This time of year for high schoolers means back-to-school shopping, comparing class schedules, gearing up for homecoming — and planning for what’s next.
Moscow-based nonprofit Palouse Pathways helps provide direction to area students who are considering college, and Inland 360 asked its director, Peggy Jenkins, to share some advice.
Jenkins obtained a certificate in college admissions counseling and started Palouse Pathways after her son went to college. The organization serves students primarily in Latah and Whitman counties, but includes participants from as far away as Lapwai.
Students and parents can attend in-person and online workshops, and students who want to take a deep dive into everything college prep-related can participate in a free program called Palouse Pathways Scholars. More information is at palousepathways.org.
Among Jenkins’ advice for high school students and their families:
It’s worth it to put away money for college. A 529 plan, for example, can help families save for school while saving on state taxes, Jenkins said, and “It’s never too late to do that.”
People worry if they save money they won’t qualify for financial aid, she said, but while a substantial savings has the potential to slightly reduce financial aid, “It’s still really worthwhile for families to do that.”
Take college admissions tests (SAT, ACT). Colleges have gone back and forth, Jenkins said, but there seems to be a trend toward requiring these tests, so it’s probably good to take them and keep your options open.
“You don’t have to get the best score to have a test score that’s helpful for you,” she said.
Most students take them their junior year of high school, but students can start in 10th grade and seniors can still take them, too.
Think about what schools are going to be most affordable for you and your family. “That really can depend on your family income and your strength as a student,” Jenkins said.
A strong student (mostly As, maybe a few Bs, in challenging classes such as dual-credit or Advanced Placement) whose family income is $75,000 or less could qualify for substantial aid from any number of “really great schools,” she said. The College Within Reach event (more info at right) is a good place to explore this further.
A national scholarship program called QuestBridge, at questbridge.org, helps low-income students find scholarships, including full scholarships, Jenkins said. The QuestBridge deadline is in September, so students should check that out soon.
Explore your interests. As simple as this sounds, it’s probably the most important piece of advice, Jenkins said: “You really need to learn about yourself in this process.”
Are you someone who needs hands-on learning? Is more career-oriented? Wants a school with strong sports teams?
“You want to go to the one where you’re going to thrive,” she said. “It’s something that should open doors for you and make you excited.”
That also can mean pursuing something that’s not college or waiting a year or two before starting college.
“There’s all sorts of possibilities,” she said.
- Path to College For Ninth and Tenth Grade Families, 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, 1912 Center Great Room, 412 E. Third St., Moscow. This free regional event includes pizza and giveaways, and gas cards are available for people traveling from outside of Moscow. Organizers will present a timeline for college-bound students, and a panel of teachers will offer tips for high school success and thinking about college. Even families who aren’t sure about college will benefit from the information presented, Palouse Pathways Director Peggy Jenkins said.
- College Within Reach, 1-5 p.m. Oct. 19, 1912 Center. Jenkins called this annual event a “paying for college” fair — “We know that’s a big, scary thing,” she said. An expert speaker will discuss approaches to financial aid, and families can visit with organizations like Job Corps and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps that help students pay for college and employers like Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories that offer tuition assistance for employees. She expects to have representatives from Idaho LAUNCH and Washington College Promise on hand as well, Jenkins said.
- Palouse Pathways is set to be involved in an event being planned for Oct. 16 that will include universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and Yale, as well as local schools, Jenkins said. More information will be posted on the Palouse Pathways website, palousepathways.org.