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The Caveat Family Guide to College

Everything between ninth grade and move-in day, in twelve chapters. Written for parents, in plain words, with a free tool at the end of every chapter.

Download the PDF edition Get one chapter a week by email

Twelve short emails, one a week, from team@caveatacademic.com. Reply stop any time.

CHAPTER 1The four-year planWhat to take, when, and why the plan matters more than any single class.CHAPTER 2College credit in high schoolAP, IB, dual enrollment and online college courses, and how each one counts.CHAPTER 3Testing: the SAT, ACT and test-optionalWhen to test, how often, and when to send scores.CHAPTER 4Activities that mean somethingDepth, responsibility and the activities list colleges actually read.CHAPTER 5Building the college listReach, target and likely colleges, and how many of each.CHAPTER 6What college really costsSticker price, net price and the number to plan around.CHAPTER 7Applications and the essayEvery part of the application, and a calendar that works.CHAPTER 8Recommendation lettersWho to ask, when to ask, and what to hand them.CHAPTER 9The FAFSA and CSS ProfileWhat to gather, when to file, and the mistakes that cost money.CHAPTER 10Comparing aid offersReading an aid letter line by line and finding the real four-year cost.CHAPTER 11For homeschool familiesTranscripts, course descriptions and the counselor letter, when the parent is the school.CHAPTER 12Arriving readyDeposits, housing, placement, orientation and the summer before.

Free readiness tools for high school

TOOLSAT or ACT: which fits?Which test to try first, and why.TOOLIs this AP course a good fit?Eighteen common AP courses, six questions.TOOLReady for AP Calculus AB?Fifteen precalculus questions.TOOLPhysics or chemistry next?Math readiness and interests.TOOLThe writing checkIncluding the college personal statement.TOOLThe activities plannerDepth, growth and a draft activities list.TOOLThe student loan payback estimatorMonthly payments and total interest, before borrowing.TOOLThe first paycheck calculatorGross pay, withholding and take-home pay.
How to use it

Read the chapter for where your student is now, then do the short list at the end. Ninth and tenth graders: start with chapters 1 and 2. Juniors: chapters 5 and 6. Seniors: chapters 7 through 10.

Rather have someone handle all twelve? A Caveat advisor plans the courses, builds the list, tracks every deadline and walks you through the aid forms, with a weekly update.

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The Caveat Family Guide to College is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.