Timeline
for Getting Ready to Go to College
Expert Advice
provided by
ScholarshipExperts.com.
So you're planning to go to college once you finish high school,
right? But are you really ready?
Planning for
college is a two-year process. And unless a rich uncle is going to
write that $30,000 check for you, it is going to involve acquiring
and submitting financial aid forms, scholarship applications, and
grant applications. But don't despair. By following the suggestions
below, and by carefully monitoring the process, you should be buying
college textbooks before you know it. Keep in mind, however, that
this is a process; it isn't like taking one test and getting an A.
It requires diligence, double-checking, and follow-up.
When you are a high school JUNIOR:
- Take the SAT and/or ACT...this is a must.
- Keep your grades up! Remember that colleges look at your
entire high school academic record when making admissions
decisions: what you do in 9th through 11th grade is just as
important as what you do as a high school senior.
- Consider college options. Decide what is important to you:
Location? Curriculum? Size? Diversity? Athletics? Social life?
- Keep an eye on your local papers and community bulletin boards
for college nights and open houses; talking to representatives at
college fairs is a great way to find out about the colleges you
are considering.
- Research your scholarship and grant options. Utilize the
best customized scholarship search service available on the
Internet,
ScholarshipExperts.com. You just can't mimic their
resources yourself; they will save you time and headaches, and
help you avoid scams.
- Send away for scholarship information and applications with
early deadlines. It's never too soon to do so since some
scholarship and grant applications need to be received in the fall
of your senior year.
- Make an effort to be involved in your community or in
extra-curricular activities at school.
- Join a club, do a service project, sign up for a committee at
your church. Admissions officers and scholarship providers will
want to see evidence of your leadership and commitment to service
when they review your applications next year.
In the FALL of your SENIOR year:
- Select the colleges that interest you most, as soon as you
enter your high school homeroom. Don't delay. Send away for
information and applications; be sure to check out web sites for
information you can obtain online.
- Sign up to re-take the SAT or ACT. Buy a study guide or sign
up for a test prep course to take before the actual test date.
Believe it or not, you CAN improve your test scores by taking them
a second time, and better scores could affect your ability to get
scholarships!
- If possible, visit any colleges you can. Find out when there
are prospective student activities or if you can sign up to
"shadow" an existing college freshman.
- In September (and then once each month thereafter), search for
scholarship opportunities using the premiere online service,
ScholarshipExperts.com. Take time to fill out the entire
profile on the site, making sure to ask your parents about their
work experiences and association/union memberships for optimal
results.
- Pay attention to early admission deadlines. By October or
November, submit applications for early decision programs.
- Attend a financial aid presentation. These are offered at
schools, libraries, and college campuses.
- Narrow your list of intended colleges, and make sure you have
all the financial aid forms required by each school. Required
documents may not be the same at each school, so pay close
attention to what each requires.
- Obtain a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This should
be available in January, and it is very important. Call
1-800-4-fed-aid; the online address is http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The FAFSA form can also be obtained from high schools, colleges,
and local libraries.
- Complete and submit the FAFSA immediately (it can be submitted
anytime after January 1st in your senior year). Make a copy for
yourself. Parents should compile income tax information and
complete taxes early.
In the SPRING of your SENIOR year:
- Verify that you have submitted all of your financial aid
forms. The FAFSA must be filled out and sent in between January 1
and March 15 -- get it in early and file it correctly to avoid
delays in funding decisions.
- Be sure to send in your scholarship applications on time;
several scholarships have spring deadlines. Check back regularly
with
ScholarshipExperts.com to find even more awards during the
spring and summer months; you should update your profile each
month to generate new, customized award lists.
- Verify that you have received your Student Aid Report (SAR);
it should arrive about 4 weeks after you have submitted your FAFSA.
- Compare financial aid packages when you receive admissions
notifications. Look for the best rather than the most.
- Finalize your choice and notify the college.
- Sign and return financial aid forms to the university you plan
to attend.
- Send your final transcript and student loan application.
- Notify the schools whose enrollment offers you decline.
Now celebrate! You are about to enter one of the most amazing
times of your life, and one that will change you forever. Make the
most of your college experience, and remember to study. It is
important to maintain your GPA so that you can maintain your
scholarships throughout your college career.
For additional information about this topic, visit
www.ScholarshipExperts.com.
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