High school is a tremendously important time in every student’s life. These four years can determine the trajectory of your future, as you choose both a college and a career.

In addition to impacting the student, this process also impacts the student’s family, and success often lies in discussing the path to college early and often. Here are four questions to help high school freshmen and their parents begin planning for college together:

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1. What would you like to accomplish in college? This question is an excellent opportunity to brainstorm about the path that you would like to take with your life. For instance, are you a creator or a discoverer? Is the field you work in more or less important than other goals, such as being financially secure?

At this stage in your life, you may not have a set series of clear objectives, and that is all right. However, beginning to explore your goals can help you identify which schools will enable you to achieve your objectives. There are many online resources that can help you explore your interests. Career Bridge, a free guide created by the Washington state, is one.

You can also use your list of interests to select high school electives and after-school activities. For example, if finance appeals to you, joining a club like Future Business Leaders of America can be a great first step in pursuing this field. If you are leaning toward a career in science, you may find that upper-level science classes like AP courses often have prerequisites that must be taken early in your high school career.

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2. What will you need to do in high school in order to reach your college goals? As you likely know, there are two key elements to maximizing your time in high school: completing rigorous course work and participating in extracurricular activities. Both areas can benefit from early preplanning.

When considering your course work, start by locating the catalog of available classes at your high school. Turn to the electives available to juniors and seniors.

Many of these courses will carry prerequisites, and some may only be offered during the fall or spring semester, or in alternate years. Identify those advanced classes and electives that you would like to take, and create a tentative four-year schedule that includes the prerequisite classes.

Remember, too, that you are not obligated to take these courses if you change your mind. Having a schedule can simply be useful if you would like to pursue several time-consuming activities concurrently, such as enrollment in AP classes and foreign language courses.

Many extracurricular activities also benefit from planning ahead. Leadership positions in clubs often go to those students with a history of involvement. If this is important to attaining your goals, note that the earlier you become involved, the more likely you are to receive a leadership role. If you are interested in a rare extracurricular activity, planning ahead will also allow you to find a community organization that offers it if your high school does not.

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3. Are there extenuating family circumstances that will limit your college search? As you consider your college options, remember to factor in your familial circumstances. Cost is an obvious factor to keep in mind, as is your comfort in living close to or far from home. If you care for a family member, or if you participate in an initiative in your hometown such as choreographing for a dance company, you may decide to stay within an hour’s drive of your home.

Depending on where you live, this may dramatically impact your school choices. If, for example, there is only one competitively-ranked college in that radius, make a note to start researching its entrance requirements, tuition costs, housing options, and so on as soon as possible.

4. What can your family do during high school to help you achieve your college goals? Your family will play an important role in helping you secure the college acceptance letter of your dreams. Family can act as both inspiration — to help you aim higher — and as a reality check to ensure that your aspirations are in your best interests. They can assist you in overcoming challenges and in researching prospective schools, but they may not initially know how to do so.

Begin a frank dialogue, perhaps with these questions as your framework, that focuses on your hopes and needs, and be sure to listen to your family’s input. They may highlight solutions or paths that you never knew existed.

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4 Questions to Help High School Freshmen, Parents Plan for College originally appeared on usnews.com