Tips include start saving, look for scholarships early, earn college credits in high school, consider community college, attend college online, and apply for financial aid. …

A mother reflects on how attending a college graduation brought up college planning considerations for her children, including visiting a college campus, thinking about finances, talking about career plans, and considering school location and distance. …

Other options besides college include trade schools, community college, developing a skill, going into the military, starting a business, or going right into the workforce.…

Take the PSAT, visit college campuses, determine your high school course plan, know what AP & IB classes and extracurricular activties to take, find out GPA requirements, take to family members about their college experiences, and talk with your family about college payment expectations.…

Tips include getting a letter of recommendation from a shop teacher, including any certifications and licensing, looking into programs that have a technical focus, and exploring MassTransfer. …

Take advantage of the guidance that school counselors provide by attending events they host, being proactive and initiating a conversation with them, and having them write a letter of recommendation that puts personality and dimension behind the student's grades. …

Learn about how to create an account profile, build the foundation for a resume, document growing aptitudes and accomplishments, play fun games that facilitate exploration and discovery, complete suggested activities by grade level, and access financial planning topics and exercises.…

If you think your child might be a good fit for trade school, you should think about your child's skills and learning style and if they enjoy a more hands-on learning environment, consider the most common jobs associated with trade school graduates and if they would be a match for one, and look at the options for trade schools nearby to see if one fits your child's interests. …

A parent of a high school junior discusses making a list of schools, planning campus visits, attending college fairs, and considering post-graduation possibilities such as a gap year or a community college. …

A mother of three discusses when she started saving for college, expecting her children to contribute toward college costs, talking to her children about helping save for college, and tips to help families save. …