Book excerpt: The college-preparation experience can be fraught with questions and uncertainties. But Pamela Ellis, MBA, PhD is here to offer advice, insight, and counseling that will ease rather than raise your anxiety levels. What to Know Before They Go is an effective tool to help parents guide their teens toward preparing for college before high school even starts. From choosing a high school to understanding how academic skills and activities will influence future college opportunities, Dr. Pamela encourages parents to develop a forward-thinking plan as early as possible. Dr. Pamela then breaks down the high-school years, offering achievable goals to focus on throughout each year. These goals include developing self-awareness during freshman year, exploring and discovering personal interests during sophomore year, connecting with and visiting colleges during junior year, and applying to colleges during senior year. Then, once college is on the immediate horizon, Dr. Pamela walks readers through what to expect when paying for college and gives parents resources and helpful hints for understanding, applying for, and accepting scholarships and financial aid. With anecdotes about her own experience sending her child to college, Dr. Pamela offers reassurance and encouragement for parents as they shepherd their teens into their next stage of life.