Communication
When talking about college readiness, there can be a lot of questions that should come to your mind. “What should I be doing?” “What tests should I be taking?” “Who should I be talking to?” “What all do I have to do before I get accepted?” If you are already thinking these questions, have no fear. These questions and more go through every high school student as they face their college decision.
How do we face the transition from high school to college?
COMMUNICATION.
How you communicate and who you communicate to can be a big help in navigating your transition to college. Here are three quick areas to make sure you communicate well in:
Tests – often called college peer or college readiness tests.
There are several different tests that you have to take some time towards the ending of your high school years and before your college acceptance. The ACT and SAT are the two big ones. If you want to know more about those, check out the posts we did about them. Long story short with those tests? Get them done, don’t put them off, and take them seriously. Communicating with your parents, teachers, or guardians about when you hope to take those tests will help tremendously.
Transcripts – a summary of your high school grades.
After you take those tests though, communicate with your high school to make sure your transcripts are in order for a college admissions office to look at them. Then make sure and send those transcripts to the different colleges you are looking into. Check up with the various admissions offices to make sure that they received all that they needed.
Financial Aid — any help you can get paying for school.
Most colleges you will go to will have opportunities to apply for different types of scholarships. Most people will be able to apply for federal grants and loans as well. If you have questions about these, contact the school you are applying to. There are people out there whose job is just to make sure people’s financial aid is taken care of.
Moral of the story—Do not try to “wing” your transition from high school to college.
Take responsibility for it and communicate early and often with people you need to talk to. Don’t make your parents do all the work, but actually, call the universities you are interested in and get answers for yourself.
Communication can make the hardest things simple and the vague things clear. Don’t be afraid to pick up that phone or send that email. When you get to college all ready to go, you’ll be happy you did.