Before You Apply

Even if college is a long way off, there's something you can do to smooth the road to higher education.

Freshmen and Sophomores

• Keep your grades up.
• Join extra-curricular activities.
• Start narrowing your career and college choices.
• Get a summer job and start saving for college.
• Take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT).

Juniors

• Keep your grades up.
• Narrow career and college choices even further.
• Keep saving money.
• Begin applying for scholarships.
• Review your financial needs for college; start weighing your options.
• Take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT).
• Attend college night at your school.

Seniors

• Keep your grades up.
• Take the SAT or ACT again.
• Reevaluate your financial situation.
• Keep saving money (college is expensive).
• Look into all options college financing, including loans, grants and scholarships.
• Narrow your choice of colleges down to six.
• Start the student loan application process.

When it's finally time to apply for your student loan, make sure you have everything you'll need.