Did you know you may be able to avoid out-of-state tuition rates in a neighboring state through reciprocity agreements? These pacts between states offer each other's residents discounted or in-state tuition rates!

The Western Undergraduate Exchange provides reduced tuition rates for two- and four-year schools for out-of-state students in 15 western states, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, and more! Through the program, residents are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay 150% of the in-state tuition rate — an incredible savings!

Similarly, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have a reciprocity agreement that reduces or eliminates nonresident fees for students living in these states.

The Midwest Student Exchange Program provides discounts to students in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. With more than 140 participating colleges and universities, public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate for specific programs, and private institutions offer a 10% reduction on their tuition rates. Participating students will typically realize savings between $500 and $3,000 annually, which can make a huge difference!

Before you resign yourself to a second- or third-choice school that's in-state, talk to your guidance counselor or a financial aid officer and find out what options you have!

Last week I explained what the Expect Family Contribution (EFC) was. Today you get to learn about how to avoid having a higher EFC than you should!

Hundreds of articles have been written that recommend gaming the FAFSA by appearing to have fewer financial resources than you do to get more aid. I don’t recommend you do this.

Aside from the ethical and legal aspects of shifting assets and income to manipulate the system, almost anything you do to affect your EFC will have an impact on your personal income, assets, and taxes.

What about shifting assets?

For example, you may decide to spend all your personal savings on a new car, hoping this would lower your EFC by lowering your assets.

But would spending $30,000 on a car mean your child would get $30,000 more in financial aid? No. Only a maximum of 5.64% of your assets are counted in the financial aid formula.

This would be like giving up $30,000 for $2,260 (at most) in additional financial aid (some of which will be student loans).

Not only would you be trading real dollars you have for pennies in aid, if you need the money, you won't have it. You’ll have to borrow the funds and pay them back with interest.

Common sense principles

The following common sense principles will affect how financial aid works for your family and keep your EFC low.

Don't overpay your share. Some parents believe that they are 100% responsible for financing their child's education. This is not the view of the federal government or college financial aid offices. They believe that the paying-for-college responsibility rests with:

1. The student first
2. Parents second
3. College, including financial aid, last

The financial aid formula assumes that students will contribute a large percentage of their income and assets to pay for each year of college.

If parents pay for everything and let their children keep their savings accounts untouched, they will be penalized, because the formula will keep assessing the same high percentage against the child's assets every year.

Build your 401(k) and IRA accounts. Under the federal and institutional methodologies, your retirement accounts are not considered assets that can be used to pay for college. Plus, under current tax laws, you may withdraw money from these accounts and use it to pay tuition without paying a penalty.

Check your pride at the door. Some families are embarrassed to reveal financial information to a total stranger, but this kind of pride could cost you. While financial aid calculations seem very mechanical and pre-determined, they are not. Your financial aid administrator is a professional who can can strongly influence the process.

If you have suffered a setback — especially one that is not reflected in your FAFSA or past year’s taxes — let your financial aid officer know. He or she can modify the results of the financial aid calculations. Financial aid administrators are there to help and can save you money if you let them.

The bottom line:

Don't waste time with strategies that may result in tiny increases in financial aid (which may be offset by higher taxes or lower asset levels) and that, at worst, could result in fines or jail time. Instead, focus on getting your taxes done early and correctly.

Financial aid award letters tell you exactly how much financial support the school is able to provide for the upcoming year. The most common sources of aid are:

Grants: Money that does not have to be repaid.

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• ACG
• National SMART Grant
• TEACH Grant
• Institutional grants
• State-sponsored grants

Work-Study: Money earned by working.

• On-campus (work for the school)
• Off-campus (private nonprofit organization or a public agency)

Scholarships: Money that does not have to be repaid.

Any scholarships you informed the school about, as well as those the school has to offer, will be included on your award letter.

Student loans: Money borrowed that must be repaid.

• Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized)
• Federal Stafford Loan (unsubsidized)
• Federal Parent PLUS Loan
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
• Federal Perkins Loan
• State loan programs
• Private loan programs
• Other loan programs

Items to Consider

• Read your award letter carefully to be sure you understand all terms and conditions so you can decide if you want to accept any, or all, of the aid offered.
• Look for instructions for your next steps. You may need to complete additional paperwork such as loan applications.
• See if grants or scholarships are available for more than one year. If so, what conditions apply? If not, are any options listed for the following years?
• Remember, unless otherwise stated, this letter applies only to the upcoming school year.

