Getting a head start on college prep can make the fall and spring less stressful for parents and students. Seniors will need to be prepared for the overwhelming amount of college admissions activities once school begins. Tackling (or preparing) for those college related tasks now can help ease some of the pressure in the fall. Get ahead of the game and prepare in advance; be ready for your student’s senior year to begin with this college prep checklist.
Is your student ready for standardized tests?
The fall standardized tests will most likely be the scores your student submits to the colleges. Have you registered for these tests yet? Is he prepared? Has he studied the formulas, done a few practice tests, brushed up on his vocabulary and perfected his writing skills? If not, August is the perfect time to do some test prep study in anticipation of taking the last test before applying to colleges. If you determine your student needs help, consider hiring a tutor.
Do you have persons in mind for the recommendation letters?
Teachers are bombarded with recommendation letter requests when school starts. Your student wants to be first in line for those requests to give his letter writers enough time to craft a glowing recommendation. Be sure he has plenty of high school resumes available to pass out when asking for the recommendations. It will help teachers write a more personal recommendation.
Have you researched colleges and is your student ready to apply?
August is the perfect time to finalize that college list. If your student is applying early decision or early action, applications must be completed and submitted early in the fall. You will also use this list when completing the FAFSA. The sooner you decide, the sooner your student can start working on his applications. The Common Application is available now for students to begin the application process.
Are you ready for the FAFSA?
Gather all your documents to complete the FAFSA early in December this year (new updates caused a delay). Financial aid is disbursed on a first come, first serve basis so you want to be first in line for the money. You can find a list of documents you need at the FAFSA website.
Have you discussed the money yet?
If you want to avoid disappointment when offers of admission arrive, have the “money talk” before your student applies to colleges. Decide what you can afford, what you will be willing to contribute toward the costs, and what you expect your student to contribute. Know what you and your student can afford to pay before applying to colleges.
Has your student started work on the essay?
The Common App essay prompts are available for students now. Your student should review these prompts and begin work on the essay now before school begins. August is the perfect time to devote to writing, proofing and editing the college essay. Take the time to research some past submissions. The College Essay guy gives some excellent examples based on common essay prompts.
Is your student applying for scholarships?
Many scholarships require students to be seniors in high school. August is an excellent time to search for these specific scholarships and apply. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a list of scholarships with August deadlines from JLV College Counseling. Even if you can afford to pay for college, your student should apply for scholarships. It’s free money and you can use the money you saved for college for retirement instead!
College Prep Checklist recap
To sum it up, here’s a quick checklist for your student to complete in August:
- Prepare for standardized tests
- Make a list of recommendation letter writers
- Finalize the college list
- Gather FAFSA documents
- Discuss the money
- Start working on the essay
- Apply for scholarships