How to Prepare for College Costs as a High School Student

Take AP Classes - Taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school can help you earn college credit.

[{"selector":"#anim-95b1a434-cfb9-43ce-98da-127eaeface9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b58e613-d946-4f6c-9c33-4890fcc2d373","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df1449b5-71a7-4f08-8bcb-413bc91eeb8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Apply for Scholarships - One of the most important things that students can do to prepare for college is to start applying for scholarships.

[{"selector":"#anim-7c70300d-7e48-439e-87e6-088d41dd50a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19628766-94ab-4e7c-9d8f-ed7c8c49f13b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0b11b3c-32ae-4226-a822-021c0747d057","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Start Researching College Costs - Take the time to research college costs now to figure out what you can afford.

[{"selector":"#anim-cfdb4d48-75c0-4db1-b8d9-aeb817d68e58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ad3337e-3e2a-4899-9482-a93d445c5fa6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c31c6f9-0987-45a6-8145-c3c2b437ac17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Higher Edu. Books

Financial Aid Opportunities - If you decide to attend an institution in one state, see what financial aid opportunities are available in your state.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7601ecf-f083-4c99-9fbf-6782b4583e39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c393a450-c9b9-4fd5-a379-7aa270134652","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b657f850-8130-4f64-b607-7c708b7eae34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Focus on Good Grades - You can improve your chances of receiving a scholarship by improving your grades.

[{"selector":"#anim-c6438805-db98-43e1-b236-ac53c2fd013f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3edb46a-264c-43ad-82cb-c2f737be75b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c6a5cd7-ce4e-42ee-8547-74ea9a4b5854","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Immerse Yourself in Extra-curricular Activities – Participating in extra-curricular activities will also let schools know that you are a good student who can balance academics and other interests.

[{"selector":"#anim-709a5c1d-b23e-4b1d-bfbb-d8ba30940399","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dce8f881-c216-4529-a9a8-d72c155c4a27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15ba2351-0f13-44c8-bded-19dd4e70a571","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Get a part-time job - Getting a part-time job can't just make a huge dent in your college tuition bill, it can help you save for other non-essential expenses like concerts, spring break trips, and moving out.

[{"selector":"#anim-1740450d-2130-4e78-a003-c53cb1bd16d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-342a48d7-b161-402c-9bd1-f23073517b22","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35dd89ac-c84a-478f-99d6-62cf387412ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Limit Student Loans - One of the biggest mistakes that incoming college students make is taking out student loans without comprehending how those loans will affect their lives once they graduate.

[{"selector":"#anim-9216845f-d51e-4efb-8538-e9cf2ade4c7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-780fb415-1f69-415e-9380-af3ae0c7f6a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.82649%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5efa70a2-afae-4073-8af7-1eb2b3852a48","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]