Do the research

The path to college is like a jigsaw puzzle. It has lots of pieces, and it matters how they fit together. We’ve gone through many of these pieces already:

• Deciding you are college-bound • Starting to prepare early • Staying motivated • Working hard and smart • Building relationships with adults who can help • Seeking opportunities to spread your wings.

The last piece of the puzzle is the research you’ll be doing all along the way. You need to find out about different colleges, admission requirements and tests, and financial aid. Much of this research is easiest to do online, so start by finding a computer you can use.

What are you looking for?

Colleges that match your interests and circumstances: Two-year and four-year colleges, public and private, large and small, in and out-of-state, specialized colleges (perhaps for engineering, tech, or sciences) and those for liberal arts, “safety schools” (where you can pretty much count on admission) and “reaches” (where your chances of getting in are slim but you would dance if they accept you).

Goal: Create a manageable list of colleges that fit you.

Colleges that do well by low-income and minority students: Four-year colleges, public and private, with a record of providing strong financial aid packages (note: some private colleges and universities are surprising standouts in this regard); percentage of students who graduate in four vs. six years, along with percentage who fail to graduate at all; on-campus support programs for first-generation students.

Goal: Maximize your changes of graduating on time and without excessive loans.

The nuts and bolts of the college application process: What the PSATs, SATs, and ACTs consist of, and the dates they are given at your school; what’s required for admission to the colleges that interest you and when their applications are due; what’s involved in the “Common Application,” the college essay, letters of recommendation, your college resume.

Goal: Make sure you have everything required to make strong applications to the colleges on your list.

Everything you need to know about financial aid: What’s available from the federal government, including Pell Grants; which scholarships you may be eligible for; how to fill out the required FAFSA form for all students seeking financial aid; work-study options at the colleges where you apply.

Goal: Secure the money you need for college, while thinking through your plan for handling long-term debt.