How to Create a College Readiness Plan?

How to Create a College Readiness Plan?

Part 1: Invest in Career Prep

Last year, PreCollege Solutions proudly served as the morning keynote for the National Society of Black Engineers–DFW INSPIRE Youth Summit. During our session, we shared three key areas every family should focus on to build a strong college readiness plan.

A college readiness plan is an intentional roadmap that prepares students for:

• College admissions

• Career exploration

• Understanding who is paying for college

Throughout January, we’re breaking down these three areas in our newsletter—feel free to share with another family.

Why Career Prep Matters?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 70% of college students change their major at least once. While switching majors is common, it often leads to extra time in college and increased costs. The solution? Start career preparation early—even as early as middle school.

3 FREE Ways to Invest in Career Prep

1. Connect extracurriculars to career interests. If your teen is interested in engineering, look for youth programs through professional organizations like the National Society of Black Engineersor the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Many offer mentoring and exposure to real careers.

2. Attend youth summits and conferences. These events help students explore careers, meet professionals, and build early networking skills.

3. Follow career-focused influencers on social media. Since teens are already online, make social media productive by following professionals in their desired career field to learn about day-to-day work life.

Need Help Getting Started?

PreCollege Solutions created Parent College Readiness Checklists for each high school level—available to email subscribers for $5 (price increases February 1, 2026):

• Freshman Checklist

• Sophomore Checklist

• Junior Checklist

• Senior Checklist

Next week, we’ll share Part 2: Investing in College Prep. Stay tuned!