Students experience greater scholastic success with strong family support. Stay involved throughout your student’s academic career.

Here are some time-tested tips for helping with your student’s scholarship search:

• Together, begin researching scholarship opportunities in ninth grade, and continue through high school— by regularly looking for leads, you’ll be more likely to find new opportunities as they arise.
• Do not fill out applications for your student—they need to do the work themselves.
• Do proofread your student’s application—everyone needs a little editing help.
• Keep a calendar to remind your student of upcoming deadlines.
• Build an adult support network for your student. This can include family members, coworkers and counselors/mentors who can help her/him navigate the process.
• Reach out to local college-access and readiness programs (i.e., TRIO, GEAR UP) for additional assistance.
• Accompany your student on campus visits and/or encourage him/her to make campus visits with church or high-school groups, and TRIO or GEAR UP programs.

What should students do prior to their senior year in high school?

• Learn! College admissions offices consider your student’s high-school transcript as the most important window into his/her abilities. It’s important that your student takes college-preparatory classes and achieves the highest grade-point-average possible.
• Study for the ACT. After grades, entrance-exam scores rank second in importance for college admissions. Students should take the ACT during their junior year of high school. If they are dissatisfied with their performance, they will have opportunities to retake the test.
• Get involved! Colleges like to recruit students who participate in clubs and activities including community service, student council, jobs, athletics, music, debate, etc.
• Research financial aid. College is an investment, and the cost can seem overwhelming, but there are many sources of aid available to help students and families.
• Consider career options and take career-inventory assessments. Encourage your student to think seriously about what they enjoy doing and what type of personality they have. Thoughtful self-examination can help an individual determine her/his best career field.