Think About It [Questions to use in groups, or that teens can use on their own.]

—Why did Debra wait so long to start applying to college? What were her fears about going to college?

—Why did she think she couldn’t get into a “decent school”?

—What did Debra learn about comparing herself to other students who were applying to college?

—What advice does Debra give about getting teacher recommendations? About preparing for the SAT?

—How do you feel about applying to college? What are your fears? What could you do now to try to overcome those fears?

—What do you think might be the most difficult part of the college application process for you? What are you doing now to prepare for it?

—What are your specific college plans? Do you want to stay close to where you now live? Or do you want to go further away? What subjects do you plan to study? What kind of school do you want to go to (small vs. large, 2-year vs. 4-year, etc.)?

—How does Debra use her foster care experience to her advantage in applying to college? How could you use your foster care experience to your advantage in applying to college?

—When you write your college application essay, what would you include from your foster care experience? Write a few lines on this below.

—Debra writes about the importance of having someone help you with your application. Who could help you with yours?

—Debra says that, looking back, she wished she had started her application sooner. List three things you can start doing now to begin applying to college.