Introduction: Getting Ready for College

HS seniors college move guide

Your final step in your planning process is getting yourself ready for college. This includes deciding where to go, arranging the needed financial aid, moving to college, developing study skills, building discipline, and understanding money management.

When You Should Complete These Tasks

Accepting Your Admittance

HS seniors college move guide

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Getting Your Acceptance Letter
Check your mailbox for acceptance letters from colleges. If a college you are considering hasn't responded, contact the Admissions Office to follow-up.

Compare your letters
compare your acceptance letter, financial aid offers, and other criteria to narrow your selection down to 1-2 schools.Upon your selection of school(s), you will be required to send in a non-refundable deposit to secure your position in the Freshmen class. So make sure it's the right decision.

College Comparison and Profiles
you can profile two or more colleges on cost, student size, teacher ratio, and other criteria:
collegeboard.org

view college rankings by school criteria and other rankings
see our tool set

Most schools have a May 1 Acceptance Deadline
Deposit money will likely be required to reserve your admission. Keep on track to meet these deadlines.

Keep Up Those Studies

HS seniors college move guide

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College Can Be A Lot of Fun But, it also requires late nights in the library to keep up with assignments and course exams.

You can find some helpful guides and books to help you along the way. Some samples from our college prep area:

• illustrated study books and other series
• study notes
• online study guides

It's more difficult to keep up with your college courses than it was in high school.

You will cover 5-10 times more reading material and assignments. You need to develop good study skills to keep up.

Some suggestions:

• From Virginia Tech:
  time management strategies
  improving test performance
  improving reading comprehension
  improving concentration and memory
  

Achieving Success in College

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The most important thing to "take" when you start school is discipline and the motivation to succeed.

You will use discipline to:

• keep up with your class assignments and readings
• prepare for the mid-week exam
• make preparations to continue school
• pass each class with honors
• graduate with honors
• find that perfect job
• build up your career
• live a successful life

The ingredients of discipline include a well-rounded character with hope and motivation.

Learn more about building discipline and a better you.

FREE Download
Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.

view our "building success" module

Find That Summer Job

HS seniors college move guide

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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:

jump over to our job center to search summer opportunities

Get Ready for the Move

HS seniors college move guide

What do you need to do?

Now that you have selected which college to attend, you now need to get yourself there ... plus setup your own home.

• you need find housing
  either on-campus or off-campus
• you need to think about transportation
  how are you going to get around town? Are you going to have your own car, motorbike, or use public transportation
• you need stuff for the dorm
  we're talking about clothes, shoes, personal gear, computer, software, bed and bath linen, kitchenware, and anything else to setup home
• you need to take care of essentials
  that includes bank accounts, insurance, local registrations, etc.
• you need to plan for the move
  either by car, plane, train or plane. Are you shipping your items or taking them with you?
• you need to get your school supplies
  includes books needed for your course work (save money by buying used), pencils, note pads, printing paper, and other study supplies
• you need to start college
  familiarize yourself with campus facilities, campus safety, local services, recreation activities, and other.

Get ready. You need to "make-your-home" away from home. That means packing and gathering a few things. Download our FREE "Off-to-College" Checklist of moving items you should consider taking to school

click to download moving checklist

Credit Management 101

HS seniors college move guide

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

(links go to our affiliated site at SayEducate.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

link to: SayEducate money management

Managing Your Money

HS seniors college move guide

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There will be a lot of money that will be changing hands over the next year. The question is how best to manage your money.

1. Setup a checking account with your family bank.
   Many banks offer FREE student checking accounts. Use your checking account for ATM access and check writing such as paying tuition and monthly rent.
2. Use your credit card for everything else.
   Whenever possible, use your credit card to pay for everything else. Many merchants will not accept student checks, so your credit card will be necessary (avoid carrying cash).
3. Setup a College Budget:
   Make sure you budget your college expenses. You want to avoid having to borrow more money to finish the year.
   
   

   	download FREE our college budgeting worksheet
   	view our discussion on budgeting

Return to: College Planning