Produced by the University of Minnesota College Readiness Consortium. The advice in this guide covers ways families can help students become college ready in five areas:

• Academic Readiness: The ability to succeed in first-year classes that earn credits at a technical college, community college or four-year college or university

• Admissions Readiness: The ability to meet admissions requirements at a range of postsecondary institutions

• Career Readiness: The ability to identify careers that match personal, financial, and other goals and an understanding of the skills, credentials, and experiences required to succeed in those careers

• Financial Readiness: The ability to cover the cost of the first semester of study at a postsecondary institution through savings, loans, and financial aid

• Personal and Social Readiness: The ability to set educational goals, make and monitor progress toward them, and create relationships with peers and adults that support academic success