Did you know that Latino students that enter high school with the plan to continue their studies by going to college have a much greater probability of achieving it? That's what a recent study has shown, and therefore, why New Futuro created a College Plan so that students like you have more of an opportunity to get into college.
The New Futuro College Plan can be YOUR plan. Here's a 2 min. tutorial on how you can use it to successfully get into college; and below there's a brief explanation of each step, so that you have an idea.
The first step is to choose your career path; in other words, you should decide what area you'd like to work in, and choose a related major that will help you get a job in that field. You can always change your mind, but it's important to being with a clear goal in mind to stay motivated and focused during your studies.
The second step is to build your support team; that is, to find people who can help you on your road to college and to help you overcome any obstacles that come up. Most successful adults can identify the people who have helped them achieve what they've become. You'll also be able to identify these people, but they don't always just show up, so you'll have to look for them. In this step, we show you how.
The third step is to make your college list. This step looks easy, but with more than 4,000 accredited schools out there (and many unaccredited schools as well), you need to learn how to find the ten best schools for your list. What universities you put on your list will depend on your qualifications, your professional interests and your economic situation. This step is super important and you should dedicate several hours to it.
Once you've chosen a career and you know where you could study, you'll be ready to create your financial strategy. This is Step 4, and it's one of the two steps that help you prepare to pay for college. In this step, we help you determine where you can get the money to pay for college. They are: federal financial aid, private scholarships, family savings and the income you can generate. Don't be discouraged if one of these four figures doesn't exist in your strategy; you'll just have to find other sources.
Take the right classes and get the GPA you need are Steps 5 and 6; although they go hand in hand, you should know that they are different steps. When you work on your College Plan on NewFuturo.com, you'll realize that getting an A in a basic course is not the same thing as getting an A in an advanced placement, or AP, course. For now, it's enough to know that your GPA and the courses you take in high school are very important to getting into college, and they're also linked to the success you'll have in college.
The seventh step is to get involved. This step is an important part of college admissions, because it will demonstrate that you'll be an asset for the college community, as well as a versatile and well-rounded person. Don't underestimate any activity that you do; nor what you're interested in. In this step, we suggest ways that you can get involved, not only in sports, but also with community and social organizations.
When it's time to take the college entrance exams, you'll be completing Step 8. You can prepare by taking practice exams as early as eighth grade. In high school, there are also practice exams that you can take in ninth and tenth grade. During your junior year, it's time to take the official exams either the ACT or the SAT. In this step, we point you to resources to help you know what you should focus on to make sure you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in college.
You've almost finished your plan! At this point, you'll be a senior in high school. Step 9 is to apply to college. Here, you'll need to review your college list from Step 3 and your financial strategy from Step 4. With that information, you'll be able to make a decision as to which colleges to apply to. This step isn't difficult, but filling out applications takes time and can be boring. Your self-discipline will be important to do a good job with the applications and to complete them on time.
Finally, the last step is to get money for college. Once you've applied to college and you know how much money you'll have, Step 10 is to get the money that you still need from external sources: from the government and private scholarships. As you can imagine, this step is critical for your success, but you should know that it is achievable. The first part of this step consists of applying to money from the government, which is done by filling out the FAFSA. For the second part of this step, you'll have to be very disciplined, since you'll need to look for scholarship opportunities and apply for them.
Now you're ready to start working on your College Plan. Get it for free on NewFuturo.com and make it yours! Remember that you'll find all the information you need to complete your plan in one place, you can print information with one click, and share information with your parents in the language of their choice.
We'll be right at your side helping you every step of the way. We wish you luck on your road to college!