Quick "May" Monthly Checklist

may task for HS seniors

Use this checklist to review those tasks that should be completed by the start of May:

Most schools have a May 1 Acceptance Deadline
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.
Stay the course. Check for scholarships and grants:
over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location
Start getting yourself ready for college:
- download FREE moving-to-college checklist
  references our college moving center

Next Topic: Take AP Exams

Take the AP Placement Exams

may task for HS seniors

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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:
collegeboard.com

Next Topic: Review Award Letter

Review Your Financial Award Letter

may task for HS seniors

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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

More Financial Aid Information

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

	summary aid chart for first-time students
	summary aid chart for parents

Understand the financial aid process for student loans, grants, scholarships and other student aid. See our Financial Aid notes:

	understand the financial aid process
	submitting the FAFSA form for federal aid
	review the student aid report
	get the financial award letter
	view financial aid options

Note the Ways to Pay for College

Scholarships and Grant Aid Programs:
over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location
Federal Student and Parent Loans:
federal student and parent PLUS loans are available — view details and options
view note: federal student loans
view note: federal PLUS loans
Private Education Loans:
need a little extra to cover the full cost? — compare plans
view note: private student loans
Home Equity (Bank Equity Program):
use the equity in your home to finance all or part of your education without restrictions
view note: home equity loans

Next Topic: Housing and Moving

Review Housing and Moving Notes

february task for HS seniors

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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.

For on-campus:
check with your college of choice. Once you decide on a 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:
greekpages.com
directory on fraternities and sororities:
list of fraternities and sororities

More "Ready for College" Notes

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Get yourself ready

Start getting yourself ready for college:
download this FREE moving-to-college checklist
references our college moving center

Take Online Courses

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

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
link to: SayEducate.com credit management

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
link to: SayEducate debt management

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 budget management

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:

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
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.

Next Topic: Find Summer Job

Find a Summer Job

may task for HS seniors

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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

jump over to our job center to search summer opportunities

More Job Related Sites

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Summer work programs:

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

Internship Programs: