Your teen might be vaguely aware of the counseling office at his high school, but less aware of what the staff in this office does to help students prepare for the college search and application process.

You’ve obviously heard about the SAT, but what about the SAT Subject Tests? These exams are college admission tests on specific subjects. Students can choose the tests that best showcase their strengths and weaknesses.

There’s a lot of truth to the statement that high school is when students’ grades really start to matter. Middle school lays the groundwork and helps students establish good study habits, but high school is when things count.

After three and a half years of hard work, it’s easy for teens to lose motivation as they near the end of high school. Once teens achieve their desired SAT/ACT scores, apply to colleges and decide which one to attend, it’s understandable that they might assume that the hard work is behind them.

College just around the corner for your teen? There’s a lot to do to prepare, including take college entrance exams. When it comes to choosing the SAT or ACT, you might wonder how these exams differ and whether one is “better” for your teen than the other.

The SAT and ACT are arguably the most important exams in a high school student’s life. It pays to prepare! But here’s something to keep in mind: there are several must-haves when it comes to effective preparation and many teens are ill-equipped to approach the task correctly on their own.

At some point in your teen’s life, it’s likely that he will need to request a letter of recommendation. Many top-tier colleges and universities require or strongly encourage applicants to submit such letters.

So, what does it take to gain acceptance into one of these colleges? High grades, class rank and outstanding standardized test (SAT and ACT) scores top the list of requirements. A rigorous high school curriculum and an impressive resume of extracurricular activities are also essential. But beyond those things, there are the intangible elements that make certain students stand apart from others.

Summer is around the corner, and if you’ve got a high school student, it’s the perfect time to visit colleges. Whether your teen will be headed into junior year—a pivotal time in the college research journey—or is earlier or later in high school, college tours are eye-opening, insightful and very worthwhile.

There’s nothing wrong with teens going to college without a set-in-stone career game plan, but one thing is certain: students who put thought into possible majors are more likely to minimize wasted time and make a smart decision.