College planning is more than just choosing a major and which school to attend. It enables the direction and distance of your career path. It is the key that opens the doors of opportunity. Be Prepared goes beyond the basics and provides you vital information not provided in other guides. You have access to resources such as personality profiles, interests inventories, and aptitudes that correlate with fields of study and career paths. You are armed with information concerning the different types of accreditation, transferability of credits, and financial aid. You are empowered with alternative ways to earn college credits, such as advanced placement, prior learning assessment, proficiency exams, and credit recommendations for military training experience. You learn about nondegree credentialing opportunities, such as certificates of completion and vocational certifications. A glossary of terms is provided to familiarize you with the jargon of higher education. You can readily build your vocabulary to a college level by reviewing the listed words and their synonyms.