November 6, 2024 – National Scholarships and College Application Month is here, and it’s an exciting time for high school students thinking about their futures. Karen McGhee, a college and career advisor at Sale Creek Middle High School, shared her tips on how students can prepare for college.
As a college and career advisor, Mrs. McGhee’s job is to help students make plans for what they want to do after high school. This might mean going to college, joining the military, or learning a trade. At Sale Creek, a small school where she’s worked for many years, Mrs. McGhee says one of the best helpers to this is that she knows her students well. For some students, the right path could be a big university, while for others, it might be a community college or a technical school.
Mrs. McGhee believes the best thing for each student differs, and the “fit”—finding the solution that feels right for each student—is the best way to help. “For some kids, a two-year college is the best start, while others might want to try for a big university,” she says. Knowing the students and understanding what they’re interested in helps her give good advice. She uses her interactions with students and the results from their career tests to give them the best support possible.
One of the hardest parts of applying to college can be the costs. Mrs. McGhee shares that many states have a free college application week, which is helpful for students who may not be able to afford application fees. “Some colleges charge $75 just to apply,” she explains. “That can be a lot of money for families, so free college application week helps students send in applications without worrying about the cost.”
In addition to free application weeks, Mrs. McGhee emphasized that the earlier you apply, the more scholarship opportunities you have. She guides them through filling out financial aid forms and scholarship applications so they can make college more affordable. She also attends college visits with the students and helps them with dual enrollment. In making sure the parents are also informed, Mrs. McGhee has several parent meetings throughout the year based on the grade their child is in and topics like financial aid information.
One student Mrs. McGhee has helped this year is Alanna Jones Newman, who is trying for a prestigious scholarship as part of the QuestBridge program. This scholarship is special because it covers all the costs of attending a top college. QuestBridge matches students with colleges and offers full financial support for students who might not be able to afford college otherwise. There are 10 QuestBridge Scholarship Finalists in Hamilton County and only about 8000 countrywide.
Alanna says the application process was challenging, but she knows it’s worth it. She had to write several essays and gather recommendations from teachers. She researched colleges and ranked her top three choices: Brown, Columbia, and Cornell. She then applied to every college she wanted to be considered for during the matching process. If she gets matched with one of these colleges, her full tuition and school expenses will be fully paid.
Alanna’s advice for students who may want to apply for scholarships like QuestBridge is to start early. “The application has so many parts to it,” she explains. “The sooner you begin, the easier it will be to finish everything on time.” She also recommends doing complete “dives” into each of the colleges you want to attend and see what their specialties are around the major you are looking to pursue.
Mrs. McGhee also encourages parents to be part of the college application journey. She often reminds parents not to worry too much about the cost right away. “Some parents see a college’s price tag and think, ‘We can’t do that,’” she says, “but many colleges offer financial aid that makes it more affordable than they realize.”
Another way parents can help is by keeping an open mind. Sometimes, students need to go to a school a little farther from home to have the best experience; they also might be better off attending a 2-year college to start with or might need to go right into a 4-year one.
With many early deadlines for various colleges coming up, now is a perfect time for students to start thinking about their future. Mrs. McGhee’s tips show that there’s a path for every student who wants to attend college, whether that’s a four-year university or a community college. Mrs. McGhee’s advice for all students is simple but important: apply early, use free resources, and don’t be afraid to dream big. Not having assumptions about certain colleges, whether that comes from their reputations or the type of colleges they are, can also help with the journey, as you never know which path your “fit” is going to be until you give it a chance.