The middle school years might seem too early to begin conversations about college planning, but I recommend that students and their parents begin high school with some idea of a plan. The primary reason for this is so that students know what courses they need to take throughout their high school careers. When high school students wait until their junior or senior year to begin their college search/admissions journey, they sometimes realize that they have not taken the classes they needed in order to gain admission to their preferred college or program.