High school graduates who make the decision to attend college right after graduation should create a strategy early so that they are able to transition successfully and painlessly to college.

How to

Here is a list of options to choose applicable situations to each graduate:

Meet with your high school counselor regularly and discuss your plans as early as possible
Take aptitude testing to identify strengths and weaknesses
Take personality testing to discover your likes and dislikes
Take as many AP classes as allowed to transfer to your colleges of choice
Keep your GPA as high as possible
Take entrance exams - SAT, ACT, etc. as early as permissible
Make a list of your colleges of choice including private schools. Research and screen each one of them
Discuss finances with your parents to find out if they had established any educational payment plans such as 529 Plan or other saving plans
Take an invested interest in creating a financial plan with your parents
Seek part-time employment and save as much money as possible
Seek companies that offer corporate scholarships to high school juniors and seniors
Open a student/free saving and checking accounts - you may need your parents' assistance due to age restrictions
Secure an authorized user credit card - you may need your parents' assistance due to age limitation. Be sure to show responsibility to earn and keep your parents' trust in you
Educate yourself in areas of financial student aid, FAFSA application, Common app, etc.
Search for all kind of scholarships and grants
Align your academic goals with a financial plan
Follow your passion but factor in your financial happiness and security
Align future borrowing of student loans with your future ability to pay back debt and sustain living expenses
Learn money management skills and keep educating yourself in financial literacy discipline

Practice

Now that you know the basics tips and ways to transition successfully from high school to college, think of paying it forward and discuss the questions you would want to ask a high school counselor to transition successfully to college with a friend or a family member.

Congratulations! Now Test your knowledge about High school students' financial literacy.

Would you like to review again? You can start over at Introduction.

To review the full module on financial literacy for high school students, click here.

The Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center hopes you have enjoyed this module in the MoneyCounts: A Penn State Financial Literacy Series. Please tell us how we can serve you better, leave us a feedback, ask a question, or request additional information at: finlit@psu.edu