Start Early!

There is almost no such thing as starting too early when it comes to planning for paying for college. Many essay, poetry, and science competitions are open to high school students and students as young as 13 years old. You may not know what you want to major in when you’re a high school freshman, but you do have hobbies and interests that can act as a stepping stone to a professional career and even a way to pay for that training.

Joining high school clubs that match your interests is one way to advance your education and academic credibility while having fun. Music, newspapers, student government, sports, science fairs, and creative writing can all add to your future college applications, and they may even make you eligible to apply for scholarships and contests while you’re still in high school.