First of all, Is College Worth It?
Research shows that people with a college education earn nearly twice as much as those with only a high school diploma. Other research shows that people with a college education live longer, have better access to healthcare, are more economically stable, and have more disposable income than those with only a high school diploma. Yikes! They also live in better neighborhoods and their children have access to better schools. Are there people who do not have a college education who are successful? Absolutely!! However, a college education opens doors and gives you a heck of a lot of self-confidence. In my book, How to Become a Successful Black Man, fourteen of the fifteen men that I interviewed were college-educated. And that was not by choice!
Manual Labor jobs are no longer in demand, as a result, a High School diploma is no longer what is required for this 21st century ‘knowledge economy’. Education is therefore required well beyond high school.
How do I Get into College? 
Preparation for college starts well before high school. Actually education starts before you get into Kindergarten. Students who come to Kindergarten prepared knowing their letters, words and numbers are already ahead of the game. Students who spend summers learning are ahead of those who spend summers just playing and having fun. So if you develop a love of learning then the chances are pretty good that you will get into a good college.
Start Ninth grade being seriously focused because all of your high school years count. What subjects should you take? Four years of Language Arts (English) great for comprehension and developing your vocabulary, three or four years of math..preferably four, three years of science and two to three years of social studies. If you have a favorite college in mind, find out what they need for their admissions.
Besides that, the main thing colleges want to see is that there is rigor in your courses. So don’t just take a class because it is an easy A, colleges want to know that you challenge yourself. Don’t overload yourself, just make sure that you are reaching a little further than your grasp. Foreign languages are good, but it’s better to take 4 years of French than one year of Spanish, one year French, one year of Latin and one of Mandarin. If you are deciding between honors and AP, AP is the better for attracting the best colleges..
Finally, use your electives to develop your interest. Colleges are looking to see that you are well rounded and have a passion. Make sure that you are involved in some form of community work as well and delving into your passions outside of school. Good luck with getting into the college of your choice! You can do it!!!
Next Blog: How to Pay for College
