Start your high school career on a strong academic note. No matter what you’ve been told, your freshman grades are as important in establishing your class rank as your junior year. Get off to a good start!
Take challenging courses that will test your ability. Work to develop strong study and time management skills.
Keep your eyes and ears open for interesting subjects and people. This is one way to learn about career opportunities.
Look for activities and clubs both in and out of school that you have interest in. Colleges are looking for people with commitment!
Get to know your guidance counselor. Your counselor is very important in helping you select courses that will best challenge you and develop a course plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Continue to take challenging courses, if you did not as a freshmen, start now!
Begin to give thought to subjects that you have more than just a passing interest in. Think about why college is important and your reasons for going.
Register for the PSAT tests. These tests will prepare you for the SAT I and SAT II tests that you will need to take in the near future. Use the results of the test to improve areas that need improvement.
In the spring, give thought to taking summer classes. These classes will keep you focused on school and may allow you to take more advanced classes in the upcoming year.
Take the SAT or ACT tests. You may even want to consider the SAT II tests. It is best to take these tests as soon as you have completed class. This is when your knowledge of a subject is freshest.
Continue taking challenging classes, junior grades are very important in the college admission process.
Spend time talking with your parents about college. Think about the “How’s” - how far, how big and how much.
Check for scholarships. Every dollar is helpful.
Start to look for colleges that have things that fit your wish list, such as location, size, cost, diversity and what you require academically.
Develop your list of schools and visit as many as possible. It is best to visit when school is in session. You will get a great look at the school and student population and start to get a feel for the campus.
If you haven't already taken the PSAT, take it now to practice for the SAT’s. Review the results with your counselor and decide if a prep class would be helpful.
Register for the June SAT I, SAT II or ACT tests if necessary.
Send for college applications. Give thought to essay topics and who will you ask for letters of recommendation.
Continue to work hard, now is not the time to back off! Admission decisions are based on your final grades.
Send for college
applications. See which schools have on-line applications and/or common
applications. It is very important that you let your
guidance counselor know if you apply on line. They will need to send transcripts, letters of
recommendation and test scores to the schools you have applied to. Your
counselors are good, but they cannot read your mind. Keep them in the loop!
Double check with your counselor to make sure you are not missing credits required by the schools you are applying to.
If you are going to play a sport in college you should contact the college coach or have one of your high school or club coaches call or write in your behalf. It is very important that you fill-out the NCAA Clearing House form.
Continue to research scholarships, and begin collecting the information you will need for financial aid applications.
Give out recommendation forms and stamped envelopes addressed to the colleges’ admissions offices.
If you desire to go early decision, consider what effect that choice could have on financial aid.
Review your final list of schools with your counselor and determine what tests are required by each school.
Schedule visits with admission and financial aid advisors. You may want to speak with the department head of your intended major. They can tell you what courses you will be required to take and in what order.
Mail in early action or early decision applications.
Request that transcripts be sent to the colleges you are applying to.
Mail applications, or give them to your guidance counselor.
If you applied early decision and were accepted, withdraw applications from other schools.
Start the FAFSA form. They are available from your guidance department at school or at www.fafsa.ed.gov
File
all federal financial aid forms and apply for state aid. You want to have
the fafsa form submitted right after January 1. You MAY use last year's tax
returns for the form and follow up after you have submitted youR current
income tax forms.
Have guidance send mid-year grade reports to your colleges.
Check with your schools to make sure that they have all required documentation.
Letters of acceptance from schools with rolling admission will start arriving.
NOW IT IS YOUR CHOICE! Evaluate financial aid offers and make the decision about where you will spend the next 4 years. Notify the college that you wish to attend by May 1st, then let other schools and coaches know you won’t be attending.
Make sure your high school sends your final transcripts to the college you will be attending and include NCAA Clearing House information if required.
Know when tuition and other payments are due.
If there have been changes in your financial circumstances that might make you eligible for
additional aid, you should notify the school's financial aid office.
