FOR MONTH OF DECEMBER
Your college applications should be sent this month for regular submission. Use your holiday to become familiar with the student financial aid process.
Check
your dates
if you are taking any
college entrance exams. Make sure test scores are being sent to your select colleges: see
the September plan
For those who did early submission:
check with your colleges to make sure they have all of the information. Early admission notices will start arriving. Make sure you reply to school requests.
If you have been accepted, you must notify them of your decision (with required deposit money) by early next month. Watch the deadlines.
Search
diligently for potential scholarship
awards:
Estimate
and understand your college costs:
see November
Task 2: CLEP
Testing / Some Holiday Shopping
Consider taking and preparing for
the Advanced Placement
Exams or CLEP tests, if applicable.
This allows you to test
out of some college courses that can save you time and money.
The exams are administered each year in
the Spring with some preparation required
prior to the exam. Check
with your school for exam administration, enrollment and information.
Information about the advanced placement program: the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates: www.collegeboard.com
View our advanced
placement prep/study guides: includes prep planning books and other reading materials that can help you with these exams: click
here for advanced placement materials
How about
some Holiday Shopping
with these on-line shopping centers:
First thing, get
this discount card designed for students:
using this card can save you money at many locations tailored for students and their families:
www.studentadvantage.com
Ideas for: Dad, Mom,
Brother, Sister, and the entire family
our affiliated holiday shopping site for the entire family: www.What-to-Get-for-Christmas.com
Luxury finds for jewelry, rugs, furniture,
and more: KayMaxwell.com
Start collecting financial information about you
and your parents in order to complete
the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form will be required for all college aid programs. You can submit your
FAFSA form anytime after January 1.
Filing the FAFSA form will be required if you intend to receive financial aid assistance from the school.
The FAFSA form is administered by the Federal Government and it will be required for all Federal Student Loans, many scholarships, and other college financial
aid packages. It is used by colleges to determine
your financial aid eligibility.
Preparing for the FAFSA form:
Register for a PIN so that you can sign your FAFSA
form and other loan documents electronically. It will speed up the process: www.pin.ed.gov
Start gathering the
documentation needed to complete the
FAFSA form:
social security number
driver's license number (if any)
W-2 Forms and other records of money
earned
income tax returns
parent's federal income tax returns
(if you are a dependent student)
untaxed income records
bank statements
business and investment mortgage
information, business and farm records,
stock, bond, and other investment
records
alien registration card (if you
are not a U.S. citizen)
Find your school codes: you will need this information so that your FAFSA filing can be sent to the schools of your choice. Again, the colleges use this information in designing a financial aid package to help pay the cost of college attendance. www.fafsa.ed.gov.../fslookup.htm
View interactive worksheets: you can use these worksheets to help prepare for the real submission www.fafsa.ed.gov/worksheet.htm
Register for Selective Service (male students): Young men that have reached age
18 must register with Selective Service before submitting the FAFSA form. This is required by law:
www.sss.gov
Task 4: Happy
Holiday Links
Happy Holiday. The
new year will bring a change in your life. Let's get prepared:
