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HS Senior Calendar: May

current location: college planning ... HS college guide ... senior calendar ... may
FOR MONTH OF MAY
Acceptance notifications are due May 1. So note all deadlines. Let's review the financial aid options that were listed in your award letter.

Page Directory:
task1: monthly checklist
task2: take AP exams
task3: review award letter
task4: review notes
task5: find the summer job
Support Tools:
task tracking worksheets
quick financial aid checkup
college money map 

Task1:
Monthly Checklist for May


checklist of prior tasks that should be completed
Most schools have a May 1 deadline for acceptance.

Deposit money will likely be required to reserve your admission. Check your school for information.
Be considerate and promptly notify all other schools where you have been accepted that you will be attending another school. It opens up the admission slots for other students.
If you are on a waiting list for a school
you would like to attend, contact the school to let them know you are still interested. Keep your channels open.
Have you received your Financial Award Package from your school?:

see below
Advanced Placement Courses are usually administered this month: see below
Refer your junior friends about the Junior college planner
Stay the course.
Check for scholarships and grants:

over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location

Task 2:
Take the AP Placement Exams

Sit for the Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP tests to test out of subject areas you had in high school. This avoids from having to take similar classes in college.

The exams are generally administered in May:

  • 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

Task 3:
Review Your Financial Award Letter

You should receive your "Financial Award Package" with information on your qualifying financial aid from each school that you have been admitted.

The "Financial Award Package" will show the cost of attendance and the amount of each financial aid award that will be granted. The difference between the cost and the amount awarded is the portion that the family is expected to pay.

The financial awards include:

  • grants,
  • scholarships,
  • federally student loans,
  • work study programs,
  • other college assisted aid

    For information about the "Financial Award Package":
    see financial aid note 4

    All about financial aid for first-time students:
    information inside — click here

Financial Aid Review

View these summary charts of financial aid options:
(link to our financial aid center)

Understand the financial aid process for student loans, grants, scholarships and other student aid:
see Financial Aid Process

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

another place to start is our
quick financial aid checklist


Note the Five Ways to Pay for College

  1. Scholarships and Grant Aid Programs:

    over $24.3 billion
    worth of scholarships and grants in one location

  2. Federal Student and Parent Loans:
    federal student and parent PLUS loans are available — view details and options
    view summary note: federal student loans
    view summary note: federal PLUS loans

  3. Private Education Loans:
    need a little extra to cover the full cost? — compare plans
    view summary note: private student loans

  4. Investment 529 Plans:
    investment plans that pay for education — see how they work
    visit our affiliate center at: www.SayPlanning.com for information about 529 plans

  5. Home Equity (Bank Equity Program):
    use the equity in your home to finance all or part of your education without restrictions
    view summary note: home equity loans

Task 4:
Review Important Notes

Respond to all requests from the college you will be attending. Notify all other colleges of your decision not to attend.

Need to finalize your housing arrangements.
Check your college for on-campus living arrangements or make arrangements to live off-campus:

For on-campus:
check with your college of choice. Once you get accepted into college, you need to move fast on on-campus housing arrangements to avoid being placed on a waiting list:

Check with your college web site for on-campus living:
use our college directory to link to your school


For off-campus:
link to our "Moving to College" housing plan for housing search: click here for college housing

Information about fraternities and sororities:
www.greekpages.com
DMOZ open directory on fraternities and sororities:
dmoz.org/.../Fraternities_and_Sororities




Check out some online courses that you could take over the summer. Some colleges will allow credit for courses completed online. This will give you the flexibility to arrange your schedule:

Task 5:
Find the Summer Job

Have you found that summer job?

Money earned during the summer can be used for tuition, housing, transportation and entertainment.

  • 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:
    www.newspaperlinks.com

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