Introduction - College Planning - College Board

College Planning

About the College Planning Presentation

Use this comprehensive college planning presentation package to help you guide students and their families through the college admission process.

The slideshow presentation and companion handouts will help you simplify and demystify the college planning process for your students, provide answers to commonly asked questions, and empower students and parents to get a head start on college planning and preparation. Use these resources during your school’s college nights and other scheduled informational sessions, or informally with small groups of students and/or parents.

Presentation Overview

The central element of this package is a stand-alone college planning slideshow presentation, organized into four sections:

Understand College Admission Factors
Learn About the SAT
Explore College Choices
Develop a Financial Plan

At the end of this presentation, students and their parents will have a better comprehension of the college planning process, ensuring that the transition to higher education is less stressful and more efficient.

How to Use the Presentation

The full presentation is designed to be delivered in about 45 minutes, but you can add or remove slides to suit the needs of the group you are addressing. There are two ways the presentation can be downloaded and delivered:

Download the PowerPoint file containing the entire presentation, and click through the slides on a projector connected to your computer.
Download the PDF version of the slides, make copies and distribute. (Note: This is recommended for Mac users.)

Presenter’s notes accompany each slide in the presentation, and they are also compiled in a stand-alone document called “College Planning Presenter Notes” found under the Presentation tab on this page.

Full Presentation and Presenter’s Notes

'Planning for College' Presentation

(Four versions available)
Download PowerPoint in English (.ppt/1.26MB)
Download PowerPoint in Spanish (.ppt/1.21K)
Download PDF in English (.pdf/623.76K)
Download PDF in Spanish (.pdf/613.24K)
Intended audience: Student, Parent

This presentation, available as a PowerPoint slideshow or a PDF document, gives students and parents a comprehensive overview of the college planning process. Download it along with the presenter’s notes, student’s notes, and companion handouts (under the other tabs on this page) to use during your school’s college nights, with small groups of students and/or parents, or in similar informational setting.

Presenters’ Notes for 'Planning for College' Presentation

(Two versions available)
Download PDF in English (.pdf/797.77K)
Download PDF in Spanish (.pdf/163.13K)
Intended audience: Professional

This document contains detailed, slide-by-slide information that corresponds to the Planning for College slideshow. Use these notes when you deliver the presentation.

Student Handouts

Here you’ll find printable college-planning handouts for students, to use with the presentation or on their own.

Student Handout for Planning for College Presentation

(Two versions available)
Download PDF in English (.pdf/624.94K)
Download PDF in Spanish (.pdf/141.59K)
Intended audience: Student

This six-page handout is a companion to the Planning for College slideshow, with space for students to add notes.

College Planning for Ninth- and 10th-Graders

Download Document (.pdf/513.45K)
Intended audience: Student

This two-page document supplies a step-by-step college planning guide for freshmen and sophomores.

College Planning Calendar for Juniors

Download Document (.pdf/504.18K)
Intended audience: Student

This short handout explains the steps (by season) that juniors should take to stay on top of the college planning process.

College Planning Calendar for Seniors

Download Document (.pdf/508.38K)
Intended audience: Student

This brief document explains the steps (by month) that seniors should take to complete the college planning process.

College Application Checklist

Download Document (.pdf/509.69K)
Intended audience: Student

Students can print out this checklist to keep track of application tasks and deadlines.

Create a Solid Academic Portfolio

Download Document (.pdf/462.95K)
Intended audience: Student

This one-sided handout summarizes the kinds of courses that colleges expect their applicants to have taken.

Financial Aid Checklist for Students and Parents

Download Document (.pdf/522.54K)
Intended audience: Student, Parent

Students can print out and use this checklist with their parents to stay on top of financial aid paperwork.

Net Price Calculator Tip Sheet

Download Document (.pdf/509.69K)
Intended audience: Student, Parent

This sheet provides students and families tips to follow when using a Net Price Calculator.

A Toolkit for Parents

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