College: Help Guide Your Child. Parents of Middle School Students. College: Help Guide Your Child Parents of Middle School Students

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1 College: Help Guide Your Child Parents of Middle School Students College: Help Guide Your Child Parents of Middle School Students

2 As a parent, you have a great influence in determining whether your child will go to college. You already know that an education beyond high school would be highly beneficial for your child, but you may not know how to help them achieve that goal. It s not too early to start planning for college Middle school is not too early to start planning for college. In order to help your child, it is important to learn as much as possible about the college admissions process and financial aid. If you are not familiar with the process, you and your child can learn together. By attending college, your child can: { Gain rewarding career options and flexibility in the job market { Achieve higher earning potential { Build networks of friends, teachers, and professionals { Grow into a role model for family members and the community Achieve Gain higher earning potential. rewarding career options. PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT Grow into a role model. Build networks of friends.

3 Help your child plan for college: Here are some valuable suggestions as to how you can help your child plan for college. If you have not earned a college degree yourself, you might be inspired to do so through this process as well. { Speak With your child about college. Talk about the benefits of earning a college degree. Ask your child what he or she has already learned about college and explain that it is an option worth pursuing. Let your child know that college is within reach. With your child s teachers and counselors. Discuss your expectations for your child and ask them for guidance and support. They may share their own college experiences with your child. With individuals that attended college. Some may work in careers for which your child has expressed an interest. Ask them for suggestions and tips to help guide your child. With representatives from colleges. Inquire about admissions criteria, campus environment, and cost. { Read about careers and colleges. Utilizing the public library and the Internet to research careers, colleges, and programs of study can be useful strategies. You can start by visiting Adventures In Education (AIE TM ) at { Save for college. Beginning to save a few dollars a week now can amount to several thousand dollars when it is time for your child to attend college. Speaking to a financial professional can also be helpful in learning how to effectively manage your money and save for your child s education. { Attend informational sessions about college with your child. You will most likely have the opportunity to attend a college and career program in places such as your child s school, a nearby high school, or your community center. At this type of function, representatives from several colleges and employers will be present and you will have the chance to learn about different opportunities that are available to your child. { Become familiar with local colleges. Many colleges have enrichment programs that your child can participate in while still in middle and high school. Is your family on track? Are you prepared for your child s future? Learn about college costs and how you can start saving now. AIE includes information on financial aid and college savings plans to help you get started.

4 Adventures In Education Resources The toll-free Texas Financial Aid Information Center can answer questions about financial aid and general college admissions. Bilingual representatives are available for students and parents who are more comfortable speaking in Spanish. Several websites offer good information about financial aid, college admissions, college and major selection, careers, and many other questions you may have as you start your college exploration and decision making process:

5 Reasons to go to college { Prepare for an exciting career in a field that you ve chosen. { Make more money. On average, a person with a bachelor s degree will earn more than a person with a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, it could be over a million dollars more. 1 { Have more options in the job market, lifestyle, and where you live. { Set an example for siblings, relatives, children, and members of your community. { Be in a position to help those you love. The more you learn, the more you earn. Doctoral Degree ($1,532/wk) $79,664/yr Professional Degree ($1,529/wk) $79,508/yr Master s Degree ($1,257/wk) $65,364/yr Bachelor s Degree ($1,025/wk) $53,300/yr Associate Degree ($761/wk) $39,572/yr High School Diploma ($626/wk) $32,552/yr No High School Diploma ($454/wk) $23,608/yr 2009 Median U.S. Earnings by Educational Attainment Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey Kantrowitz, Mark. The Financial Value of Higher Education, NASFAA Journal of Student Financial Aid, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2007); U.S. Census Bureau. The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings. July 2002.

6 About TG TG promotes educational access and success so that students can realize their college and career dreams. As a public, nonprofit corporation, TG offers resources to help students and families plan and prepare for college, learn the basics of money management, and repay their federal student loans. For more information about TG, visit To learn more about college and career planning, visit TG s Adventures In Education (AIE ) at To request permission to reproduce any of the information provided, please call TG Communications at (800) , ext Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation