How soon is to soon to look at colleges?

Question

My daughter is going into

7th grade. She is a gifted and talented student as well as in all advanced classes. Right now she wants to be an archeoligst, however we all know this could change. How soon is too soon to start narrowing down the college list so that we can maxamize the scholarships out there?

Answer 1

7th grade is way too soon.  You really don't need to start looking at colleges until AT LEAST 10th grade.

First of all, so much can change for a kid in one year, let alone six.  I was a senior in high school last year and about 90% of my friends are majoring in something different or going somewhere different than they thought a year earlier.  I honestly think trying to make these decisions too early can do a lot of harm.  I mean, it's good to have goals, but if you decide what you want to do when you're young, you'll tend to stick with it, when you really don't know all the ins and outs of it yet.  That happens to a lot of kids in junior and senior years- I can't imagine what it would be like to have been investigating and preparing for some course of study for six years and then have to deal with a change of heart later, when you've already planted these expectations for yourself and family- it's hard to do.

Also- it's stressful.  You only apply to college once, and if that's not for several years down the road, you really shouldn't "narrow the list".  Keep all the doors open.  There are a lot of factors that you can't really gauge the importance of to your daughter at the age of 17- like size of a school, setting, etc.  

And anyway, narrowing the college list doesn't really do anything to maximize scholarships, at least not yet.  If you're going to get a scholarship, you will get it with your offer of admission or through a separate application process.  But either way, it's not until her junior year at the earliest.  But that all comes after you decide where to apply.

You can investigate outside scholarships from independent funds, but I've never heard of a college scholarship given to anyone not even in high school yet.  My advice is that this is something you don't want to rush into.  When your daughter is in high school you both will know a lot better what you want in a college.

Really the best way to get into college/get scholarships anyway, i just to study and get good grades.  Seriously.  If you make sure your kid works hard and makes good marks for the next four to five years, that's all you need to do- the money will be there.