Report Changes

After filing the FAFSA, any changes in financial or family circumstances must be reported to the school. Additional outside sources of financial aid, parental unemployment or illness, or change in enrollment or family status could affect the award. Even name and address changes must be reported.

Accepting the Award

Once you've chosen your school, you should inform the school in writing how much of the award you plan to accept. If you don't respond by the date indicated, your award could be in jeopardy.

If you think you need help paying for your college education, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your starting point for applying to most student financial assistance programs, including federal, state, and campus-based aid.

Beginning January 2, high school students headed to college in the following fall can submit their FAFSA for financial awards and low-cost loans. With $144 billion available, early applicants have the best chances of getting the most money for college.

If you are dreading the FAFSA, take a deep breath and relax. Completing the FAFSA is free. It takes a little time, but it is not as difficult as you may think. If you follow these basic steps, you could complete your FAFSA on the web in as little as an hour or two.

Step 1: Get a Social Security number (SSN). If you submit the FAFSA without a SSN, your application will not be processed. To apply for a SSN, visit Social Security Online, www.ssa.gov.

Step 2: Request a PIN. With a PIN you can apply for and “sign” the FAFSA online, check the status of your submitted FAFSA, and make corrections. If you plan to submit your FAFSA online, you (and one of your parents) can request a PIN at the U.S. Department of Education pin registration website, www.pin.ed.gov.

Step 3: Make note of state and college deadlines and requirements. College and state deadlines tend to be earlier than the federal deadline (many as early as February or March) and may require an application in addition to the FAFSA. Play it safe — collect these dates and information early.

Step 4: Obtain the FAFSA on the Web worksheet. Use this tool to help gather the information needed to complete the official FAFSA. Worksheets are available from your high school guidance office, public library, and online at www.fafsa.ed.gov as early as October.

Tip: You are not required to use the worksheet; it is an optional tool you can choose to take advantage of before submitting the official FAFSA. You cannot submit the official FAFSA until after January 1; however, the worksheet lets you get a jump on gathering information and answering questions well before that date.

Step 5: Complete the FAFSA on the Internet. To access FAFSA on the web, visit www.FAFSA.ed.gov. (It is also offered in Spanish.) Apply as soon as you can after January 1, because funding may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tip: If your family’s tax return is not ready for filing, don’t put off completing the FAFSA. Estimate the tax information and submit the FAFSA. Be sure to make corrections later, if necessary.

Step 6: Review your Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR summarizes the data you reported on your FAFSA. When you receive your SAR, carefully review it line by line. Make corrections or changes, if necessary. If your FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is printed in the upper-right corner. Schools you listed on the FAFSA will receive electronic copies of your SAR.

Step 7: Determine if you need to verify your FAFSA information. At least 30% of submitted FAFSAs are selected for verification. If you’ve been selected, an asterisk ( * ) will appear after your EFC number. When submitting tax returns and other documentation, follow instructions carefully.

Step 8: Compare award letters. If you’re eligible for aid, schools at which you are accepted will send you an award letter. Carefully compare amounts and types of aid awarded.

Good luck!

I was thinking about all the packing-for-college lists that are in my mailbox, the ads about getting everything you need for college, and flashbacks of my own shopping and packing for school. That lead me to today’s topic: What to really pack for college.

This isn’t a list of everything your child should take. (You can find a great list at www.collegeanswer.com/packing.) It is a list that came from an actual college student, who completed her freshman year. I was sure that so many freshmen take everything they see on these lists, and then only use about half of the stuff or wish they had something different. So what better way to find out than ask a student?

Remember that your child will be sharing a room and usually not a very big one. The beauty of social media sites (like Facebook) is that kids can communicate with their assigned roommate way before arriving. They’ll quickly be able to sort through color choices, personality, and probably have a good feel for what they will see once you get the room set up. Use the summer to decide how to handle large items, like a fridge, microwave, lounge chairs, etc. And use the time to inform the soon-to-be roommate of sleep-talking or -walking issues, a love for music while sleeping, the alarm that sounds the latest Black Eyed Peas songs, etc. These are great things to communicate before the first night sharing a room.

