College Selection / Touring Timeline?

ucbalumnus
Tue, 20 Feb 2018 02:40:10 +0000

1 priority for the parents is to make the financial plan (including provision for more than one kid in college, as well as the parents' retirement savings). By spring of 11th grade or summer between 11th and 12th grade, the parents should know what is affordable, and be able to tell that to the student.

College web sites have net price calculators to get early estimates on financial aid, although some situations (divorced parents, income from self employment, small business, or rentals, etc.) may make some of them less reliable than for the married parents with mostly W-2 income and small amounts of investment income.

The student timeline includes:

9th-12th grade: choose rigorous courses and do well in them. See http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/2055289-faq-high-school-college-prep-base-curriculum.html .
fall 11th grade: PSAT is for National Merit qualification.
11th grade: SAT and ACT to get a reasonable idea of estimating admissibility to various colleges
spring 11th grade: if any possible colleges need SAT subject tests, take them at this time