OfftoCollege.com

Task 1: Preview the Monthly Checklist

checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed

If you submitted your FAFSA form early, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating your eligibility for financial aid. Make any corrections to the report and return it to the FAFSA processor. Need to check your SAR status: FAFSA web site Make corrections to FAFSA Form: www.fafsa.ed.gov More information about the SAR report: view Financial Aid Note 3 Need to send your SAR to more than six schools: view Financial Aid Note 2

If you haven't submitted your FAFSA, you need to do so quickly to meet important college financial aid deadlines: see the January Plan

Make sure your High School sends all necessary transcripts and grades to your colleges of choice. Check with your guidance counselor for assistance.

Check to see if all of your application materials have been sent. Contact the admissions office of the college(s) to which you have applied to make sure they have everything. admission application: see the October Plan essays: see the October Plan letters or recommendations: see the October Plan high school transcripts other: use our application submission checklist

If you are taking any college entrance exams, check your dates: SAT I and SAT II ACT College Exam

Continue searching for scholarships. Every bit helps: over $24.3 billion worth of scholarships and grants in one location

This is a good time to re-estimate your college costs: see the November Plan

Men 18 years or older must be registered for Selective Service to receive federal financial aid. You can register online: www.sss.gov

Have you started your going-to-college search? It's a little too late to meet the Fall semester deadline. You might consider getting ready for the Winter Semester: see our late starter file for planning after high school

Task 2: Getting Ready for College

Setting Up Your College Home

Imagine moving into your own home (which is what you will do when you go to college). Think about what you might need for the bedroom, study area, kitchen, closet, etc.

download this FREE moving-to-college checklist
also reference our college moving module: click here

 

Attention Students:

• start saving with this cost advantage program:
  Cardholders save up to 50% OFF at more than 20,000 discount locations across the country.
  www.studentadvantage.com
  
  
• review how to best to manage your student funds:
  using pre-paid credit to manage spend and avoid debt
  using pre-paid credit cards to manage student funds

Task 3: Advanced Placement Exams

About Advanced Placement

Have you considered taking Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP to test out of preliminary college courses such as pre-algebra, history and others? The tests are coming up. Why spend the time and cost to attend college courses you don't need. So get yourself ready:

The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your high 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

Task 4: Credit Management 101

Understanding Credit

Before making a decision about credit cards, student loans, and other credit financing, take a brief moment to view our affiliated member site on credit card and debt management.

It is an important topic as you start your adult life. Good credit will be needed when it time to buy a home, get your dream car, and even land your first career job:

(links go to our affiliated site at SayGoodCredit.com)

Credit Management
summary review of credit management and how to start and develop your own credit skills. Topics include:
introduction: about credit
types of credit
about your credit report
Applying for Credit

establishing credit
maintaining good credit
repairing your credit

Debt Management
learn tactics to manage and avoid debt.
Topics include:
about debt management
how much debt
solving your debt problems

managing credit card debt

Budget Management
develop important budgeting skills while in school.
Topics include:
why budget
what's in the budget
developing a spending plan

tips: Lowing Your Bills

 

What to Do About Credit Cards:

Banks and other student loan companies will be marketing you with credit card offers. Their objective is to get you onto their credit card system so that they have you as a customer for life.

You will need a cash card for school. Many college-town merchants will not accept checks and you don't want to carry around cash. But beware! Many students get into big debts with easy use of credit cards.

 

What Type of Credit Card for School:

1. Pre-paid credit:
   see how to use pre-paid cards to manage and budget your student funds. They work just like credit cards. But they limit your spending by the amount of money you load to the card:
   
   view how to use pre-paid cards to manage student loans
   
   
2. Get smart:
   preview student credit cards to get an idea on what type of cards are available. Equip yourself with knowledge on what is out there to avoid getting hooked on a credit card marketing offers:
   
   link to our student credit card module

Task 5: Important Note

Schools will be sending out acceptance notices within the month.

If you applied to more than one school, you need to decide in order which school you would like to attend.

• Use the college comparison tools to make your decision:
  see our tool set

If you applied early, you should have received your acceptance notice and Financial Award Package from your school:

• see the April Plan for next steps

 

Something Extra

Cold Winter? Check our Winter-breaking party ideas:

• Party Pac-net Ideas:
  click here

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