I talked to the daughter of one of my friends and neighbors, who is heading back to school as a sophomore this fall. Ariel is extremely organized, so you may find these notes are a little more than you need. That’s okay. All lists or advice that you use must be adjusted to your child. If he hates to swim, don’t pack a swimsuit; it can be as simple as that.

One of the first things Ariel mentioned (I found it a bit surprising but a very valid point) is to be careful if your student plans to take expensive things. She said it was really in reference to the fact that so many of her friends’ valuables were lost or stolen. So if your child wants to pack expensive personal items, you may want to pack a small lockbox to keep them in. She also mentioned that she and her roommate rarely, if ever, watched TV. She said, “TV was a waste of time because you can’t get any good channels and there is so much to do at college, you won’t need it.” Not sure everyone will listen to that, but it’s a very valid point.

Here are a few of the great points she mentioned that you rarely see on what-to-pack lists:

1. Shower bucket: Most every list has this on it, and most everyone is glad they brought one. But what they are often missing are the drain holes. Whatever type of container you get, simply drill several holes in the bottom so all that water and shampoo doesn’t end up as mold.
2. Clothes: Obviously everyone takes them, but are you packing things that will really be worn? Best quote from my interview was this: “Unlike high school, no one cares what you wear in college.” Bring comfortable clothes and, if the college is going to have cold weather, take warm clothes.
3. Nothing with an open coil: For example, hot plates or toasters. You can’t have it so don’t even risk it.
4. People will sit on your bed: One of the best suggestions was about the comforter that kids probably plan to pack. Most people who come to the room will look for a seat, and this is mostly likely the bed. Think about sticking the comforter in the washing machine — not easy. A better option might be two microfleece blankets that can easily be cleaned.  

And here's a great list of some of the Must Haves and Don’t Needs.

Must haves

• A fan (This was the number one thing that was mentioned. The dorms are hot all year long.)
• An iPod or MP3 player
• Laptop
• Two sets of extra long and extra narrow bed sheets (each school will advise what their mattresses are like — their beds are not that wide)
• First aid kit (If everyone knows they have it, they need to be ready to share.)
• Any medical items that are used regularly 
• Alarm clock (Don’t depend on the cell phone; they won't leave their alarm clock at a party.)
• Earplugs (dorms get noisy)
• Software documentation (it doesn’t help if the instructions and guide books are hundreds of miles from your computer)
• Paper calendar (helps to have a visual of events and show the roommate what’s on your schedule)
• Hooks with an adhesive backing
• Duct tape (use it for everything)  
• Lounge chairs (butterfly, papasan, etc.) (If they plan to have a game system in their room, they may need several.)
• Two whiteboards — one for inside the room and one for friends on the outside of the door
• Lots of whiteboard markers and duct tape to keep them from being taken.
• Throw-away plastic food containers
• Disinfectant wipes
• Deep conditioner and lotion — school water is REALLY hard.

Don't needs

• DVDs (download and watch movies on the laptop)
• Under-bed storage containers (Wait until getting to school to see if they are needed. Kids found that they didn’t need the extra boxes and sent them home with their parents.)
• Computer printer (many schools have wireless printers in their common areas; it may save you the money and space of having one in the room)
• Bottled water (very bulky for a dorm room; buy a container with a filter and refill when it's empty)
• Light bulbs and repair kits (school will supply)

A great place to shop for all your college shopping needs is through Upromise.com. By purchasing all your school items from the website at great back-to-school online stores like Bed Bath & Beyond (2% savings), Borders (3% savings), Gap (2% savings), Lands’ End (3% savings), Office Depot (2% savings), Target (2% savings), and hundreds of others, you get a percentage of your purchase placed in your account. 

Have fun at the stores!

So last time we covered the Education Investment Planner (EIP) savings tool, the module made for families of younger children. Today we are off to explore the EIP paying tool to find out just what you parents of soon-to-be-high-school-seniors might expect.

