Quick Review

• view our complete college planning calendar for February

Learn About Financial Aid Options

Let’s talk money for college —
jump over to our College Financial Aid Guide to discuss ways you can pay for college.

It’s not too early! The financial aid process starts January 01 for Fall entering students. You need to begin the process of assembling your financial information for both student and parent. Colleges will use that information to determine the amount of aid to award you.

So Do It Right! Review our quick financial aid notes to understand what you need to know:

Note 1:   understand the financial aid process
Note 2:   submitting the FAFSA form for federal aid
Note 3:   review the student aid report
Note 4:   get the financial award letter
Note 5:   view financial aid options
Note 6:   apply for and manage student funds

Something Extra

What are you doing for the December holidays?

We have a fun holiday package that you can download instantly: click here: FREE download

• view our complete college planning calendar for November

Submit Scholarships

Begin searching for scholarships and other FREE money:

• begin your search for over $24.3 billion
  worth of scholarships and grants in one location

Beware of potential scholarship scams:

there are unscrupulous web sites and email campaigns that are trying to get your money. A general rule to follow is,

"if they request money from you in order to get money, they are likely a scam ",

Detecting/reporting scholarship scams:
from the FTC: information about scholarship scams. PDF file available for download
www.ftc.gov

Something Extra

Halloween is coming up. We’ve got a great party package that will make your party a "spooky" smash:

• Review Halloween Kit:
  FREE download

• Download this FREE Halloween Story:
  click to download

• view our complete college planning calendar for October

Submit Your College Application

Get your college entrance applications ready for submission. The earlier, the better. Don’t delay. Deadlines are approaching fast.

Early Admission:
deadlines are in October – November

Regular Admissions:
deadlines are in early January – February

Be prepared to submit applications to these types of schools:

2-3 schools that you could definitely get in

4-5 schools that you could probably get in

7-8 schools that you would like to get in

You should budget on how much you can afford for application submission. If the application submission costs for 16 or more schools is too much, narrow your search to 3-3-3

See if your school use the COMMON application form

the COMMON application form is used by 300+ schools. This can save you time from completing multiple application forms: see form at ww.commonapp.org

you can save the COMMON application form online until you are ready to submit it electronically to participating schools

or you can try this:

— link to your college to submit your application form online or to request a application packet:
use our college search directory for your school’s web site

Early Decision Note:

you need to decide if you are doing early admission. If so, you will need to have your application completed and ready to submit between October and November of your senior year.

The advantage of early decision is that you will know whether you have been accepted by early January. The disadvantage of early decision is that you may be legally bound to attend that school if you are accepted. So decide on early decisions for those schools that are your first choice.

What is required for the college admission application:

1. College Admission Form
2. College Essays
3. College Exams
4. High School Transcripts: arrange with your high school on forwarding required transcripts to your selected colleges
5. Letters of recommendation: determine who can write your recommendations. Act now!
6. Other: check with your college admission’s office

• view our complete college planning calendar for October

Write and Edit Your College Essays

You need to finalize your college essays. Remember that the essay is an important part of the application review. A good essay can become the decision factor that gets you accepted. So do a great job.

• Essay resource and editing services:
  use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
  EssayEdge.com

  Quick View: essay writing tips
  Quick View: essay 101
  Quick View: essay samples

The college admission also requires 1-2 recommendations from teachers and/or community leaders.

Give the person writing your recommendation plenty of time (about 3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).

Also provide them a short autobiography, a list of your outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college. Please note that the teacher works with hundreds of students. So give them plenty of time.

More advice: download this FREE article from ivyedge.com
"Secrets to College Admission"

• view our complete college planning calendar for October

Preparing Your College Application

You need to start your college application to meet submission deadlines:

Early Admission: deadlines are in October -November
Regular Admissions: deadlines are in early January

Key elements of the application.

College Application:

Request an application form from each of your colleges. You can find it online or request it from the school.

The package will include the application form, submission requirements (essays, transcripts and other) and self-addressed envelopes for the letters of recommendations.

See if your school use the COMMON application form
the COMMON application form is used by 300+ schools. This can save you time from completing multiple application forms: see form at ww.commonapp.org

you can save the COMMON application form online until you are ready to submit it electronically to participating schools

Early Decision Note:
you need to decide if you are going to do early admission. If so, you will need to have your application completed and ready to submit between October and November of your senior year.

