Many parents think about college long before their children do. Students are most likely to aspire to college if their parents let them know that it's important. Although middle school grades do not count in the college admission process, a students' performance in middle school does provide the foundation for success in high school and middle school.

• Monitor your child's academic progress.
• Make sure that your child has a good place to study and that homework gets done.
• Take an active role in helping your child choose classes and activities for the freshman year.
• Start discussing and exploring career and college options.
• Plan for the cost of college.
• Encourage your child often.

Freshman year, a time of transition, courses, grades, credits, test scores, and attendance all become part of a student's permanent record. Freshman year is just as important as junior and senior years, since the courses from all years are included on a student's transcript and all grades are included in the cumulative grade point average, or GPA. Freshman year serves as a foundation for the remainder of high school.

• Monitor your child's academic progress.
• Make sure that your child has a good place to study and that homework gets done.
• Attend open houses and teacher conferences.
• Help your child become involved in a wide variety of activities in and outside of school. Encourage him or her to assume leadership roles.
• Start a scrapbook or list of activities and achievements. When it comes time in the college application process to list accomplishments, you'll have a complete and accurate list.
• Guide your child in selecting the most appropriate courses for sophomore year. Every year in high school is important.
• Assist your child in finding meaningful summer activities. Options include summer programs on college campuses, summer camps, paid work, and volunteer opportunities.
• Provide encouragement and support.

Sophomore year is a year of personal growth. In addition to working hard in school, students should start to identify their own abilities, interests, and values.

• Continue to monitor your child's academic progress.
• Make sure that your child has a good place to study and that homework gets done.
• Attend open houses and teacher conferences.
• Encourage your child to get involved in a variety of activities and to develop leadership skills.
• Keep the activity scrapbook up to date.
• Check to see if your school offers standardized tests or other tools for the future.
• Help your child find meaningful activities for the summer months. Many colleges are looking for work or volunteer activities related to a student's chosen area of interest.
• Start to explore and discuss college options. Attend a college fair, visit a college campus and find out about financial aid.
• Assist your child in choosing the most appropriate classes for junior year. He or she may want to consider taking vocational/technical courses if the schedule allows and the student can still meet college admission requirements.

This is the year for test anxiety, intensified college and scholarship searches. Registration, preparation, and study guides for the PSAT, SAT and ACT are available in high school guidance offices.

• Continue to monitor your child's academic progress.
• Register in the fall for the PSAT.
• Register for the ACT or SAT during your junior year.
• Attend open houses and teacher conferences.
• Start discussing and exploring college options.
• Get to know your child's school counselor and the types of resources offered by the guidance office.
• Attend a college fair.
• Visit colleges.
• Learn about financial aid and scholarship options.
• Make sure your child continues to take college preparatory classes.
• Send for college information and applications.
• Keep the activity scrapbook up to date.

Senior year is both exciting and terrifying by the thought of applying to college and the prospect of high school graduation.

• Continue to monitor your child's academic progress.
• If your child hasn't taken the ACT or SAT be sure to encourage him or her to get registered.
• Help your child obtain college application materials and to follow through on completing them.
• Be aware of financial aid and scholarship application procedures, paperwork and deadlines.
• Attend Financial Aid Night at your child's school.
• Watch deadlines.
• Keep a copy of everything.
• Help your child make final college choices.