It’s that time of year when high school seniors and their parents start thinking about colleges for next year! High school students might first ask why it is so important to go to college or technical school.  Didn’t they just get through 13 years of school?  Why ask for more?  A college education can open doors and give your student options in their future career.  Today, more than 86% of all jobs in the labor market require at least a two-year degree.  A college education at a technical school, vocational school, community college, or a four-year university can make your child more qualified for higher-paying jobs than job applicants with only a high school diploma or GED.  Your child will also learn skills and knowledge in college that can be used in many jobs and all parts of life.  Those skills include critical thinking, computer skills, writing and editing, technical knowledge, leadership skills, and communication skills.

A second reason for acquiring a college education is higher earnings.  On average, a community college graduate makes $243,412 (before taxes) more than a high school graduate over a lifetime.  A four-year college graduate makes an average of $790,088 (before taxes) more than a high school graduate over a lifetime.  That is good incentive to get a college degree!

The process of completing college and scholarship applications can be daunting, but don’t be discouraged.  There are some great online resources to show you what you need to do, and here are a few steps that you can take this fall.

1. Create an account on www.applytexas.org and get started on your college applications.
2. Start your scholarship applications.  Many organizations have already released applications for this year, so get started on completing those applications.
3. Request letters of recommendation and gather your high school transcripts and records.
4. Learn about FAFSA and start gathering information to complete it as soon as you can in January.
5. Ask your school counselor, teachers or parents to review your essays for college and scholarship applications.

For more information about steps to applying for college and scholarships, visit http://fcs.tamu.edu/money/your_money/money-boot-camp.php/. You’ll find several great resources for financial aid, how to pick a college, steps to apply for college, and much more.  Don’t hesitate to ask for help and advice from your school counselor or the Extension office.  We’re here to help, and we want your student to be successful!