Getting Your Child Ready For College
First, your child will need to study hard and take
the courses in middle school and high school that will help him or her succeed
in college-level courses. Second, it is important for you and your child to
try to put money aside for college and be well informed about sources of financial
aid for college.
In addition to helping your child focus on doing well
in school, encourage your child to begin thinking about careers. Also help
your child research areas of interest to get more information on what those
careers mean and the specific jobs available in each field. One good resource
for researching the job outlook is the Occupational
Outlook Handbook by the U.S. Department of Labor and Workforce
Oklahoma Occupational Outlook Web site. By encouraging your child to think
ahead, you can help your child choose middle school and high school courses
that may influence his or her future career path.
In addition to academics, start looking at your financial
situation and how much your family will be able to contribute to your child's
education. Look into college savings plans, such as the Oklahoma
College Savings Plan which offers an Oklahoma income tax deduction
of up to $2,500 per account.
Also, start researching grants and scholarships that
may require that your child apply while still in middle school. For more information,
click on the Financial Aid link above.
