Happy holidays!!

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON BUT REMEMBER THAT HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS NEED TO SET ASIDE SOME TIME TO STAY ON TOP OF COLLEGE CHECKLISTS! BELOW ARE SOME suggestions for juniors and seniors.....

JUNIORS

1. Look for your PSAT results which were posted on December 9, 2019. When you receive your scores, start standardized test prep. Use Kahn Academy to get a free practice plan based on your PSAT scores!

2. Practice navigating the College Board and Naviance websites so you can use those sites to customize your college search.

3. Discuss with your family how you will pay for college. Will you need scholarships, loans or work-study programs?

4. Develop a preliminary college list. Include reach, goal and probable schools. Look at possible majors, locations, costs and application deadlines for each school. Request more information on those schools’ websites. Some sites will allow you to take a virtual tour. While not as useful as a physical tour, a virtual tour can help you get a feel for campuses that are not local.

5. Visit a college campus or 2 or 3!

Even though colleges will most likely be on winter break, visiting the campus, seeing the surrounding area, and taking a tour (if available over winter break) will help you evaluate what you like or do not like in a school environment. Try to visit schools of different sizes and perhaps a private school and a public school.

SENIORS

1. After your admission applications are submitted, discuss with your family your college budget so you will know what type of financial aid you will need.

2. If you have not completed The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), do it now! The application is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It allows you to be eligible for federal aid programs and for many institutional grants.

3. See if the colleges you applied to require an additional financial form called the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is time consuming so if the schools you applied to require it, do not put this off!

3. More regular decision application deadlines are coming up on or after the New Year. Use winter break to evaluate any acceptances you have received and, if needed, to apply to schools with upcoming deadlines.

4. Research scholarship opportunities. Many scholarships require essays so use your winter break to work on drafts for those applications.