OfftoCollege.com

Task1:
Monthly Checklist for May

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)

• summary aid chart for first-time students (undergrad's)
• summary aid chart for parents
  
  

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

• Start getting yourself ready for college:
  download this FREE moving-to-college checklist
  also reference our college moving center: click here
  

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:

• Source for online learning courses:
  view directory of online programs

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