College Planning Tips for High School Seniors

Senior Students

  1. Don’t get senioritis- your senior year counts
  2. Most colleges request a midyear and final grade report/transcript
  3. Spend time developing your college admissions essays/personal statements
  4. Schedule appointment with Guidance Counselor to discuss: scholarships, letters of recommendations, college admission and financial aid action plan
  5. Develop calendar and mark with registration, admissions, financial aid deadlines and fees
  6. Meet with college representatives who visit your school.
  7. Visit you top schools- make an appointment to meet with faculty, staff and students in your intended career major.
  8. Attend College Fairs, College Planning and Financial Aid information night hosted by school or community organizations.

Senior Parents

  1. It is important to attend financial aid presentations and career day functions WITH your student. Many of these events will be held in the evenings and on weekends. If you don’t know when they’re scheduled, contact your son or daughter’s high school counselor. (Attend these events even if you did so last year or with a different student – there is new information all the time!)
  2. Ask them monthly, “What are you working on and what scholarships have you applied for?”
  3. Sit down with your student and prepare a list of what he/she is looking for in a college and then help him/her sort through the information they receive from the different institutions to decide which ones offer what’s on the list.
  4. Complete applications with the student.
  5. In November, register for a PIN so you can assist your student with financial aid forms.
  6. In January or February, you will need to help your student complete the FAFSA. Your PIN will help speed up the process.
  7. In March, the award notices will start coming in. Look at the financing carefully and contact the schools with any questions. Make comparisons!
  8. Go on trips with your student to as many of his or her top school choices as possible. A visit to the campus is invaluable to making a decision.

Best wishes in the application process.

A2Z College Planning

http://www.a2zcollegeplanning/. com 919-450-0171

Sources: A2Z College Planning and Mapping Your Future

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