College Planning Guide: Find Summer Work

HS Senior Calendar: March

for the month of March
Acceptance and financial aid notices will be arriving from colleges. Watch the mail and make sure you address all notices and deadlines. Stay vigilant in finding all available financial aid sources.

Monthly Tasks:

Task 1: preview the monthly checklist
Task 2: review college financial aid steps
Task 3: finalize your scholarship search
Task 4: find the summer job
use "college worksheet" to track stats

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Task 1: Preview the Monthly Checklist

checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed

You should receive your Student Aid Report from the Federal Government indicating your eligibility for financial aid. Sign and return the SAR to the school(s) you are attending. 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
You must complete and submit your Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) before receiving the Student Aid Report (SAR). For steps to the financial aid process: see our Financial Aid Step 2 For submitting your FAFSA: see the January Plan
Contact the financial aid office of the schools to which you applied. Make sure they have all the information they need. Directory list of Universities and Colleges: college search directory to find the Aid office
Schools will be sending out acceptance notices by April 15. Respond promptly to requests from admissions and the school's financial aid offices: see the April Plan for more information
Have you received your Financial Award Package from your school?: Financial award letters usually arrive on or a little time after you receive your acceptance letter: see the April Plan for next steps
Take the CLEP Test to test out of some college classes: the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates: www.collegeboard.com
If you are taking any college entrance exams, check your dates: SAT I and SAT II ACT College Exam
Do you have a place to live while at school: see our moving center for housing information
Men 18 years or older must be registered for Selective Service to receive federal financial aid. You can register online: www.sss.gov
Start getting yourself ready for college: download FREE moving-to-college checklist reference our college moving center: click here Attention Students: start saving with this cost advantage program for students. Cardholders save up to 50% OFF at more than 20,000 discount locations across the country: www.studentadvantage.com also review how to best to manage your student funds by using pre-paid credit to manage spend: using pre-paid credit cards to manage student funds

You should receive your Student Aid Report
from the Federal Government indicating your eligibility for financial aid. Sign and return the SAR to the school(s) you are attending.

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

You must complete and submit
your Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) before receiving the Student Aid Report (SAR).

For steps to the financial aid process:
see our Financial Aid Step 2
For submitting your FAFSA: see the January Plan

Contact the financial aid office of the schools
to which you applied. Make sure they have all the information they need.

Directory list of Universities and Colleges:
college search directory to find the Aid office

Schools will be sending out acceptance notices
by April 15.

Respond promptly to requests from admissions and the school's financial aid offices: see the April Plan for more information

Have you received your Financial Award Package from your school?:

Financial award letters usually arrive on or a little time after you receive your acceptance letter:
see the April Plan for next steps

Take the CLEP Test to test out of some college classes:

the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
www.collegeboard.com

If you are taking any college entrance exams,
check your dates:

Do you have a place to live while at school:
see our moving center for housing information

Men 18 years or older
must be registered for Selective Service to receive federal financial aid.

You can register online:
www.sss.gov

Start getting yourself ready for college:

download FREE moving-to-college checklist
reference our college moving center:
click here

Attention Students:

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

Task 2: Preview the Financial Aid Process

Learn about options to pay for college:

Let's talk money for college —
jump over to our College Financial Aid Guide

Note 1:   understand the financial aid process
Note 2:   submitting the FAFSA form for federal aid
Note 3:   review the student aid report
Note 4:   get the financial award letter
Note 5:   view financial aid options
Note 6:   apply for and manage student funds

If you applied early to your college,

you should have received your acceptance notice and Financial Award Package from your school:
see the April Plan

Task 3: Finalize Your Scholarship Search

March is scholarship essay completion time

Many scholarships will require an essay for consideration. Get help reviewing your essay from experts:

Scholarship essay resources:
EssayEdge.com

There are plenty of scholarships available.
So do your research:

begin your search for over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location

Beware of potential scholarship scams:

there are unscrupulous web sites and email campaigns that are trying to get your money. A general rule to follow is,

"if they request money from you in order to get money",

they are likely a scam:

Detecting/reporting scholarship scams:
from the FTC: information about scholarship scams

Task 4: Find the Summer Job

Have you found that summer job?

Use the summer to raise money you will need for college.

Money earned can be used for tuition, housing, transportation and for fun entertainment.

If you worked last summer with a job you liked, go back and see if you can work with them again this coming summer. Or try to find a different summer job that fits your career goals:

Summer work programs:
Job listing for teens from many brand-name retail and other name companies:
www.snagajob.com
another posting of summer jobs:
www.summerjobs.com
job postings exclusively for teens:
www.teens4hire.org

Internship Programs:
internships in your field of interest is a great way to get experience that will help you college
internships.wetfeet.com

Search Classified ads in LOCAL PAPERS:
you will find many local summer jobs through your local online classifieds:
find local online classifieds | search craig's list