College Planning

1. College Financing (KG-12)

• Start early
• College Fees range $25k - $75/year [ Public(In-state) -$20-35K,  Public(Out-state) -$35-55K, Private - $55-80K]
• Fees are independent of Major(some have extra fees - Engg - +2-3K/yr)
• Create 529 Plan (early)
• Growth is Tax-Free, as long as it is used for college
• Is transferable to other siblings
• Max around 15k/year/parent
• Grandparents can contribute too
• Free money - Scholarship, Grants
• Federal loan(thru FAFSA) 
• Low interest
• Subsidized/un-subsidized
• Typical income ceiling at 75K(individual)/150K(family)

2. In High School(9-12)

• Overall GPA. Use AP/Honor to add extra points.
• National Honor
• National Merit Scholarship - Finalist, Semifinalist
• Sports - Varsity
• Community Service(Important)
• Extra-Curricular activities(Duration, Intensity, Competition needed)
• Clubs (Competitive - Robotics etc.) 

3. By end of 11th Grade, decide on Major

• The biggest decision is to decide on ENGG or Not. Most of the other Majors like Medicine, Law are chosen after Graduation(Bachelors)
• Should have finished on  SAT/ACT exams
• Finish Subject SATs(Engg needs at least 2)
• Take AP Exams (Score of 4/5 will help transfer credits to college)

4. Choosing College, once Major is decided

• College choice is personal, but some parameters can be prioritized to narrow down
• Ranking - Overall Ranking/Major Ranking/Doesn;t matter 
• Distance - <50 Miles/<300 Miles/>300 Miles 
• Acceptance - <10%/10-30%/30%+ 
• Size Small - (<5000)/Medium(<20000)/Large  
• Campus - Urban/Subarban/Small Town/Rural
• Type - National Univ/Liberal Art/Regional College
• Funding - Private/Public-State/Public-Regional
• Student Profile - %White/%Black/%Hispanic/ %Asian    
• Lot of resources available to research
• USA News (https://premium.usnews.com/best-colleges) [ Paid subscription $25/yr ] 
• Times (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-united-states)
• QS (https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021)

5. 11th Grade Summer

• Start on Common App Essay in Summer - Choose topics, write drafts, get them reviewed
• Build Portfolio (For Art Majors)
• Make a College list(10-12), divided into
• Reach (Difficult) [3-4]
• Match (Possible) [3-4]
• Safety (Sure) [3-4]
• Decide on application type
• Early Decision(ED) (1) [Have to commit on getting in] [typically mid-Dec]
• Early Action(EA) (few) [No Commit] [mid-Dec to mid-Feb]
• Regular(Reg) (others) [end-Mar]
• Research each individual college for its requirements
• #Teacher Recommendations
• #Other Recommendations
• Supplemental Essays
• Supplemental Questions
• Transcript (11th Grade, Mid-year etc.)
• Most Colleges use Common App, but some use Coalition App & a few insist on Individual applications
• (https://www.mefa.org/blog/understanding-different-types-college-applications)

6. 12th Grade - Typically Common App opens on 1st Nov

• Fill common sections, followed by the individual college ones
• Colleges have different deadlines depending on the Application type(ED/EA/Reg). Don't have to rush. 
• Use the School system(Naviance etc.) to request Teacher Recommendations, Transcripts
• Fill standard FAFSA (Federal system for Loan application)[Mandatory]

7. On Acceptance(or before)

• Shortlist a few campuses to visit(3/4) to get a feel 
• Then let the student decide

Halleluiah!