The advantage of early decision is that you will know whether you have been accepted by early January. The disadvantage of early decision is that you may be legally bound to attend that school if you are accepted. So decide on early decisions for schools that are your first choice.

College Essays:

Your college admissions application will most likely require 1- 2 essays. Use the weekends to write and edit your essays. The essay is an important decisional parameter for college admission.

Essay resource and editing services:
use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
EssayEdge.com

College Recommendations:

Most college admissions require 1-2 recommendations from teachers and/or community leaders. Select who should write your recommendation. Give the person plenty of time (about 3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).

Also provide them a short autobiography, a list of your outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college. Please note that the teacher works with hundreds of students. So give them plenty of time.

School Transcripts:

Double check your transcripts when you start your senior year. You will need to forward these transcripts to colleges for admission review. Make sure you have the following:

• all grades are posted correctly
• all required courses for graduation are listed
• all required courses for college admittance are listed

  It is important that these transcripts are correct and up-to-date. If not, meet with school administration to repair any errors.

Extracurricular’s:

Take a swim, tennis, karate or other class over the fall semester (either with your school or community group). You want to show well-roundness in your application. Just the right amount of studies (with good grades) and outside activities. Don’t think that a lot of extracurricular activities are a must. You just need to show a balance.

• view our complete college planning calendar for September

Achieve Success

Time to get serious and set some personal achievement goals when you attend college. Try this helpful plan:

• FREE Download
  Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.

  FREE: click to download book summary
  FREE: click to download book

Don’t forget about Halloween in October.
We’ve got a great party package that will make your party a "spooky" smash:

• view our "quick-fun" section

• view our complete college planning calendar for August

Buying School Supplies

Find a Computer

Most schools require the use of a computer. How about getting your own:

• Visit our nBuy center for a complete reference line of computers and computer peripherals and software.

  Everything you need to get your computing needs going:
  click here for our computer selection directory

School . . . transportation . . . computers . . . supplies . . . make sure you and your parents review all possible options:

• View this summary chart of financial aid options:

  • for undergraduate students (first-time students)
  • for parents of undergraduate students

Find College Books

Every College requires books. Buy them online. See our "Moving to College" textbooks and supplies:

click here for college textbooks and supplies

Buy College Supplies

Besides books, you may need some study / personal space supplies. See our "Dorm Section " for dorm and other personal items:

click here for dorm items

• view our complete college planning calendar for August

Summer To-Do’s Before School

School Registration:

Your college should notify you on important registration dates and requirements for first-time students. In you haven’t received anything, or need clarification on some items, check with your college admissions office

Class Registration:

Many colleges have online or mail-in class registration. Check your class requirements.

Some colleges may allow credit for online courses sponsored by other colleges. This will give you the flexibility to arrange
your schedule. Again, check with your admission’s office:

Source for online learning courses:
view directory of online programs

Packing Up:

Get ready. You need to "make-your-home" away from home. That means packing and gathering a few things.

Download our FREE "Off-to-College" Checklist of moving items you should consider taking to school:
click to download moving checklist

Getting There:

You need to arrange your move to college. Will you be driving, taking the train or bus, or flying? Need to make those important travel arrangements:

Check our college moving center for detail information:
click here for college moving center

• view our complete college planning calendar for July

Have You Found That
Summer Job?

Money earned during the summer can be used for tuition, housing, transportation and fun entertainment.

If you like the job you had last summer, go back and see if you can work with them again. Or try to find a summer job that is in your career interests. This will help you decide if this is the type of career you really want:

• Summer work programs:
  Job listing for teens from many brand-name retail and other name companies:
  www.snagajob.com
  another posting of summer jobs:
  www.summerjobs.com
  job postings exclusively for teens:
  www.teens4hire.org

• Internship Programs:
  internships in your field of interest is a great way to get experience that will help you college
  internships.wetfeet.com

• Search Classified
  ads in LOCAL PAPERS:
  you will find many local summer jobs through your local online classifieds:
  www.newspaperlinks.com

• view our complete college planning calendar for June