With the end of the school year coming to a close and big decisions made, many are ready to detach and enjoy the summer before things start changing. I completely get it too, because after months of applications, financial aid forms, acceptance letters, and decision-making, finally committing to a college brings a huge sense of relief. It’s an exciting milestone worth celebrating. However there are a few things that can slip through the cracks over the summer if you aren’t careful. Here’s what families forget after they commit to college.
What Families Forget After They Commit to College
One of the biggest misconceptions families have is believing that once a student commits, everything is officially “done.” In reality, committing to a college is less of an ending and more of a transition into the next phase of the process.
I know that this time of year through the summer is busy. Seniors are graduating, celebrating, traveling, working summer jobs, and trying to enjoy their final months before college begins. Parents are juggling calendars, paperwork, and preparations for a major life transition. It’s all completely understandable.
What’s important to remember though is that colleges continue communicating with students all summer long, and missing small requests or deadlines can sometimes create unnecessary stress later. Trust me, you don’t want to open up your email on a whim at the end of July and realize you missed an important housing form deadline or registration due date.
Continue to Check Student Portals and Emails
Therefore it is important to continue checking emails and student portals throughout the summer. Many should be used to this routine already as you should have been checking in weekly for financial aid applications. This is just a continuation of that process.
Check in weekly to ensure there are no messages or requests about financial aid, billing and payment deadlines, housing, orientation, class registration, health and immunization requirements, or course placement or advising information. As you can see, there is still quite a bit of things that are going on behind the scenes in preparation for you to come in the fall and you don’t want to miss anything.
Keep Track of Deadlines
Many families are surprised by how many separate items and deadlines appear over the summer. There is no need to panic though. Just stay organized and continue to check in and respond to anything that comes in.
Summer has a way of making people feel like there’s plenty of time, until suddenly there isn’t. Many colleges have separate deadlines for:
- Housing deposits and roommate selection
- Orientation sign-ups
- Tuition payment plans
- Health records and immunization forms
- Placement testing
- Loan paperwork
The families who stay organized now are usually the ones who avoid last-minute stress later. I suggest marking any and all deadlines on a calendar that will get checked regularly. If it is a digital calendar set up due date notifications, that way you can stay on top of every deadline.
Remember to also save copies of submitted forms and confirmations. If you followed earlier advice when you were applying to schools and Financial aid, you should already have an organized folder (either a physical file folder or digital one on your computer) that you can save these to.
These small steps help prevent important items from getting buried during a busy summer.
Enjoy the Summer
This season should absolutely be exciting. Graduation celebrations, family time, vacations, and preparing for college are all part of this transition, and students deserve to enjoy it. The key is to stay lightly engaged with the process throughout the summer to ensure there are no unexpected surprises waiting in August.
The students and families who stay organized now are usually the ones who head into the fall feeling the most confident and prepared!
More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors
Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.