Check out my Summer College Prep tasks below to get started

Tips For All students 9th-12th Grade

Read as much as you can. It will help your writing skills and make reading passages during standardized exams like the PSAT/SAT/ACT a piece of cake.

Participate in a community service activity or volunteer your time. Colleges like students who give back and there are tons of scholarship programs that have this as a requirement. So be a good human and get on out there.

Practice your basic skills, folks. You cannot afford to fall behind. The work will only get harder. Practice makes perfect.

Practice for SAT/ACT or both.

Research careers…. I suggest doing this before building your college list. Why? Because knowing what you want to do can help you narrow your search and make it more likely for you to choose a college that has your career interests in mind. Thank me later!

Research colleges you may be interested in attending. Start by answering the following: What is the requirements to get in? How much will it cost? Does it have anything I would be interested in? *Remember, college visits count as research. Start with local colleges in your area and branch out so you can compare. 

Tips For Rising High School Seniors

College application season will be here before you know it. If you use this time to knock some things off your list, the fall will be way easier. Try getting these things done ASAP!

Finalize your brag sheet and resume. These documents are used to showcase your skills for recommendations and future opportunities. Think of 3 core content teachers who would write the best letter for you and give both documents to them when school starts. Check the On Track Hub for access to my Brag Sheet Generator to get started.

Finalize your college list. What schools do you envision yourself going to? Make sure to check their requirements and tuition costs before adding them to your list.

Start on your essay. The essay portion takes the longest amount of time to complete. Check each college website for instructions/prompts and get started ASAP. 

Study for the SAT/ACT. You want to get the highest score you can possibly get. Start studying ASAP!

Want a spot to organize all this information? Get the On Track Playbook to move your plans forward.

Tips For High School Juniors

Think of activities you want to be a part of this year. Sports, arts, clubs, student government will be a great look for your high school resume.

Start drafting your resume. Think of all the activities, jobs, and accomplishments you’ve had throughout your high school career, and write them all down. This will help you in the future.

Tips For Parents

Have a conversation with your child about their future plans. What is it that they want to do? What schools are they considering? How far is too far? 

Sit down WITH your child to do some research so you don’t get blindsided by high costs or unrealistic expectations. This step is super important. (Trust me on this one).

Create a budget and start saving! College is expensive….So are applications, test fees, deposits, and other costs associated with senior year. Don’t get caught out there. Sort out your finances and put some cash aside to help you meet your family’s need.

Need help to get things right?

Jump back into the On Track Hub to see how else I can help and check out My Amazon Storefront for my favorite College Planning Tools, including my On Track For College Workbooks: https://amzn.to/3NCdxg2

Learn more about the author Mizz P. here: www.mizzp.nyc

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You are one step closer to getting out of high school and stepping into college! With such an exciting transition ahead, it’s important to stay focused so you can graduate on time and land in the college of your choice. Follow this High School Junior Checklist to get exactly where you want to go!

Reflect on your skills, talents, and interests to get an idea of what you might want to do future.

Not sure where your skills and interests lie? Take personal inventories like the true colors assessment by Hancock College or Hampton University and consider taking a career interest inventory like the one provided by Minnesota State to see what options are available to you.

Research careers that interest you and will utilize your skill set. Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn more about the path to get there and more.

Find colleges that will help you further develop your skills and lead you to your future career. Look through their majors and consider other factors such as location, size, and campus culture to build a good college list. Once you have seen all you need to see, take a look at their requirements to make sure you have the right GPA and test scores to get in.

Attend college fairs and take tours as often as you can. Both provide great insight and help you learn more about your options. Always go prepared with questions to ask and grab some information.

Meet with your school counselor to discuss your future plans: See if they have any valuable advice or resources to help you move your plan forward.

Keep your eye on your grades and maintain involvement. The last semester of your junior year is your last time to really get it right! When you start the application process in the fall of your senior year, colleges will make a judgment based on what you‘ve done between your freshman and junior year. Get in those last A’s and B’s and maintain or add activities to your list to finish up strong!

Start on important portfolio materials such as your resume, brag sheet, and college essay to save some time on applications during your senior year. The more you do now the easier senior year will be!

Look for scholarships and start doing your research about the different types of aid available. Want to know how much federal aid you qualify for? Check out the FAFSA Estimator and learn more about financial aid here.

Maximize your summer by finding ways to build your resume. This can look like pre-college courses, community service projects, a summer job, or building on a passion project. Whatever you do make it worth it!

And remember kids, the more you complete now the easier those college applications will be! You Got This and we got you!

Want to get a head start on your college plan and materials? Check out my On Track For College workbook to get all planned up! ​​https://amzn.to/4a2GQS7

Learn more about the author Mizz P. Here

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College can be an expensive mistake if you are not careful!

Yeah I said it! And I am not taking it back either!!!! 

Let’s be clear, debt is not a rite of passage and can be completely unavoidable if we just take a moment to plan. Daddy Warbucks isn’t coming to save us so we have to stop with the wishful thinking and start getting real.

Did you know:

The average college student can take anywhere from 4-6 years to graduate?  That means 4-6 years of tuition, fees, food, supplies, deposits, emergency funds, etc. Very few people highlight this in their presentations so it’s important to me that you know what you are really up against.

Right now student debt is hovering around $1.72 trillion dollars and get this… only 43.2 million people have contributed to this number. Crazy right? That means a lot of these folks are out here struggling instead of thriving like so many have promised but this does not have to be your story!

So, how can you game plan to avoid a debt-filled future?

Well first, it starts with positioning. Having a solid portfolio and student profile (track record of good grades, test scores, and involvement) can increase marketability and make it possible to achieve more scholarship opportunities (even in college). Free money is always a blessing but you can’t get it if you don’t qualify!

Next is creating a smart list of colleges that considers the costs, pros, and cons of each choice. Finances should be included in the decision-making process! If your family will be at a disadvantage financially then the plan needs to be revamped. Check all other available options that won’t break the bank. There are plenty of them out there.

Last but not least, you MUST create a savings plan to ensure that you are able to meet the costs associated over time. Financial aid doesn’t always cover everything and college is much more than just tuition and fees. Create the plan and work it. You got this!

Before you go, check out this video I found on BuzzFeed. Hopefully, Brittany’s very real and common experience can help you understand why it is so important to be proactive with your planning efforts. Watch it and let me know what you think.

Need help setting up your financial strategy? Check out my mini-course Financing College 101 for tips, tricks, and strategies to lower your college costs and find additional funding. Get it here

Learn more about Mizz P.’s offerings here: www.mizzp.nyc

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