Meet with and arrange regular meetings with your guidance counselor.
Use your school and guidance library for research materials.
Keep your guidance counselor informed of all awards both in and out of school.
Know which tests (SAT I and II, ACT, TOEFL) you will need for the schools you have applied to, and make sure they have been submitted.
Ask for teacher letters of recommendation.
You must do your own application. it is fine to ask your parents or counselor to proof it, but the work must be yours.
Become familiar with the process; encourage visits and read any articles or books you can.
Have honest discussions with your son or daughter on location, special interest and cost.
Stay in contact with your school's guidance department and meet with them as needed. Let them know of any extenuating circumstances.
Let your son or daughter take the lead in the process. Question how they are doing.
Make sure your son or daughter is doing their own work on the application and essay.
Hold meetings to inform students of their responsibilities.
Make sure students know about tests before deadlines.
Advise students on which tests they should take and when to take them.
Help students assess themselves and create an appropriate list of schools.
Help students with the application process and write comprehensive letters of support.
Provide supporting documentation to colleges in a timely manner.
Keep aware of current policies and trends, visit colleges and become familiar with the admission requirements for these schools.
Host college fairs.
Requirements for interviews will vary from school to school. Most small liberal arts colleges encourage you to interview on campus with an admission officer or, if the school is at a great distance, with an appointed alumni interviewer. Bigger universities, Ivies, or state schools tend not to require on-campus interviews, but will arrange alumni interviews. You must find out what each school requires and make plans accordingly.
a) Why do you want to go to college?
b) What intrigues you about this college?
c) What courses have you enjoyed most?
d) What was the last book you read? (Be prepared
to talk about it.)
e) Have you ever had a job?
f) What did you do last summer?
g) What would you like to study in college?
h) Why should we accept you? (This will not be asked bluntly;
be on your guard.)
Most students need financial aid. After the search process is completed, cost will enter into the final decision. There is a lot on information you can find out from the admissions and financial aid offices.
Find out what is the cost of tuition and fees? How many credits can be taken for the flat rate? What are the approximate costs for books and supplies. You should also inquire about tuition and room and board increases for the last 4 years.
Consider whether whether ability to pay will have an impact on admission decisions.
Determine whether an early application decision would affect financial aid.
Determine whether the school offers merit scholarships. Find out if there an application for them or whether you would be notified upon admission.
Find out what forms are required for financial aid and what is the priority deadline for applying.
Keep in mind that you are trying to choose the school that is the best fit for you academically, socially and financially.
Consider how much financial aid you will receive. Will there be any costs that the student should plan for that are not accounted for in the aid package.
Determine whether the aid office will explain how the financial package was determined?
If the aid package is not sufficient to attend a school, ask whether the financial aid office would reconsider and increase the award. If not, find out if there are financing options available to help them cover more of the costs.
Questions to ask. What are the terms and conditions of the aid package (treatment of outside scholarships, loan repayment policies)? How does it renew? Can it be cut and are there other conditions that need to be noted? Will loan amounts and aid increase if costs increase? If a student's financial situation changes, such as through the loss of a parent's job or a sibling enrolling in college, would the package change? If the aid exceeds billed charges, how does the student receive the funds?
Consider the amount of student loan debt a typical student borrower has once he or she finishes college, and how much you are personally willing to carry.
Find out when will we receive bills from the school? Does the college accept payment by credit card and is there a program to pay monthly? Is there a penalty if the payment is made late?
Consider your ancillary expenses. How much money will the student need during the first week to cover costs such as books, supplies, and other incidentals? Can financial aid money be used to pay for books and supplies? Can books and supplies be charged to the students account? What can you expect as out of pocket expenses for the year?
What options for banking are on campus or near to the school? Does the campus have a debit card?
Points to consider regarding student employment, including federal work-study. How are jobs assigned? How many hours per week will a student be expected to or allowed to work? How often and in what manner will the student receive earnings payment? Will earnings be paid directly or automatically credited to the student’s account?