Let’s get started. Just like the savings tool, the EIP really is done more accurately when you have all of the materials you need. For this tool the same types of things should be used, including investment account statements, savings statements, 529 statements, scholarship awards that your child may have won, etc. It’s always better to start prepared.

You can get started at Salliemae.com/invest. Select the link at the bottom for “parents of a high school student” or, if you are the student, select “I am a high school student.” 

The tool takes you to the Student Information page where you will be asked to complete these fields:  student’s year in school, degree they are pursuing, student’s state of residence, citizenship, and where the student is in the planning process.

Next you are taken to the Estimating Costs page where you will complete these fields: school location, name of school (type a few letters of the school name and you should see what’s available), enrollment status, start date, and number of years attending school. 

Let’s talk a moment about the school that you have selected. Most parents have an idea of where they would like their children to go, and that could be driven by schools they attended or by cost (and what they assume they can afford). Talk with your child (hopefully you have done this before the start of your child’s senior year) about

• what they are looking for in a school (size, location, etc.),
• what they hope to do after school (some degrees are more specialized and not offered at all locations), and
• what you can afford.

Don’t skip this part of the conversation unless you want to explain this after they are accepted to a school you can’t afford. It’s important to not limit their dreams, but if you are paying the bills, the cost of the school must work into your budget. I suggest three schools and no more than six to have on the list before senior year.

You now get a chance to see the estimated school costs for the first year of college for your student. The chart will break down the first year costs into tuition, room and board, fees, and books. If you are already having a trouble with this one year of costs remember you will be seeing more. But also remember that you will have a chance to enter your own savings, scholarships, and other money that can help you cut these costs. 

One of the best things I have noticed about this tool is the fact that so many parents forget to figure costs for all four years; they simply look at just one year of cost. But now the EIP shows you the entire cost, with the estimated total for your selected school appearing right in front of you. After selecting the Continue button, it’s your chance to start entering your personal contributions and start bringing down the costs.

The tool allows you to enter the following items: 529 savings, parent savings, student savings, and other sources. The tool also lets you enter the total amount that you plan to pay out of income while the student is in school. These amounts will be divided over the number of years that the student is enrolled. Next you get to enter any awards your student may have received. For many of you completing this tool before the senior year, you may not have anything to enter in these fields; I suggest you select the Apply Average Aid button. Keep in mind that these are average aid figures and not everyone will get these amounts.

If you do have items (awards your student has already been given or scholarships they have won) to enter, you can place those in the following fields: school-awarded  scholarships and grants, federal grant amount, state awarded scholarships and grants, and other scholarships and grants. 

Now your plan is funded and you are looking at the total costs for the years you selected, including any personal contributions you have added. Hopefully you see a better picture than before you added your own contributions. If not, remember that you still have time to put money aside. So many families assume that, just because they are a year away from sending their child to school, there is no hope to save. That is definitely not true. Many families can accumulate a good amount of money in the next five years.

This looks good so far, but you are not done yet. Most of you know about student loans, and many of you have used those loans to pay for your school costs. Let’s look at the costs of college with those loans figured in. The federal Stafford Loan page requires you to answer three simple questions: “Will a parent or guardian claim the student as dependent?” “Is the parent or guardian planning to take out a student loan to cover some of the costs?” and “Is a creditworthy adult planning to cosign?” You are not committed to your answers here, so you may want to choose “Yes” to see all the options.

The tool now figures the amount of federal Stafford Loans that go into your plan. The federal government sets an amount that can be borrowed by each grade level; that is the amount you will see in your plan. The government recently updated the amount that students can borrow; so if you are planning far in advance, you may see this amount change in coming years. 

Now you are at the point where you as a parent can choose what loans (if any) you plan to take out to pay for your child’s college costs. The tool lets you choose between the federal Parent PLUS loan and private student loans. All private student loans are funded by private companies and are typically applied for in the parent’s name or have a parent as a cosigner. The tool will show you exactly what you have left to fund to fully pay for your child’s college costs. You can choose to use both or neither of these loan types.

I decided to fully fund my plan with the loans and then was able to see my plan with $0 remaining to be funded. The plan lets you look at the breakdown from total cost of attendance all the way through the different ways to fund the plan.  

