1. Say Thank You: There were many people who helped you get to this point, so take time to say thanks to your parents, high school teachers and counselors, friends, professors and advisors.
2. Say I’m Sorry: If you’ve had a rough go of it with other students or professors and you were wrong, take the time to say I’m sorry so you can start out with a fresh slate.
3. Write Down Your Activities: You may soon be putting together a resume so list out all of your college activities now before you forget what you accomplished.
4. Get Your Transcripts: It is easier to stop by the registrar’s office while you’re on campus and pick up your transcripts than to contact them later for copies when you’re on a deadline with a potential employer or graduate school.
5. Ask for Letters of Recommendation: Your future employer may want letters of recommendation so talk to your professors, advisors or college employers before they forget who you are.
6. Visit the Career Center: Ask for recommendations on how to approach your job search.
7. Pay Your Bills: You may need your diploma soon and you won’t get it if all your bills are not paid.
8. Determine Who You Want to Be: Decide what kind of a person you are going to be as an adult. Ask others what they admire about you and build on those assets, but also find out what could be improved and work on that, too.
9. Review Your Student Loans: Talk to a college financial aid advisor who can look over your student loan debt statement, determine if there is any possibility for consolidation, and help you work out a smart payment strategy.
10. Relax and Have Some Fun: You’ve worked hard to get that diploma, so take some time to enjoy yourself before moving on to your next phase of life.

Pass It On

You probably have some tips of your own that could help students who are applying for college now. Talk to your younger siblings and their friends, your high school counselor, or your college financial aid counselor and let them know what strategies worked best for you and what you would have done differently. Give them your insights on financial aid, student loans, and scholarships.

If you know any high school juniors or seniors who need input to help them achieve their college dreams like you did, tell them about College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA). Encourage them to talk to us by August so we can set up a FREE financial aid strategy session, help them understand the college financial aid process, and develop a strategy for applying to college.

Scholarships.com says you can start as early as your sophomore year, but you and your parents should definitely have a strategy in place by your junior year. You may not need to apply until your senior year, but it is better than missing out on something just because you weren’t prepared. It can be difficult to think about this when you are already narrowing down your list of colleges, scheduling college visits, and preparing for the SATs, but try to dedicate some time each month to scholarships. Here are some steps you can take:

• Define Possible Scholarship Categories: Think about all the areas where you might be eligible for a scholarship – academics, sports, arts and music, ethnic background, church, or community involvement.
• Search for Scholarship Opportunities: Conduct broad internet searches under these categories and start putting together a list of opportunities.
• Gather Input from Others: Talk to your guidance counselor, parents of other students and watch the local newspapers for scholarships that have been granted to this year’s students. Check the requirements to see if you might be eligible for any of them next year.
• List Out the Requirements and Deadlines: Look at the requirements for the scholarships to determine if there is anything you can do to increase your chance of winning one before you apply. Keep a calendar of all application deadlines readily visible.
• Start Outlining Your Applications: You may not be ready to start writing out your applications right now but don’t wait until the last minute either. Keep a notebook handy which lists some of the top scholarships you want to try to win. As you think of a reason that could increase your chances be sure to write it down. Keep clippings of any newspaper articles that list your name or make note of any outstanding achievements. This way you won’t forget anything when it comes time to apply.

Just Do It

You probably think you already have enough on your plate without worrying about scholarships right now, but that idea could cost you a lot of money. Once you start looking you’ll be surprised at the number of scholarships that are available. You can also talk to a professional college financial aid advisor to help in the scholarship search and get you started on the path to making other college decisions.

If you need help finding college scholarships contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA). Also be sure to request your free copy of The Twelve Most Helpful College Financial Aid Tips.

The U.S. Department of Education recently took steps to clear up this confusion. Beginning with forms to be completed for the 2014-2015 school year, students will be able to submit income and other information from their legal parents, regardless of their marital status or gender, if those parents live together. Instead of gender-specific terms like “mother” and “father,” the FAFSA will include terms like “Parent 1” and “Parent 2.” This information is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the amount of aid you will be eligible to receive. These changes do not affect students whose parents are divorced and not living with each other.

