Introduction

If you're thinking about college, you should browse through our Planner Timeline. Here are some general guidelines. If you want to go directly to the Planner Timeline, click on your grade level at right.

1. Start early.
   The best time to start is in the eighth grade, because then you can set up a plan for high school to get ready for college. Even if you're already in high school, it's not too late.
   
   Regardless of the grade you're in, you should:
   
   
   • Pay attention to dates and deadlines.
   • Plan to take the pre-college curriculum required by all public universities in Kentucky.
   • Take at least two years of the same foreign language.
   • Get the best grades you can in the most challenging courses your school offers.
   • Take part in extracurricular activities at school (band, sports, clubs, etc.) and volunteer in the community.
   
   
2. Start looking at what you want to do with your life.
   If you have a definite career goal in mind, that makes getting ready for college a lot easier. You'll know what to take in high school to get ready for college.
   
   
3. Find the college that's right for you.
   You can use GoHigherKY.org to help you find a college by name, by comparison (Comparative View) or by preference (Matching Assistant). Then you can use Campus Tours for a virtual look at the colleges you're interested in. It's also a good idea to visit campuses in person, of course.
   
   
4. Look for ways to pay for college.
   If your parents are picking up the whole tab, great. If not, find out all you can about scholarships, grants, work-study and loans.
   
   
5. Apply online.
   
   
   
6. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the FAFSA - as soon as you can after January 1.
   We'll help you through the financial aid process and teach you other ways to get money for college.

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