Do not miss the information in the lower left corner that shows student and parent monthly payments for each year and after graduation. I think this is a perfect way to really see what paying for college through loans means. If you select the Continue button and go to the Repayment section, you get a great look at exactly how these payments are broken down between federal and private loans. There’s lots of great information here and, after completing the tool, you may need to come back to this page to read all of the information. (Save your plan so you can do just that.)

 

Select the Student Loan Debt-to-Income Ratio tab at the top of the page. We often hear about parents and students who are shocked at the payments they have to make after they get their first bill. I am sure if they had looked at a page like this they would not be surprised. The tool allows students to select their annual gross income after graduation (make sure they don’t over-estimate: many kids think they will make $200K in their first job out of school and last I checked most new grads don’t get close to that) to see exactly what their payments will do to their debt-to-income ratio. The chart will appear in colors that show manageable, caution, or red flag. Spend some time making sure you are not in a red flag situation.

Now you are done and you can share your plan with others (email it to your child so they can see what the costs will be), save and print your plan. (Why do all the work and not be able to review it later — you can always make adjustments to what you first built.)

I truly believe that this tool is the perfect thing for parents of high school sophomores, as so many parents don’t think about the planning process until right before the senior year. If you are still enjoying your time before the senior year starts, I recommend getting to the EIP and really looking at your personal plan.

Good luck!

As a Sallie Mae employee, I had the chance last year to test the company’s Education Investment Planner (EIP) and pretend my then 10-year-old was ready to head out the door for college. I got to see the current estimated costs of several colleges that my son might one day attend.

Sallie Mae has rolled out a College Savings Module of the EIP. This time it is made for people like me — a parent of a younger child. Now you have choices to really understand what your saving-and-paying-for-college plan should be. If your kids are not yet picking their high school courses or touring campuses, then the new savings section is for you. And if you are almost ready to send the kids off to school, our original EIP paying tool will get you ready.

I thought I would help you understand the process you are all hopefully about to take. This week we will walk through the EIP savings tool and next we will visit the EIP paying tool. So let’s get started.

Be prepared

I am a big fan of starting something new in a very prepared way, and this is no exception. Forms like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (in your student’s senior year) require you to have everything with you before you begin. And before you begin the EIP, you should also grab everything you need.

I pulled out the following things before I started: the latest copy of an investment account for my son’s college expenses, a copy of my latest 529 account statement, a copy of my son’s latest savings statement (one we set for college and where we deposit checks he gets from his grandparents), and the balance in my Upromise account.

Even if you don’t feel like you have enough investment accounts or statements, please don’t despair. This is important. Even if it’s scary to see the results and eye-opening to read these pages, you need to ensure that college may be affordable for your children.

It’s time to start

The first thing you need to enter is the number of children you are setting up plans for. You may do individual plans for each child or combine them into one, but each child should have their own plan.

The first page of the tool asks for the following: name, state of residence, birth month, birth year, school type, attendance type (in state or out of state), education savings to date, future savings (monthly), estimated savings return (%), money contributed during school (monthly).

I loved how easy it was to complete this page. It starts with seeing your child’s name at the top; the importance of who you are doing this for comes into play. After you select the birth year, the tool shows you the year when your child will graduate (just shake your head and think, “Wow, I am getting old”) and the number of years until graduation. That may be a number that scares some of you but continue. For my plan, I chose a state school as I feel there are lots of great state choices for my child, but you might want to run this with both state and out-of-state choices.

Once you hit the button to generate your plan, you sort of wonder what it is cooking up behind the scenes, as it takes a few seconds to show the results. But there it is.

Getting your results

Seeing an estimated cost like $95,340 for four years of college seven years from now is tough to swallow for anyone. Add to that the price of a private school and many of you may be struggling to imagine it happening. I was glad to see my plan with 45% covered by my own savings and investments, because it was certainly better than nothing. But, as I look at the amount I would need to borrow to make it happen, it was definitely daunting.

Compare plans and consider changes

Now I needed to see other plans and how they compared. If you select the link at the upper left side to compare your plan to others, you are shown a new chart next to your own that breaks down how average families pay. The chart shows the amounts as student savings and income, parent savings and income, other savings and income, scholarships and grants, student loans and parent loans. I was glad to see that the savings amount for average families was a couple thousand under what I hope to have saved.

