subject: How To Handle Business Regarding Your College Education [print this page] Planning for your college education can be very intimidating, particularly in the beginning stages. There is so much to do during the planning process, and all the while, you have your other responsibilities as well. Your parents will obviously play a key role in the planning, but you will want to be involved in the experience as well.
Obviously the first step is to share your plans with your parents so you can enlist their help right from the beginning. It is also a good idea to discuss your options, your grades, and your school records with your guidance counselor to determine which direction you should be headed. Aside from that, there are two major tasks to complete early in the planning process and one useful tool for getting everything in order.
Research and choose a school.
Which school you decide to go to will be one of the most important decisions you make in your life, and it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Research is very important at this point of the planning stage.
Years ago students did not have the internet to research schools and were basically limited to the catalogs in their guidance offices. These days this is not the case, and you can research any school anywhere in the world with the use of the internet. Being that you have so many choices, it is important to begin your research early, and you want to be sure to visit the colleges that you are interested in.
Determine and secure financing.
Equally as important as choosing a school is securing financing to pay for your education. There are a variety of financing options available regardless of your personal budget or the income you will be basing your calculations on.
You will want to determine what all of your personal options are and then make the decision early so that you can apply by the deadlines. Scholarships, grants, and loans are all ways you can pay for your education, but all have certain eligibility requirements. Choose the best options you are eligible for and be sure not to leave any stone unturned, as some options will have you paying for your education for the next foreseeable years, while others may allow you to avoid years of loan payments.
Use conference calling to collaborate.
A number of individuals will be involved in getting everything in order for your college education. Conference calling can be a great way to collaborate with all of these individuals. Your guidance counselor can discuss guidelines for certain school applications, and college representatives can answer your questions all in one conference call.
Conference calling is also a great way to allow your parents to be involved in this process as well. Conferencing programs are available free online and only take a short time to download. And the peace of mind you can gain by holding a conference call is priceless.
Moving on to college is definitely intimidating but if you plan right you will go with confidence. Get things in order and double check by collaborating with a conference call, and you will be ready to go when fall rolls around and school begins again.
