students.
Obtaining scholarships requires A LOT of work the students part! The best place to start is on the Admissions or Financial Aid webpage of the schools you are applying to. Many colleges and universities have separate applications for their scholarship programs (sometimes even due prior to admission decision deadlines). Many private organizations offer scholarships to outstanding students. Check out the scholarship search engines listed on this page to research these.
There are several scholarship opportunities posted on the Local Scholarship page throughout the year. Many of these scholarships are limited to students in the local area. Remember that the smaller the applicant pool, the better the chances of you receiving the award.
Keep in mind that scholarships tend to be VERY competitive; make sure you shine on your applications!
Financial Aid/Scholarship Resources
Scholarship Search Engines |
Resources for Undocumented Students
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Special Programs
Career Info
Not sure what you want to pursue as a career? YouScience is a fantastic tool that takes into account your interests as well as your skills. The site will assess your abilities, interest, and list possible career matches tailored specifically for you. From your career matches, you can find salary information, required education, and a whole lot of other resources.
If you haven't created an account in class, contact your counselor to get started.
If you haven't created an account in class, contact your counselor to get started.
