Today, May 1st, marks the national deadline for high school seniors to make their final selection for college. Students from all over make their decision on where they plan to pursue their undergraduate degree to become future doctors, lawyers, teachers, therapists, social workers and more. With their eyes focused on the future, some things may be lost on the wayside.
Here are some helpful tips to assist you once you have finally made your college choice:
Befriend Your Financial Aid Office. Many financial aid offices assign a counselor to students based on their major, program or their last names. Become familiar with your college’s financial aid office, create an open line of communication to ensure they have everything they need from you in order to process your financial aid funds in a timely fashion.
Research for Other Scholarship Opportunities. Take the time to network with faculty members and the deans of your college/major to identify scholarship opportunities within their departments. You can also create an account and establish a personal profile on websites like: www.fastweb.com in order to locate scholarships and grants in your area.
Check your Housing Status. Work with your college’s Residential Life and Housing office to confirm your deposit and application have been received. There is nothing worse than a student arriving on “move-in” day and find they have nowhere to move into!
Seek Guidance from Academic Advisors. Freshmen students are highly encouraged to work with an academic advisor who specializes in their intended major, program or department. I highly encourage students to build a good relationship with an academic advisor and schedule a visit each semester before registering for classes. This will help guarantee a successful track to a timely graduation.
Familiarize Yourself with the Area. Students relocating to a college in a new town, city or state may experience an extreme culture shock. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Locate the local Walmart, pharmacy, grocery store, restaurants, police stations, etc. Creating an area of comfort will help students with a better college experience.
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