A NOTE TO PARENTS

It's never too early to think about college -- about the benefits of a college education and about ways to put college within reach academically and financially. Throughout their school years, students make academic and other decisions that affect whether they will be eligible to enter college. You -- working with others -- can help your child make these decisions wisely.

This resource book is designed to help you with that process. It will help you work with your child and with your child's teachers and guidance counselors, to ensure that he or she has the option of going to college. It will help your child to prepare academically for the rigors of college, and it will help you to plan financially for the costs of a college education. A good academic record on your child's part and sound financial planning on your part will help ensure a menu of opportunities when the time comes to decide about college. Although this book was written primarily as a long-term planning guide for parents, guidance counselors and teachers will also find it useful and informative.

This book will help you to

-- Set high expectations for your child's future;

-- Know what college options are available;

-- Plan your finances with college in mind; and

-- Know what financial assistance your child may be eligible to receive.

To ensure that today's students will be able to live, work, and compete in the 21st century, the U.S. Department of Education and the Nation's governors set a direction for the Nation by establishing six national education goals. In brief, the goals state that by the year 2000

* All children in America will start school ready to learn; * The high school graduation rate will improve to at least 90 percent;

* All children will be competent in at least English, mathematics, science, history, and geography; * American students will be first in the world in science and mathematics;

* Adult Americans will be literate and have the skills necessary to compete in a world economy; * And every school in America will be free of drugs and violence.

As we turn from a "Nation at Risk" to a "Nation on the Move" we must assure that our children and youth are prepared to meet the challenge of the world economy, the obligation of civic responsibility, and the responsibility of attaining the national education goals.

Attaining the national education goals depends greatly on the efforts of the entire community, but especially you, the parents of our children. In helping your child succeed in high school and aim for college, you're also helping our Nation produce informed citizens and a competitive work force for the next decade and beyond.

Richard W. Riley U.S. Secretary of Education

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR COLLEGE

I. General Questions About College

Why attend college? What types of colleges exist? What kinds of jobs are available to college graduates?

II. Preparing for College

What can my child do to prepare academically for college? What can my child do outside the classroom to prepare for college?

III. Choosing a College

How can my child go about choosing a college?

IV. Financing a College Education

How much does a college education cost? How can I afford to send my child to college? What are the most common sources of financial aid? Is my child eligible for financial aid? If so, how much ? Are there other ways to keep the cost of college down?

V. Long-Range Planning

How do I set up a long-range plan?

VI. Important Terms

What terms do I need to understand?

VII. Other Sources of Information

Where can I get more information on the topics discussed in this handbook?

Exercises and Checklists for You and Your Child

Help Your Child Think About a Career Course Planner for Parent and Student College Inquiries College Preparation Checklist for Students Financial Preparation Checklist for Parents

Charts

Chart 1: Examples of Jobs Requiring College Preparation Chart 2: High School Courses Recommended for a Four-Year College Chart 3: Questions To Ask Guidance Counselors Chart 4: Distribution of College Students by the Amount of Tuition and Fees Charged Chart 5: Typical College Chart 6: Average Tuition and Fees By Type of College, School Year 1991-1992 Chart 7: Amount You Would Need To Save To Have $10,000 Available When Your Child Begins College Chart 8: Examples of Savings Instruments and Investments Chart 9: How Much Need-Based Financial Aid Can My Child Get? Chart 10: Military Postsecondary Education Opportunities

Why attend college?

A college degree can provide your child with many opportunities in life. A college education can mean:

Greater Knowledge

A college education will increase your child's ability to understand developments in science and in society, to think abstractly and critically, to express thoughts clearly in speech and in writing, and to make wise decisions. These skills are useful both on and off the job.

Greater Potential

A college education can help increase your child's understanding of the community, the Nation, and the world--as he or she explores interests, discovers new areas of knowledge, considers lifelong goals, and becomes a responsible citizen.

More Job Opportunities

The world is changing rapidly. Many jobs rely on new technology and already require more brain power than muscle power. In your child's working life, more and more jobs will require education beyond high school. With a college education, your child will have more jobs from which to choose.

More Money

A person who attends college generally earns more than a person who does not.

