Middle School Students

If you are a middle school student, you may wonder why it is important to start thinking about college now. Well, just think though how close you are to being in high school. Did you know that the grades you make in high school can make a difference in your college and career plans? It is never too early to start thinking about college choices and how to plan for it academically and financially.

Thinking ahead means you should look at these things:

1. Have you ever thought about how you may want to earn a living? This is an important first step and can help you decide on where to attend college. The Career Info section of GAcollege411 can give you important information about careers and how to best prepare for them in college. This includes a test you can take to see what careers might best suit you, as well as a list of careers and the colleges that offer degrees that match those careers.
   
   
2. Once you have a list of possible career choices, you will need to take the right types of high school courses. There are two basic curriculum tracks to consider: college prep and technology/career prep. Your career choice should be considered when choosing your high school curriculum track. Let's take a look at some examples:
   
   College Prep Careers: Professions like medicine, law, and education require a four-year (bachelor's) degree. In order to receive a bachelor's (or higher) degree, you should take college prep courses in high school. This will prepare you for any of 25% of available jobs. You will need to take a certain number of English, math, science, social science, and foreign language courses. Remember that the better your grades in high school, the more college choices will remain open to you.
   
   Technology/Career Prep Careers: If you plan a career in automotive mechanics, carpentry, computer technology, business office technology, practical nursing, or similar a field, you may need to take up to two years of courses in college. You will need to take certain English, math, science, and social science courses, as well as courses related to your field of study. Instead of attending a four-year college, you should probably plan to attend a two-year or technical college. Most jobs in these career fields will require some education after high school.

Think About More than Grades

Although good grades are always nice and show a lot of effort, most colleges look for students who are involved in other activities. Sports, part-time employment, club activities, and community service are also things that colleges consider when accepting students for attendance. So, look around and get involved!

Prepare Now for Your Future

1. Learn about your options for paying for college. Look at the Financial Aid 411 area of this section to learn more. This is an overview of college costs, types of financial aid, eligibility requirements, the application process, and other things you may have questions about.
2. Since colleges use standardized test scores to help determine selection of students, it is important to start preparing now. Be sure to take the PSAT to test your aptitude. There are also various study tools for the SAT, including a practice test on this website.
3. Start saving money now and make sure your parents know about the GA College Savings Plan.

Be sure to explore the links on this page. Other resources are your teachers, school counselors, and your parents. You can also always contact us with specific questions.