A college education is one of the most important goals you will ever pursue, so it’s important to start preparing for college (college planning) as early as possible. Getting into college is the culmination of all of your hard work in school. It also requires a well-thought-out plan. Set yourself up for success by starting early, identifying your passions, and then finding the right colleges that will allow you to take your passions to the next level. Here are some news resources to help you with the college planning process:

Join nearly 50,000 others from around the world and receive Wake Up To Politics in your inbox every weekday morning. The non-partisan newsletter offers a comprehensive but concise briefing on the latest news from the White House, Congress, courts, elections, and more. And it comes from the unique perspective of teenage journalist Gabe Fleisher.

Democracy Now! is an independent news program features international journalists, grassroots leaders, independent analysts, as well as ordinary people directly affected by world events and U.S. policy.

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation’s largest and oldest public forum, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that hosts nearly 500 events a year featuring important speakers, panels, and debates on the important topics of the day.

The Daily Beast is a modern news and pop culture site that covers the colorful characters and situations impacting the world. Fueled by a relentless focus on high-quality journalism, its newsroom punches well above its weight class with scoops that shape the national dialogue.

The Guardian is amongst the world’s leading media organizations with a global, progressive audience.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories.

The Atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine.

The Daily is a daily news podcast and radio show by the American newspaper The New York Times. Hosted by Times political journalist Michael Barbaro, its episodes are based on the Times’ reporting of the day.

Vox is an explanatory journalism website started by former Washington Post columnist and blogger Ezra Klein. What’s explanatory journalism? Good question. It’s journalism that tries to explain things readers don’t understand.

The Cut is a site for women who want to view the latest fashion trends; read provocative takes on issues that matter, from politics to relationships; follow celebrity style icons; and preview new products.