For example, in 1989, a person with a college degree from a four-year college earned approximately $10,000 more in that year than a person who did not go to college. With a college education, your child can earn higher pay.

Some of these benefits of college may not be obvious to your child. Even though he or she has to make the final decision to attend college, you can help in the decision-making process by learning about all aspects of college yourself and sharing what you learn with your child.

What types of colleges* exist?

* Throughout this document, the term "college" is used to refer to all collegiate institutions--both colleges and universities.

More than half of all recent high school graduates in the United States have had some type of postsecondary education. In many other countries, a smaller percentage of students go on for more schooling after high school. One reason so many U.S. students seek postsecondary education is that American students have a wide choice of colleges to consider. For this reason, your child is likely to find a college well-suited to his or her needs.

There are two basic types of colleges that offer academic programs:

Two-Year Colleges

These schools offer two-year programs leading to a certificate, an associate of arts (A.A.) degree, an associate of science (A.S.) degree, or an associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

These schools usually offer a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. Some also offer graduate and professional degrees.

Two-Year Colleges

For students who want a practical education aimed at a specific career in such areas as bookkeeping, dental hygiene, etc., a two-year program is probably the answer. In many cases, two-year degrees can be transferred to four-year schools and credited toward a B.A. or B.S. degree. Two-year programs vary from school to school, but, in general, are offered by:

Junior Colleges: These are generally private institutions, some of which are residential and attended by students who may come from other parts of the country; and

Community Colleges: These are public institutions, mostly serving people from nearby communities. Public institutions are supported by state and local revenues.

Many junior and community colleges offer technical/vocational training, as well as academic courses. Many offer such programs in cooperation with local businesses, industry, public service agencies, or other organizations.

Two-year colleges often operate under an "open admissions" policy, which can vary from school to school. At some institutions, "open admissions" means that anyone who has a high school diploma or GED certificate can enroll. At other schools, anyone over 18 years of age can enroll or, in some cases, anyone deemed able to benefit from the programs at the schools can enroll.

Application requirements at some two-year colleges may include a high school transcript--a list of all the courses your child took and grades earned in four years of high school--and college entrance examination scores as well. Some schools have programs that allow "open admissions," while other programs in the same school--particularly in scientific or technical subjects--may have further admission requirements. Since requirements vary widely, it is important to check into schools and programs individually.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

Students who wish to pursue a general academic program usually choose a four-year college or university. Such a program lays the foundation for more advanced studies and professional work. Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees (the B.A. and B.S.)in most areas in the arts and sciences, such as English literature, foreign languages, history, economics, political science, biology, zoology, chemistry, and in many other fields.

Here are the main differences between four-year colleges and universities:

Four-Year Colleges: These are postsecondary schools that provide four-year educational programs in the arts and sciences. These colleges confer bachelor's degrees.

Universities: These are postsecondary schools that include a college of arts and/or sciences, one or more programs of graduate studies, and one or more professional schools. Universities confer bachelor's degrees and graduate and professional degrees.

When a student earns a bachelor's degree it means that he or she has passed examinations in a broad range of courses and has studied one or two subject areas in greater depth. (These one or two subject areas are called a student's "major" area(s) of study or area(s) of "concentration.") A bachelor's degree is usually required before a student can begin studying for a graduate degree. A graduate degree is usually earned through two or more years of advanced studies beyond four years of college. This might be a master's or a doctoral degree in a particular field or a specialized degree required in certain professions such as law, social work, architecture, or medicine.

What kinds of jobs are available to college graduates?

Certificates and degrees earned by graduates of two- and four-year colleges or universities usually lead to different kinds of professional opportunities. Many professions require graduate degrees beyond the traditional four-year degree, such as a medical degree or a law degree. For example:

A course of study in bookkeeping at a community college generally prepares a student for a Job as a bookkeeper.

A four-year degree in economics may prepare a student for any one of several Jobs in a bank or a business.

A four-year degree in English may serve as background for getting teacher certification in the subject or for being an editor with a magazine.

