November: Help your CHILD examine test results and plan for improvement.

Look for standardized test score reports.

If your child took the PSAT, the PLAN, the SAT, or the ACT in October, start checking your mail for the score report, which will provide some indication of your child's college readiness. Before you review the report with your child, check out the section for parents at www.collegeboard.com (for the PSAT and the SAT) and www.actstudent.org (for the PLAN and the ACT). Once you've discussed possible next steps with your child, encourage her to meet with her school counselor to plan for the future.

Ask for first quarter report cards.

In many schools, the first quarter ends in November, so a report card should be coming soon. Review your child's report card with him as soon as possible. How did he do on exams? How can he keep on track or improve in the second quarter?

• Encourage your child to come up with ideas for improvement; ask him to evaluate what helped and what challenged him during the first quarter.
• Contact your child's teachers for advice and ideas on ways to help your child improve.
• Talk with your child's school counselor to see if there are tutoring services or study skills classes available.

Attend a VSAC workshop.

VSAC offers several FREE workshops on everything from SAT and ACT test preparation to the financial aid process.

• Ask your school counseling office for the date of VSAC's Paying for College night at your high school. If you've missed the presentation at your local school, consider attending one in a nearby community. View the statewide Paying for College presentation schedule.
• Check out the list of VSAC Resource Center workshops.

Prepare for financial aid paperwork.

• Though you cannot file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) until January 1, you can obtain your personal identification number (PIN) now. The PIN is used as an electronic signature on the online FAFSA, and your family will need two – one for you and one for your child. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to obtain your PIN now (it will save you time later!).
• Begin organizing financial information from the 2007 tax year so you can submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. If you cannot include final income figures on the FAFSA, it will help to have gathered information so you can estimate figures; you can submit revised figures after your tax return has been filed.