How High School Students Can Prepare (NAPSA)—College graduates are twice as likely to be employed as those with no college degree and can expect to earn about 66 percent more throughout their careers, The College Board reports. That’s one reason many parents and students should heed a few hints about getting into—and paying for—college. * Develop a timetable andlist of tasks to be completed that can assist you in your planningefforts. Work with your children to develop and update their rsums, including their school, community and service activities, sports, With the help of their parents, there are many ways students in ninth through 12" grade can plan and preparefor college. awards and recognitions, work experience, hobbies and interests. Encourage yourchildren to join and get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work. *Be sure they take courses necessary for college admission. Investigate opportunities for high school Advanced Placementcourses. *Develop, discuss and review with your children their individual list of college attributes that Learn the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) financial aid process by using FAFSA4caster, which will provide you with an early estimate of how much money you will be expected to contribute toward yourchildren’s education andeligibility for federal studentaid. * Identify the individual appli- and activities. Work with your children to develop a list of at least 10 colleges. Research these through websites, college fairs, college guides and by talking with admission representatives. Set up a filing system to maintain information about each school that interests them. Learn about resources available through the school. Consult with the professionals, such as your children’s high school guidance children’s financial aid eligibility, are important to them; thatis, size, location, academics, facilities counselor, the financial aid office at any prospective school and your student loan lender. Become familiar with college entrance requirements and prepa- ration exams. Visit campuses. cation instructions, deadlines, policies and procedures for each school. Register for a PIN with the Department of Education and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 of senior year. If you have any special family circumstances that mayaffect your contact the financial aid office at the school being considered. You can get more good advice from the CollegeSTEPS program, which offers a magazine and planning calendar, useful college planning information and a chance to win one of 20 individual $1,000 prizes. More Information Learn more at www.wellsfargo. com/collegesteps2011 or go to a Wells Fargo or Wachovia bank.