According to the Department, these updates were made to insure a fairer treatment for all families. Although this will probably not affect the majority of students, it will have implications for those whose status has been unclear to this point. For some it may mean that the amount of aid will decrease, but for others it might also mean that the amount of aid could increase.

What Does All of This Mean?

Everyone needs to pay attention to what is happening in the financial aid world. High school juniors may be affected by these changes as they begin to apply to colleges. High school seniors who have already completed their FAFSA for this year may find a different form when they go to reapply next year.

In general there may be a lot of changes ahead in the realm of student aid. The effects of the budget sequester, continuing uncertainty about the economy, and an ongoing review of the financial aid process can all result in continued revisions to the way students apply for and receive financial help. The best way to find out the implications in any given year is to consult with a professional college financial aid advisor. It is the advisor’s job to keep updated on all of this information so he or she can advise you on the impact these changes may have on your ability to attend and afford college.

If you need help figuring out how these changes will affect you contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA). If you are a high school junior who is just starting to work your way through the financial aid process and need professional insights, contact CFAA now for a FREE financial aid strategy session.

Maybe there are some scholarships you’re waiting for to determine your overall financial picture. Or you might still just be feeling the pressure of making a final choice that could impact your life. Should you go ahead and accept admission to more than one college? Here is what might happen if you do:

• You’ll Probably Lose Money: Most schools want a non-refundable deposit with your acceptance. If you send money to two schools whatever school you eventually turn down will probably keep your money.
• You Could Hurt Others: There are many anxious students still on a waitlist, hoping for an opening. Your indecision is holding a spot in that class and could cost another person a chance to attend this school.
• You Could Lose Your Acceptance: Colleges might look on this as a form or deceit or dishonesty. If they find out that you have accepted more than one offer, one or more of the schools could rescind their acceptance offer.

What Is Really Holding You Back?

You really need to sit down now with your parents or school counselor to figure out what is holding you back from making this decision. If you are worried that you are making some sort of long-term commitment that could affect your whole life that is not necessarily true. Many students are surprised to find they are not a good fit with their selected college once they start attending and decide to transfer after a semester or two. There is no reason you have to stay with one college for four years. The important thing is that you make a decision now and get started on the path to higher learning. There is always time for course corrections later.

If you are still concerned about financial issues you would definitely benefit from sitting down with a college financial aid advisor. He or she can help you review all of your financial aid information to determine if there is something missing. If something has changed in your financial situation, it might be possible to make an appeal for a change in financial aid. Perhaps it is a matter of contacting your preferred college one last time. Or there might still be a late deadline scholarship that could make all the difference for you.

1.     Going away doesn’t have to mean leaving the state: Many students are thrilled about the idea of getting away from home and want to travel to the farthest college possible, but that can be very expensive. Consider attending a college in your own state. You’ll still have the chance to live on your own but will save on travel and tuition expenses.

2.     Community college courses can cut costs: Many community colleges offer core classes to high school students during the year and summer breaks. Some even offer free classes to graduating seniors. College students often take classes at home during the summer to cut down on costs.

3.     Local scholarships help: The local Kiwanis, Chamber, Lions and other civic organizations often have scholarships available which can help defray some out-of-pocket expenses.

4.     Graduate on time: It might seem like fun to back off a bit and take fewer courses than recommended but additional semesters can get very expensive.

5.     Meal plans are there for a reason: It’s relaxing to go out with your friends for some fast food, but your parents have already paid for your meals. Don’t let them go to waste.

6.     Watch your costs: Small expenditures can add up quickly. Don’t go for the most expensive supplies, look for free entertainment, take advantage of student discounts, limit your purchases, and you’ll be able to save your money for the big stuff.

