As high school students, college is just a leap and a jump away. For most, it’s an intimidating change where all your hard work comes into fruition. It can be a harsh reality check for some, but so long as you take some of these steps, you should be on your way for a fruitful future.

You can never start too early, and the sooner you decide your path, the sooner you can prepare all you need. Of course, this is your decision and you should start by looking into colleges that suit your major or minor. In my case, I’m interested in becoming a veterinarian, so Pre-Preparation courses are my next course of action after Sayreville.

You’ll have to find a school with the proper classes for your desired job/degree, see how far you wish to travel from home, and ensure it’s within your price range. Depending on the college you’re interested in, they offer scholarships for your grades, some loans, and even grants. Scholarships vary a lot depending on who you go to, but they all take into account your GPA  and your SAT scores, as well as a few other factors. For example, one of the colleges I visited offered their highest scholarship: $21,000 for a GPA of 3.75 or above an SAT score of 1230 and above. The can also look at an ACT score as well. Regardless, these types of things can alleviate the prices of college. Many people are able to take chunks out of their price for their excellent grades and testing, so be sure to keep up with your schooling now!

Another factor to consider is what type of school you want to go to. Would you prefer a big college with an established education, but bigger classes and lecture halls? Or, would you prefer a smaller college with a small amount of people attending class, making it easier to meet with your professors and seek extra help if needed? A lot goes into choosing a college, so looking at what a school offers on a website or asking a person who works at the college through e-mail is recommended.

Another critical part would be to go tour the college to see the campus. If you’re dorming your Freshman year, which most do, then you’ll need to love where you’re going to be living for the next few years. Going to as many colleges as you can, if you have an interest in attending classes there, is an excellent idea and getting a tour will give you a good idea at how life will go while you go to school there. You can throw as many questions at your tour guide and the faculty there as you wish, hopefully getting the best and most fulfilling results. I asked about everything from financials to athletics, classes to job experience, scholarships to even if I’ll receive hands-on experience for my career choice. The people at the colleges were more than happy to answer to the best of their abilities, so make sure to dump all your worries onto them! College can be a scary thing to think about, but if you’re seeking a bountiful future, getting a head start in preparing is the first step to success!