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A Plan For College
FALL - August through December
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Make sure you are meeting high school graduation and college admissions requirements. |
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Write down relevant dates on a calendar so you can organize your year. |
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Request application materials for admission and financial aid from the school(s) you are considering. Make a photocopy of the forms so that you can practice. |
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APPLY TO THOSE SCHOOLS! Be aware of deadline dates! |
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Prepare a proposed budget with your parents for your freshman year in college. |
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Arrange visits to schools you are considering and schedule admissions interviews if required. |
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Take or retake the ACT or SAT. |
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Meet admissions, financial aid, and scholarship application deadlines, and keep records of everything that you submit. |
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Give recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, and other persons from whom you are seeking references for admissions and scholarship applications at least one month before they are due. |
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If you are seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from the schools that you are considering. Include a resume of your accomplishments. |
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Make the final preparation of your portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other evidence of talent required for admission or for scholarships. Finalize your resume to send with your application. |
SPRING - January through May
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Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1st as possible. You can get the FAFSA from your guidance counselor or from your college's financial aid office. |
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Confirm that the school has received your admissions application materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications. |
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Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript the school(s) where you have applied. Make sure that your first semester senior year grades are included on the transcript. |
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When you receive the results of your FAFSA (Student Aid Report-SAR), either correct and return if, if necessary, or sign the completed, correct SAR and submit it to the school(s) you are considering. |
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If you are unsure as to which school you are going to attend, request a correct duplicate SAR from the processor and submit a set to each school that you are considering. |
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Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. |
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Decide which school you are going to attend by the appropriate deadline. Notify the school(s) in writing as to whether you are accepting or declining admission. |
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Meet all class registration deadlines. |
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Review your financial aid ward letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school. |
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Notify the financial aid office of any other outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application. |
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Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funs are available. |
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Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid. |
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REMEMBER: The financial aid process begins again in January for the next year of study. |
Information gathered from The Advisor, 1992-93 edition.
Before You Enroll In A School
Questions to ask:
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Is the school accredited? Is it licensed by the State to provide the program I want? |
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Does the school provide all the training that I need for the professional certification required for my career? |
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If professional certification is required for employment, how many students enrolled in the school's program pass the certification exam? |
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How long will it take to complete the program? How many hours a week will I be in class? How many hours of homework will I be expected to do? |
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If I decide to continue my education, will other schools accept the coursework from my current school? Check with the school to which you may transfer and find out if they will accept your course work. |
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Can I get the courses I want at times that are convenient to me? |
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Can I get a refund if I have to drop out? |
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What are the attendance and grade requirements? |
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Does the school have modern facilities and equipment? Will I be trained on the state-of-the-art equipment used in the field that I want to enter? |
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Does the school have enough equipment to ensure all students will get to use it? |
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What is the average number of students in each class? Will I have enough contact with my instructors? |
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What will I have when I complete the program? A degree? A certificate? |
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What does the school do to help graduates locate jobs? Does the school provide free job placement services? |
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What percentage of graduates find jobs? |
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How much does the program cost? What does that include? |
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Do I have to pay all expenses at once? |
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Does the school offer financial aid? If so, what types? |
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Will my financial aid be enough to cover the cost of attendance? Will I have to pay any of it back? |
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How many students who begin a program actually graduate? |
Things to do:
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Talk to employers for whom you would like to work, and ask from which school they hire graduates. |
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Call the Better Business Bureau, and ask if anyone has complained about the school. |
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Browse the internet for additional information about the school. Read through past school newspapers to find out more intimate details of a school. |
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There are two agencies, one public and one private, that are responsible for approving or recognizing accrediting agencies. To confirm that the agency accrediting your school is approved for recognized, contact one of the following: |
Accreditation and State Liaison Division
Office of Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education
Regional Office Building 3
7th and D Streets, SW
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 708-7417
OR
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
One Dupont Circle, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 955-6126
www.chea.org
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS! AS A CONSUMER YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU INVEST YOUR MONEY.
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