The senior summer is when the
train slowly starts to leave the station. Your child is pulling away from you
and family life in general in preparation for the day he leaves “for real”.
Just like a train, the process starts slowly with a great deal of caution and
preparation, but the momentum increases with each passing day until you and
your child realize it can’t stop.
I
suggest planning a 20-30 minute chat each week in which you review mail, emails, and other documents sent from the
college and take action on them. If nothing has arrived that week, have a brief
talk about any of the topics listed on the checklist below.
Paperwork from the college
Usually
colleges send, or have online, checklists for new freshmen. These are often set up on a timeline that you can use to plan these discussions and get organized. By
tackling these on a weekly basis, you are also showing your child how to
prioritize, break down a long list of responsibilities into easily accomplished
tasks, and avoid procrastination by working steadily toward a goal.
A typical senior summer
checklist: In
addition to talking with your child about these important items, it is helpful
to remind him that if he has not received some type of confirmation of
completing the tasks, he may not have completed them.
- Receive financial aid award letter and accept or reject awards - This is actually done online by the student when he logs onto his account at: http://fafsa.ed.gov, and after he receives word via email that his FAFSA has been processed.
- Schedule a date for orientation and enrollment – Your child won’t be a college student at all without taking these steps that usually occur together during freshman orientation. Make sure he’s signed up for an orientation and enrollment program and has received a confirmation of the program’s date(s)
- Placement exams – Are often administered as part of orientation and enrollment, but your child should check to confirm this and sign up for testing if required. Some colleges will not let students enroll without placement exam scores.
- Complete scholarship applications – This is an ongoing process, and many colleges use the student’s completed FAFSA in conjunction with a separate scholarship application to award scholarships. Scholarships are good!
- Residence hall applications, contracts, and deposits – Unless your child is commuting, he will need a place to live on or near campus. Many colleges require students to live on campus during their first year. Make sure your child has completed the application for housing, a contract if necessary, and has paid any required deposits to hold his spot in the residence halls.
- Proof of immunizations – Some colleges will not allow students to attend class, or will cancel enrollment without proof of immunizations or a written refusal form.
- Meal plan selection and deposits – in addition to a place to live, your child will need to eat. Most meal plans require a contract, deposit, or partial payment before the semester begins.
- Greek letter organization registration – Is required of students who are interested in joining a social fraternity or sorority. The formal recruitment process usually has its own set of forms, fees and deadlines to follow. * Not all colleges will hold formal recruitment in the fall.