In Chart 1 below there is a partial listing of different occupations and the educational background generally required for each. Some people who go on to acquire Jobs in the four-year-college column obtain a graduate degree or some graduate education, but many of these Jobs can be filled by people who do not have more than a four-year college education. For more information on the educational requirements of specific jobs, contact a guidance counselor or check the Occupational Outlook Handbook in your library. (See the last section of this handbook for information on this book arid other publications that discuss jobs.)

CHART I

Examples of Jobs Requiring College Preparation

Two-Year College (Associate's Degree)

Electrician Drafter Dental Hygienist Emergency Medical Technician Computer Service Technician Bookkeeper Commercial Artist Film Technician Medical Illustrator

Four-Year College (Bachelor's Degree)

Accountant Teacher Registered Nurse Engineer Journalist Diplomat Insurance Agent

More Than Four Years of College (Various Graduate Degrees Required)

Lawyer Doctor Architect Scientist University Professor Economist Psychologist Sociologist Dentist

EXERCISE

Help Your Child Think About a Career

Step 1:

Using the form on the next page, sit down with your child and make a list of jobs that sound interesting. It may help to first think about friends or people you've read about or have seen on television who have interesting jobs. List those jobs in the left-hand column. If your child cannot think of interesting jobs, have him or her list subject areas of interest. Then try to help your child identify jobs in those subject areas. Depending on the job, there may be courses in middle school or high school that will give your child a preview of the type of knowledge that is needed for the particular job. In the right-hand "Education" column, write down the level of education required for the job and any high school or college courses that may help your child prepare for such a career.

Step 2:

Take the form to your local library and, with the help of a reference librarian, locate books on some of the careers your child has selected. Libraries usually have directories that list career requirements. It is not a problem if your child does not know what career path he/she wants to follow; his or her focus during these years should be on doing well in school.

(SEE FORM ON NEXT PAGE.)

[Form Omitted]

What can my child do to prepare academically for college?

To prepare for college, there is no substitute for your child getting a solid academic education. This means your child should take challenging courses in academic subjects and maintain good grades in high school. Your child's transcript will be an important part of his or her college application.

A college education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier years. It is best for your child to start planning a high school course schedule early, in the seventh or eighth grade. Students who don't think ahead may have difficulty completing all the required or recommended courses that will help them qualify for college.

Most selective colleges (those with the highest admissions requirements) prefer to admit students who have taken courses in certain subject areas. For example, many colleges prefer that high school students take algebra, geometry, or some other type of specialized math, rather than general math. Some colleges prefer three or four years of a foreign language. Your child's guidance counselor can help your child determine the high school courses required or preferred by different types of colleges. If your child is interested in specific colleges, he or she can contact those schools and ask about their admissions requirements.

Your child should take courses in at least these core areas:

-- English

-- mathematics

-- science

-- history and geography

A foreign language and computer science are also highly recommended.

Chart 2 lists the high school courses that many higher education associations and guidance counselors recommend for a college-bound student. These courses are especially recommended to students who want to attend a four-year college. Even if your child is interested in attending a two-year college, he or she should take most of these courses since they provide the preparation necessary for all kinds of postsecondary education.

If your child is interested in pursuing a vocational program in a two-year college, he or she may want to supplement or substitute some of the courses listed in the chart with some vocational or technical courses in his or her field of interest. Your child should take at least the suggested courses in the core areas of English, math, science, history, and geography.

Traditional English courses such as American and English literature will help students improve their writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. History and geography will help your child better understand our society as well as societies around the world.

Mathematical and scientific concepts and skills learned in math classes are used in many disciplines outside of these courses. A recent study showed that students who take algebra and geometry in high school are much more likely to go on to college than students who do not. Algebra and geometry are also essential preparation for the college entrance examinations--the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT Assessment.

These tests measure a student's aptitude in mathematical and verbal comprehension and problem solving. Students applying to colleges in the East and West usually take the SAT exam. Students applying to schools in the South and Midwest often take the ACT. (However, students should check the admission requirements at each school to which they are applying.) Usually, the tests are offered in the Junior and senior years of high school and can be taken more than once if a student wishes to try to improve his or her score. Students can get books at libraries or bookstores to help them to prepare for all of the tests. Some of these books are listed at the back of this resource book. In addition, some private organizations and companies offer courses that help students prepare for these exams.

CONTINUED IN PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR COLLEGE  Part 2