The chart also allows you to see the average school-based scholarships and grant amounts for your school type. Although I know that this is an average and my child may not qualify for this amount of aid, it is nice to have those within your plan.

So now my amount to borrow has decreased by $18,500. That leaves me with a bit less daunting price to pay. If you select the “Savings vs. Borrowing” button on the right side you will see the potential monthly loan payment that you would be expected to make to cover this amount. Would I prefer to have less than a $500 monthly payment for student loans? Sure, so that’s what we need to try to fix. And one way the plan suggests you do this is by saving more. The plan notes that if I save $50 more per month I can cut $6,248 from my “to be borrowed” amount. Definitely something I hope to try.

The tool makes it very easy to change the plan by allowing you to increase future savings, estimated savings return rates, and money contributed during school. By doing this you can easily see how the amounts in your current plan change for the better.

Save your work

After all that work, please don’t forget to save your plan. Because you know things will change in investments and other accounts and because you are now motivated to make things better for your plan, it’s easy to save your plan now and come back at any time to update it. Just enter a few basic bits of info and you are set. If you click “Get a personalized report,” it’s immediately sent to your email.

Even though the tool sort of shocks you in to understanding what is ahead, I was glad I took the time to seeing it. Now I have a great place to start and can actively work on my investment and saving strategies to make an even stronger plan to pay for college.

Good luck!

Last week we discussed Four Money Mistakes You Can’t Afford. Here are four more:

Mistake #5: Not recognizing…or acting on!...ways to cut costs when money is tight.
Spend less or make more! Let’s say you’ve completed your spending plan, and it looks like you’re going to be short each month. You’ve only two options: You need to either reduce your spending or increase your income. Let’s start with…spend less. Since it can be difficult to increase your work hours while maintaining the focus on your schoolwork, let’s concentrate on the first alternative: reducing your spending. Just a little bit of creativity, and the list of possibilities are endless!

Mistake #6: Thinking of your credit card as “easy money.” “Charge!!!” General George Custer would have remained lots healthier if he didn’t race into the Battle of Little Big Horn with such an abundance of confidence and self-assurance. 

Although it’s not exactly the same thing, charging your way carelessly through life (the weapon of choice: a credit card) can result in big problems, too. (And in this case, you WILL live to regret it!) That’s why it’s important to select a credit card wisely and, once you have it in hand, to use it responsibly.

Mistake #7: Not appreciating the value that time has on money. What, in a nutshell, is “compound interest"? Basically it’s a method of computing interest payments that enables your money to grow exponentially (that means, like…it snowballs) over time.

That’s because not only does your principal (the actual deposit) earn interest, but the interest itself earns interest. And as the years pass — wow! — this “interest on interest” method of earning can amount to an incredibly large sum of money.

Mistake #8: Overlooking financial aid. A Q&A section for parents. It’s time to call your parents into the room. This is more for them than for you. That’s because many parents make a big mistake when figuring out how to pay for — or help their kids pay for — a college education: They figure they make too much money for financial aid and fail to apply. Parents, read on: 

Do I make too much money for federal financial aid? While it’s true that some federal programs are available only to low-income families, there are programs open to everyone, regardless of financial status. They offer below-market interest rates, delayed repayment, and other advantages. Even Donald Trump would qualify. All you (and he!) need to do is apply: File the FAFSA!

Which programs are available regardless of financial status? Even if your family doesn’t qualify for need-based aid, you’ve still got two excellent federal government programs available to you. They are:

• Stafford loans. These loans are the most common source of education loan funds, and for good reason. Payment does not begin until six months after the student leaves school and the interest rate is low.
• PLUS loans. A Stafford loan probably won’t cover all of your child’s expenses (since the limit is currently $5,500 for freshman year for subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans). A federal PLUS loan can make up the balance of the costs.

In a recent post, we talked about the recommendations families get on the best classes to take in high school. In addition to the suggestions from high schools, states, and colleges, students have a ton of choices in the types of classes they take. In the last few years we have seen these courses change dramatically.

