<p>Freshman year is more than fine to start the college process. It could start in baby steps; looking at the local colleges; community colleges, state university, private colleges. </p>
<p>If are near a college you can do short trips while you are on vacation, it is good for kids to see the differences between an urban, suburban and rural campus. They can see the difference between a large, mid size and LAC. You can talk about the differences between research universities, comprehensive colleges and LACs. Your child will find out what they want in a school as much as what they don’t want in a school.</p>
<p>It is also the time you begin to talk about the importance of building their academic foundation. It is not the time to batter your kids over the head to say that if you are not taking quantum physics or getting an A- freshman year is going to relegate you to community college.</p>
<p>You as the parent can also start running your numbers through the net price calculator now. This way if your financial situation remains stable you have an idea of what it is going to cost to send your child to college and plan accordingly. If you know that you are going to be full freight payers and you don’t want to spend 60-65k to send kid to (inset school here), don’t hype these schools as the be and end all for your kid. </p>
<p>You can talk to your child about the financial parameters especially if you are depending on merit $$ to defray the cost. Talk about the benefits of attending the local state U (in the event that that may be the last school standing). If you know that your child may have to start at CC, let your child know that there are multiple paths to take you from point A to point B and start looking at the various articulation agreements. Let them know that there is no shame in starting at CC as this is the financially feasible option for many families.</p>
<p>If you are a low income family, start investigating Questbridge, Posse and the various opportunity programs not only where you live but at other universities. </p>