College Prep is an Investment—Stop Being Cheap

College Prep is an Investment—Stop Being Cheap

“College Prep is Financial Literacy” isn’t just our catchy tagline. It’s a statement rooted in years of research and firsthand experience observing the mindset, behaviors, and decisions of high school students and their families when it comes to preparing for college.

According to the Department of Education and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, college readiness is defined as the set of skills, knowledge, and behaviors a high school student should possess upon graduation in order to succeed in their freshman year of college. But being truly college-ready goes beyond academic content taught in classrooms—it requires exposure to a broad range of competencies both inside and outside of school.

Gaining this exposure takes planning—and yes, it costs money. Below are some examples of how college prep and financial literacy go hand in hand.

Career Assessments

Let’s be real—many high school students have no idea what career they want to pursue. Some idealize high-paying jobs with minimal work, while others don’t connect with their true passions until much later in life.

At PreCollege Solutions, every one of our students takes a career assessment. While there are free assessments available, we intentionally use a paid version that provides a more in-depth look at personality traits, interests, and skill sets, aligning them with potential career paths. Then, we help students research those careers in depth. The sooner a student identifies their purpose, the more focused and intentional they become about their academics and future.

That’s priceless.

Summer Camps and Internships

Once a student has identified a career interest, it’s the parent or guardian’s job to invest in nurturing that interest. One of the best investments we’ve seen is early exposure through summer camps and internships.

These experiences do two important things: they either deepen a student’s passion for their chosen field or help them realize it’s not the right fit. Either way, this clarity saves time, money, and stress—in high school, not in college when the stakes are much higher.

Test Preparation

According to the College Board, in 2023, only 40% of the 67% of high school juniors who took the SAT met or exceeded college readiness benchmarks. Scoring well on the SAT or ACT isn’t just about bragging rights—it directly impacts college admissions and scholarship opportunities.

Yet, only a small percentage of families invest in test prep or tutoring. The return on investment is significant. A few hours of preparation can translate into thousands of dollars in scholarships. Our higher-income families understand this and use it as a strategy to reduce the cost of college.

This is why we continue to emphasize: College prep is financial literacy.

The biggest financial decision a high school student will likely ever make is what happens after high school. Without the proper guidance and support, it’s easy to make costly mistakes.

So stop being cheap—invest in your child’s future now.

If you need more one-on-one. Book our free 20-minute consultation. 

Book Now