Unlike when many of us went to school, there isn’t just regular old English anymore. Now there’s AP, IB, honors, and many more to choose from.

So what does it all mean? Let’s take a closer look:

Advanced Placement (AP)

These are college-level (freshmen) courses that usually require significantly more time and effort than the "typical" high school level class. AP exams (which are required) are given in May of each year and cost $86 per test. (Reductions are offered for students with financial need.)

These courses use college-level textbooks. AP science courses may require work outside of the school day due to the specialized nature of laboratory work.

Typical Advanced Placement courses (there are more than 30) include psychology, languages, economics, chemistry, English language and composition, biology, physics, environmental science, computer science, etc. If your child is interested in these courses, make sure they talk to their counselor. If there is an AP coordinator at the school, they should be able to discuss the course workload and preparation.

If your child is homeschooled or attends a school that doesn't offer AP, they can still participate. Students can take AP courses through independent study. States often sponsor online AP courses. Do some research to see what the options are.

For more information, check out the College Board's Bulletin for AP Students and Parents 2008–09 (PDF).

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate program is a rigorous pre-university course of studies, with examinations. The program is designed to meet the needs of those highly motivated high school students between the ages of 16 and 19. Designed as a comprehensive two-year curriculum, the program allows graduates to fulfill requirements of various national education systems. The program is available in English, French, and Spanish and is managed by a nonprofit education foundation that works with 2,629 schools in 135 countries.

The International Baccalaureate has six academic areas surrounding a core. Subjects are studied concurrently, and students are exposed to the humanities and the sciences. Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of the six subject groups. At least three and not more than four are taken at Higher Level (HL), the others at Standard Level (SL).

• Group 1: English A1 (HL)
• Group 2: French B (SL), French B (HL), Spanish B (SL), Spanish B (HL), German B (SL), German B (HL), Latin B (SL), Latin B (HL)
• Group 3: History of the Americas (HL), Economics (SL), Psychology (SL), Psychology (HL)
• Group 4: Physics (SL), Biology (SL), Biology (HL), Chemistry (SL)
• Group 5: Math Studies (SL), Math Methods (SL)
• Group 6: Music Theory (SL), Visual Arts (SL)

Not all schools offer this program so check with the counselors to see if it is available and if and how your child can participate.

Honors courses

Many schools offer honors level courses, though many solely offer AP courses; make sure you ask. Honors courses are typically available in English, math, science, and social studies. Honors courses are designated as such on the student’s transcript.

Some states, like Indiana, offer an Academic Honors diploma. The diploma is the highest level of academic recognition given by the state to high school students. It comes with tough standards: If students get a grade lower than a C in a required course, they are ineligible for the diploma. Check with your child’s school to see if there are state-sponsored programs or honors courses that your child may be able to participate in.

Vocational

Many high schools offer a variety of vocational courses that allow students to engage in career-specific classes that relate to a specific area of employment or an industry sector. Vocational courses tend to be practical and skills-focused, and many include work-related projects or work experience. Assessment of vocational courses is on a continuous basis: Students are required to complete practical tasks and assignments throughout the year.

Leesville High School in Louisiana offers vocational courses such as medical terminology, nursing assistant, and basic technical drafting among others.

Many schools have made separate “Career Center” facilities that house all of their vocational courses and many of these courses are open to adult learners. Many students are able to complete coursework that would normally not be available until after they graduate from high school, which can save money and time.

Career clusters

Many schools use a process called “Career Clusters” to add emphasis to the high school courses and direct students who already know what type of career they plan to study. Schools may offer a variety of careers to choose from and suggested courses and directed electives within those career types.

Here is a sample of career clusters that are used at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis: business, manufacturing, trade and technical, communications science and engineering, fine and performing arts, social and human services, and health.

Although career clusters may not offer your child more advanced learning, they may get them noticed by colleges (especially if your child is applying to major that is popular at that school).

Division 1 NCAA approved core courses for academic eligibility

For student athletes, it’s extremely important that they are aware of the core courses required to compete in college sports. Typically high school coaches and/or athletic directors ensure that their top athletes (or those interested in pursuing athletics in college) are working with a counselor to make sure their classes are the right one, but you should also make sure.

