The Final Countdown

CLASS of 2017!

The end of your high school career is well within sight. STAY STRONG! I know the pull of Senioritis is present but USE THE FORCE! You've worked so hard to get to this point. Be sure to finish high school with your head up and your best foot forward! 

Use this tool to help you identify the best school for you based on financial aid. Have conversations with people who you trust and who know you well about your choice of school.

Pay attention to deadlines!!!! 

Put important dates on your calendar with reminders. I don't want you to miss your chance to attend your #1 school! 

Please use the checklist below to stay on track for your post-secondary plans!

____ Log into your college student portal regularly!  Look for red flags that will tell you if you are missing any information or need to sign off on any documents, for example, financial aid documents.

____ Check your college email daily.  You will get important notifications through that email account. Be sure to read them, respond as needed and delete or archive to keep your inbox clutter free.

____ Take any required placement tests (for example, the Accuplacer).

____ If you are living on campus, make sure that you have signed up for the residence halls and put down a deposit by the deadline.

____ Provide any information to health services, for example, immunization records. Many campuses will put a hold on your record if you have not submitted this information.

____ Sign up for campus health insurance or provide proof that you have health insurance.

____ Sign up for and attend Orientation! Keep track of any info and To Do Lists they may provide you. 

____ Stay in contact with the financial aid office to make sure that your aid has been applied to your account. You may also be able to check your college student portal for this information. If aid is not applied and you have not set up a payment plan, you may be dropped from your classes. 

As always, let me know if you have any questions! 

HEY SENIORS! You CAN go to college!

It's never too early to start thinking about college! If you are a SENIOR in High School, it's time to carry out (or make!) your plan for college applications, financial aid, and scholarships.

Here are some reminders for Fall courtesy of Petersons.com- things you should be doing between now and the end of November.

Fall 2016: Visit the schools and complete applications

Continue to visit schools.
Fall is a great time to look at the schools on your college lists because classes are in session and you are better able to meet and talk with students and professors. You may even be able to sit in on a class or two.

Finalize your college list.
Use the information you’ve gathered from college visits, interviews, and your own research to decide which schools you will apply to. It’s okay to apply to colleges that you think will be more difficult to get into. But it’s also important to put a few safety schools (where you’re sure you’ll get in) on your list. Talk to counselors, teachers, and parents about your final choices.

Stay on track with your grades and extracurricular activities.
Colleges will look at what you’ve done in your senior year, so stay focused on doing well in your classes and maintaining a commitment to extracurricular activities.

Submit financial aid forms.
Fill out the FAFSA, and if necessary, the PROFILE. These forms can be obtained from your guidance counselor. No matter what your family’s income level is, the FAFSA is your main priority for financial aid purposes because it will determine how much you’re expected to pay. Don’t send the forms until after October, because they can’t be processed before then.

Take standardized tests.
Register for and take the ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Tests as necessary. Be sure you have requested (either by mail or online) that your test scores be sent to the colleges of your choice.

Keep track of deadlines.
You’ll be filling out lots of forms this year, so it’s important to know what form is due when. Make a calendar showing the application deadlines for admission, financial aid, and scholarships.

Ask for letters of recommendation.
Give letter of recommendation forms to the teachers you have chosen, along with stamped, addressed envelopes so your teachers can send them directly to the colleges. Be sure to fill out your name and address and the school name on each form. Discuss your goals and ambitions with your teachers so they’ll be more prepared to write about you.

Meet with your guidance counselor.
Your counselor can help you stay on track with admissions requirements. Make sure they know which colleges you want transcripts, score reports, and letters sent to. Give your counselors any necessary forms much earlier than the actual deadlines so they’ll have time to send the forms in.

Complete applications.
Finish the application forms for the schools you’re interested in. Proofread them and make extra copies before you send them. Make sure you and your school’s guidance office have sent all necessary materials, including test scores, recommendations, transcripts, and application essays. You should plan to get all this done before winter break, so you won’t be rushing to make deadlines.

Continue your scholarship search.
Apply for scholarships whose deadlines are approaching and keep searching for more scholarship and grant opportunities. Using online scholarship search tools is a great way to find potential aid. Ask colleges about what scholarships you may qualify for. The downtime after applications have been sent is a great time to focus on financial aid.

Link for 9th-12th Grade and Parent Info:
https://www.petersons.com/college-search/~/link.aspx?_id=de05e09b75a94c3cb154e328693f8730&_z=z.aspx