Flickr user Government of Prince Edward Island
You might think that with college applications out of the way, and acceptance letters rolling in, that second semester of senior year will be a breeze. However, there’s still plenty of prep work to do. A college prep checklist can help you remember what you need to do.
Here are some things you should have on your senior year checklist.
Extracurriculars
Participate in activities that will boost your scholarship applications—think internships, extracurricular activities, and community-based activities.
College Visits
Set up college visits during long weekends or whenever possible. Do your homework, go through the school website in detail and make notes about what you want to see and what you need to find out about on your visit. A second visit can be very beneficial.
GPA
Continue taking challenging courses and stay committed to maintaining or improving your GPA. Even if you’ve already been accepted into a college, don’t slack—higher GPAs can lead to scholarship opportunities.
ACT / SAT
If you have not yet taken the ACT/SAT, schedule in some prep time and register for these tests. Like GPAs, your ACT/SAT scores can make you eligible for more scholarships.
Financial Discussions
Sit with your family and have an honest discussion about finances and what is beyond the family budget. Also, put together all of the financial information you need to submit when filing the FAFSA.
Scholarships
This is the ideal time to search for and apply to as many scholarships as you can. They are the best way to pay for college and the more you earn, the less you’ll have to take out in student loans.
Save Money
Yes, put it down on your senior year checklist so it serves as a reminder not to spend unnecessarily. The more you save, the less you will need to borrow.
Double Check All Paperwork is Done
If you’ve accepted a college, make sure you’ve done all the necessary leg work. FAFSA, financial aid, transcripts, etc. Smooth the transition by dotting all your i’s and crossing your t’s.
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