As the cost of attending college after graduation from high school becomes more expensive, students need to consider what they can do to prepare for the future.

We’ve often mentioned the advantages available close to home. Barton Community College remains a more affordable option for graduates planning to earn a four-year degree and also for those seeking career certificates. On top of that, there are options for earning college credit while still in high school, and Barton offers scholarships that include a tuition discount for local students. Now the college has added even more scholarships for graduates who maintain high grade point averages.

Which brings us back to the students themselves. They need to learn how to put themselves in the best possible position for life after high school. Those planning to attend college should prepare to take the ACT (American College Testing) examination. The admissions officers at universities look at test scores to judge students’ academic preparedness for college. A higher score can lead to additional scholarships, not to mention future academic success.

Students are used to studying for tests, so they should recognize the need to study for the ACT test. But, Lacy Wolters, the Career/ACT Coordinator at Great Bend High School, said most students don’t attend the voluntary ACT study sessions offered to them. Two-thirds of the seniors who took the test last year didn’t attend ACT test study sessions at the school. That was an increase from the year before, when about one-fourth of the seniors who took the test attended study sessions.

Students maintain busy schedules, which include extracurricular activities, after-school jobs and studying for their regular classes. Wolters has done her part to create more opportunities and to help students find time for ACT test preparation. The numbers show that it pays to study; the students with the five lowest ACT scores last year did not attend any study sessions. And those who took the test as sophomores or juniors, then retook the test the following year, improved their scores. The more study sessions they attended, the greater the improvement.
Only the students can make the commitment to help themselves.