| High school seniors should already be deep into the | | | | college at least once. |
| college search process. If you're not, it's time to get | | | | Step 3: Complete your admission applications. I |
| on the ball! Some of you are already moving on to | | | | recommend you have your admissions applications |
| the college admissions applications. Congratulations! | | | | done by the end of October. If the schools require |
| Way to stay ahead of the game. But for the | | | | letters of recommendation, make sure you get your |
| majority of us, here are 4 steps for the fall. | | | | letter requests to your teachers, guidance |
| Step 1: Don't get hung up on knowing exactly what | | | | counselors, pastors, etc. as soon as possible. The |
| you want to study. It's great if you know your | | | | later you wait, the more requests they will have to |
| chosen field, but it is not critical to the admissions | | | | sort through. And here's a tip that will be a huge |
| application process. Many schools will allow you to | | | | help... Write up a recommendation cheat sheet for |
| apply as "undecided" or under the general "liberal arts" | | | | those who you make requests. On this cheat sheet |
| banner. Even if you do apply under one major and | | | | (no more than one page) include your high schools |
| decide a year or two later to change your major, | | | | activities, interests, achievements, etc. This will be a |
| you are not alone. Half of college students change | | | | big help to those who are trying to sort through 30 |
| their major at least once. | | | | or 40 or more different letter requests. |
| Step 2: Identify at least six colleges that you feel | | | | Step 4: Do not make a decision of where you will be |
| comfortable applying to for admission. I cannot stress | | | | going to college anytime this fall. You still don't know |
| enough the importance of avoiding the idea that | | | | what college is going to cost you. There is no other |
| there is only one or two schools that are worthy to | | | | purchase that you would make without knowing |
| apply to. That is a recipe for disaster. Try to get in | | | | what the cost is, so don't start now. You still have |
| as many campus visits as you can. The more college | | | | the financial applications to go through. Most of the |
| campuses you visit, the easier it is to identify what | | | | financial application won't be available to you until next |
| you want in a college. Applying to multiple colleges will | | | | January (the FAFSA form). Some colleges will want a |
| give you real options when it comes time to decide | | | | CSS Profile, but even that isn't available until October |
| where you will ultimately go for your first year. | | | | or November. 99% of the time, you need to wait |
| Applying to multiple schools is also an important | | | | until the financial forms are filed and you have the |
| aspect of securing the best opportunities for the | | | | financial award offers back from the schools before |
| monies available from different colleges. Here again, | | | | you should make any decision of what school to |
| don't think that your choice will be set in stone. One | | | | choose. And that won't be until next March or April. |
| third of all college students transfer to another | | | | |