As you'll soon discover, the road to college isn't very well mapped. To smooth out the bumps along the way, here are ten key steps that you'll want to follow to insure you end up at the best destination:
| 10 |
BE A STRONG COLLEGE CANDIDATE. The National Association for College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) urges the college bound to begin building their application credentials in the freshman year.
|
| 9 |
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO BEGIN. High school juniors can research majors, programs, costs, scholarships, admissions, etc. Don't forget to consult web sites such as www.college360.org. And be sure to call the College Access Information Hotline at 1-877-I-ATTAIN (1-877-428-8246) to talk to a specialist about college preparation and financial aid.
|
| 8 |
PICK A CAREER PATH. Consult the Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) online at your high school, local library or college to help you find out about emerging careers and to locate those colleges offering programs.
|
| 7 |
VISIT A COLLEGE RESOURCE CENTER. Organizations such as Cleveland Scholarship Programs provide free, one-on-one, expert college access and financial-aid advice. Often available are Internet access and a library of college and career information.
|
| 6 |
TAKE AT LEAST ONE OF THE PRE-COLLEGE TESTS. The ACT assessment and the SAT are given several Saturdays during the year. Most schools will accept either test. You must pre-register about five weeks before the test. It is suggested that you take the test duyring your junior year and then again in the fall of your sneior year. (You can take each test multiple times.)
|
| 5 |
VISIT THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. Many schools hold open house events for families and students. You can contact the admission office to arrange a campus tour. Try to schedule a visit when school is in session and students are on campus. If possible, spend the night to get a true feel for the area.
|
| 4 |
COMPLETE AND SUBMIT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS EARLY. Although a school may indicate that January 1st or March 15th is the deadline, it is wise to complete your applications by Thanksgiving. Ask your high school guidance counselor to send your high school transcript and any additional information the school requests. Submitting an early application enables you to verify that all materials have been received.
|
| 3 |
COMPLETE AND FILE THE FREE APPLICATION for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in February: The FAFSA form becomes available in November, but it cannot be mailed until after January 1st. The FAFSA establishes a student's eligibility to receive financial aid.
|
| 2 |
COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIRED FORMS: Check with the admission office about other requirements or with your questions and concerns. Promptly reply to all letters and requests for information sent to you by the school.
|
| 1 |
OPEN YOUR COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE LETTER!
|
