For most families, college planning feels like a scramble that starts too late. Between junior year stress, SAT prep, and application deadlines, parents often wish they had started sooner. The truth is, effective college planning begins in 9th or 10th grade and involves far more than picking a school name from a ranking list. Here are the key things every parent of a high schooler needs to know before the process begins. 1. Start the Conversation Early Research shows that students who begin exploring career interests and academic goals in 9th grade make better college choices than those who wait...