Ask Your Financial Aid Counselor For More Tips

If this is the first time your family has a child attending college the financial burden can seem overwhelming. That’s why it might make sense to sit down with an experienced financial aid advisor who can help sort through all of your options. Most advisors have worked with hundreds of students and know every trick there is to squeezing the most out of a penny. You may have made erroneous assumptions about what you are eligible for, you might not have looked through all of the scholarship opportunities, or you might not have received the full amount of financial aid from a college. Having a professional on your side could make all the difference.

If you need help working out your financial plan for college contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) as soon as possible. If you are still working on any other component of the financial aid process and need professional insights, contact CFAA now for a FREE financial aid strategy session.

For students who have been accepted to other institutions this may not be a problem. But for those who had their hearts set on a particular college, this can be a time of high anxiety. Here are some helpful steps you can take while awaiting a final decision:

• Follow instructions: A college might include guidelines based on its admissions procedures with your waitlist notification. Read this information and pay attention to any rules or timelines. You may be able to submit additional information that could help sway a final decision in your favor.
• Visit the school again: It can be harder for schools to say no to somebody they have met. If you have not been to the college, try to get there once. If you visited before it may be worth making a second trip. Some schools might let you talk to the admissions department to ask if there is anything you can do to increase your odds of acceptance.
• Let the school know about any significant changes: You might have retaken the SAT since your application and achieved a much higher score, or received a great grade in an AP course. Other extraordinary achievements should be noted to show that you are definitely a candidate worth considering.
• Think about networking: If you know somebody who might have influence with the school, it could be worth asking if there are any suggestions of what else you can do. That person might be willing to write a letter or make a phone call on your behalf, but this must be done selectively.

Strike a balance between showing interest and becoming a pest. The admissions office will appreciate a student who knows the difference.

Keep Moving Ahead with Your Financial Planning

It can work against you to let schools know that other institutions have already accepted you. Once you have indicated your interest, keep moving forward as though you will be attending college in the fall. Stay on top of your financial timelines and make sure you will have enough money to attend this college should you finally receive an acceptance notice.

If you need advice on what to do about being waitlisted contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) as soon as possible. Also be sure to request your free copy of The Twelve Most Helpful College Financial Aid Tips.

That’s where late deadline scholarships could make the difference. Now that you’ve finished all the rigorous work of taking the SAT, applying to colleges, and writing application essays, it might make sense to apply to some of these last minute opportunities. Even a small amount can go a long way towards meeting your college dreams.

• 2013 American Spirit Publishing Scholarship Photo Contest: Budding artists take note! Entries are in the form of a “Portrait of America”, which can be a photo, drawing, or painting, but must be submitted to the official contest page on their website OR sent by postal mail postmarked by June 1st, 2013.
• Duck Tape® Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest: Going to prom? Make your outfit from Duck Tape and you could win a scholarship. Open to legal residents of the United States (excluding the states of MD, VT and CO) and the District of Columbia, who are 14 years of age and older and who will be attending a high school, home school association or other school-sanctioned prom in 2013. Submit entries by 11:59:59 PM ET on June 10, 2013.
• BigSun Scholarship 2013: Participate in sports? The BigSun Organization helps young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits by offering an annual scholarship to a deserving student, regardless of the sport played. The student must be a high school senior or be attending a post-secondary institute. To apply, send in a short essay answering the following three-part question: What are your most important extracurricular or community activities? What made you join these activities? What made you continue to contribute to them? Deadline is June 21, 2013.
• From Failure to Promise: In 2010 Dr. C. Moorer published his book, “From Failure to Promise: An Uncommon Path to Professoriate. Write an original essay up to 1000 words addressing how the book impacted your pursuit of success and promise, and explaining your commitment to improving the lives of global citizens. Deadline is July 31, 2013.

Don’t Give Up on Your College Dreams

There might be enough money available to make a big difference for you. Be sure to keep looking online for more late scholarship opportunities. These are just a few examples found with a bit of research. This page lists late scholarships from 2012 but it couldn’t hurt to follow the links and see if the program is available this year, too.

If you need help looking for additional scholarship opportunities contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) as soon as possible. If you are still working on any other component of the financial aid process and need professional insights, contact CFAA now for a FREE financial aid strategy session.