| You are a senior in high school and you will be | | | | deadlines for sending in all required fees and |
| starting college soon. There will be some concerns | | | | paperwork and of course continue looking for |
| you and your parents will need to look at before | | | | scholarship opportunities. |
| starting your first semester? | | | | College is an exciting time and as a freshman you |
| For parents, you can begin working on helping your | | | | may be wondering what it is you will need for your |
| student as early as August through December, | | | | dorm. |
| before your child even graduates from high school. | | | | To start, remember that dorm rooms are very small |
| The first thing you want to begin focusing on is | | | | so take only the essentials. Freshmen typically get |
| pulling together as much information for FASFA or | | | | the worst rooms in the dorm as the upper classmen |
| the United States Department of Education Free | | | | get to pick the best rooms before the year is over. |
| Application for Federal Aid, as possible. You can begin | | | | Make sure you find out everything there is to know |
| by collecting documentation you will need to | | | | about your dorm and what it has and does not have. |
| complete the FASFA application and you can even | | | | For instance, if the dorm does not have carpeting, |
| attend a financial aid presentation. Be sure to save | | | | you may need to take a rug. If the room isn’t |
| your last pay stub for the year in December as well | | | | air conditioned, taking a fan might be an option. |
| so that completing the FASFA paperwork will be | | | | Find out what is allowed and not allowed in the |
| easier. By January you will want to have the | | | | dorms as well. Some schools do not allow |
| application completed and filed, the sooner the better | | | | microwaves, hot plates, candles and more. Most |
| as financial aid can run out. | | | | schools provide beds, some provide mattresses, and |
| As parents you also may want to prepare and file | | | | of course most require you to buy your own sheets. |
| your federal income taxes as early as possible so | | | | Types of items that you might consider taking |
| that you can verify income for financial aid. | | | | include: TV, pillows, radio, rug, water filter, hangers, |
| For seniors in high school, your responsibility starts | | | | tape, tools and posters. |
| with signing up for your SAT and ACT tests as early | | | | Freshmen are typically assigned roommates, so try |
| as August. Between August and December you will | | | | contacting your roommate before the first semester. |
| want to visit with your school counselor to make | | | | Moving in can be stressful and annoying so by talking |
| sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college | | | | to your roommate ahead of time you can find out |
| admission requirements. Start collecting personal | | | | what kind of person they are, what you have in |
| references from teachers, school counselors or | | | | common and what you each can bring or leave |
| employers early in the year, or at least two weeks | | | | home. |
| before application deadlines. Attend a college fair and | | | | Last, remember to save your money so that you |
| begin applying for admission at the colleges you have | | | | have some spending cash. You will want to live |
| chosen. Find out if you qualify for scholarships at | | | | frugally but there will be an occasion when you need |
| each college you have applied to and start the | | | | your own money for those extra things. |
| financial aid application process. Between January and | | | | By addressing all of your concerns before you arrive |
| May you will want to visit the colleges that have | | | | your first day of college, you won’t find this |
| invited you to enroll. Keep track of and observe | | | | large life transition so difficult. |