The NCAA website lists the courses for individual high schools. These are courses that meet the NCAA's criteria for a core course. Only the courses listed on this site meet NCAA standards and can be used to determine initial eligibility. Make sure your child is working with both their coach and counselor to select the correct courses to keep them eligible. Read the NCAA's 2008–09 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (PDF) for more information.

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With all of these different types of courses to choose from, it’s very easy to get lost and confused. I recommend parents and students write up a four-year plan to help make it easier. Ask your child’s counselor if they have a sheet that they use for your child’s high school. If not, it’s easy to create.

• List each grade level on a sheet (9th, 10th, etc.)
• List fall and spring semesters
• Leave a space for the number of required courses that students must complete each semester
• List specific courses that are required for each semester if those are set (English 9, Math, Science, Economic, etc.)
• Leave space for additional courses that can be added to the core courses
• Indicate if courses are honors, AP, or IB

The sheet will let your child take a full look at their high school courses before they are completed. This way everyone knows what to expect.

Good luck.

So now it’s the end of the school year, and high school juniors are anxious to say they are seniors. But before heading into the senior year, has your child thought about what classes to take? Is there anything that he should have taken? Is there one last class that might get your child into the top school she is shooting for?

For most students, this discussion should have started back in freshman year. The summer before senior year may be too late, but there are still smart decisions all soon-to-be seniors can make to benefit the most from their last year in high school.

It’s tough for students and parents to know exactly what courses to take in high school to be best prepared for college. Part of the confusion is that most high schools, states, and colleges have their own set of recommendations.

Let’s look at some of the suggestions about the right high school courses:

Recommended and required courses in high school

Most high schools that I spoke to definitely had recommendations for their students when selecting courses. Several high schools such as Wakulla High School in Florida note that they “offer subjects that comply with the minimum requirements for admission to most Florida Universities.”

All schools have a graduation requirements list that complies with the state requirements. But you will certainly see differences in those lists, especially when you compare public and private schools.

St. Gregory High School, a private Catholic high school in Chicago, lists the standard English, math, science, social studies, along with religion and community service (60 hours required before graduation). Private schools may have additional graduation requirements, so make sure you are aware of them.

State required courses

After looking at more than seven state departments of education websites and reading their minimum requirements for credits, here is my suggestion: Since the state you live in is the only one you need to understand, make sure you copy your state's requirements (typically found on the high school or your state’s department of education websites) into a document in your planning-for-college folders.

Your child will NOT graduate from high school without completing the minimum state requirements. As you are preparing for the senior year, make sure that your child will complete all of the credits in this last year. Your child’s high school will have integrated the state requirements into their own requirements.

If you are participating in a home school program, ensuring that you meet the state requirements is one of the most important things to do. Work closely with home school organizations in your state to make sure your curriculum fits what your state requires.

Check out the Sallie Mae website for more details on state resources and, specifically, state higher education information.

College recommended courses

Colleges have a very clear set of admissions requirements for incoming students. If you ignore them or your child has not met them, it’s highly unlikely they will be accepted. The requirements for community colleges, state schools, and private schools vary, so visit each school’s website to take a look.

Several college sites I visited offer information for students in 7th to 11th grade, so check out the "prospective student" pages if a site has them.

Many state schools require standards such as eight semesters of English, six of math, four of social studies, and two of science. In addition, state schools require students to complete the state standards. If you are coming from out of state, review the new state's standards and ensure they are similar to your state’s requirements. Out-of-state students may face tougher admissions standards.

On Harvard’s website, the school notes:

“There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curricula available to them.” The school then lists their “ideal four-year preparatory program.”

Most schools are interested in making sure the incoming students know exactly what is expected of those who are accepted. Just like state requirements, the individual school requirements are likely to be very different.

So, with all these recommendations coming your way, let me make a suggestion or three:

1. To go to college, you first need to graduate from high school. Meeting your high school requirements first is the most important.
2. All high schools in a state should meet the state requirements. Unless you are completing a home school program, you probably won’t need to worry about this one.
3. As soon as your child starts mentioning colleges that he or she may want to attend, check out the schools' recommended academic list. The earlier your student knows what's needed to get in, the better.

Good luck!