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