Do you have plans after high school? Perhaps you are thinking of going to college and vocational training. To make a successful move to your next educational level, we have developed this extensive college planning guide that takes you through the steps and tasks to apply and move to college or a vocational program.

Our first college guide is a quick summary of the college planning process. You first complete a college prep to determine what you want to do after high school. You can research job trends, types of careers, education requirements for type career, and complete a personal assessment on the aptitude for the career choice.

Second, you will then search for colleges or vocational schools the match your career selection. You can search by state or school type - both campus and online programs

Third, once you list the colleges that you would like to attend, you prepare for the college application. This will include submitting the application, writing the essays, providing your HS transcripts, requesting letters of recommendations, and other items as requested by your college. You need to move quickly since submission deadlines generally fall in November for early submission and January for regular submission.

Fourth: you need to find the money to attend your school of choice. The money will come from the school in the form of scholarships, grants, student loans, work-study and other college and state aid. Review the financial aid steps and options that are available

Finally; our guide helps you prepare for the move to college. You will be setting up a home away from home. So what will you need to live, what supplies should you buy, how should you manage your money, and how can you find success while at college are all topics we review is this guide.

Use Our College Planning Calendars

You can also use our extensive college planning calendar to help you meet important deadlines. We have a planning calendar for both HS senior and HS juniors:

College Planning Calendar for High School Seniors

• Summer: prepare items for the college application and visit your college
• September: select and rank your college selection
• October: prepare your college application - get it ready for submission
• November: submit application for early submission - review college costs
• December: submit application for regular submission - collect aid information
• January: submit the FAFSA form for student financial aid
• February: revew the SAR - start looking for housing
  
• March: finalize your scholarship search - review the financial aid steps
• April: analyze college award letters - compare your college acceptance letters
• May: make your final college section - arrange housing and other needs
• June: get ready to move to college - shop for college items - apply for aid
• July-August: make the move to college - view how to be successful at college

College Planning Calendar for High School Juniors

• In the Fall: analyze job trends - college majors - do a personal self assessment
• In the Winter: search for colleges or vocational schools to attend
• In the Spring: finalize college search - plan college visits
  
  
• Sophomores: keep your grades up - research job trends - about AP classes
• Freshmen: keep your grades up - review want to do after high school