Senior Summer "Must-dos"

Colleges often send, or have online, checklists for new freshmen. These are usually 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. If the college did not provide a checklist or you can’t find one, the one below is similar what most colleges will send.

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 on the checklist, he may not have completed them after all, and should confirm with the college.

Have your child keep all papers from the college in a folder and file emails in their own clearly marked file. Keep this information accessible and be sure to have it handy when calling the college or visiting for tours or orientation. If your child finds that he needs to call the college about a document he has received, directly calling the person or the office that sent the document is best, and it helps immensely to have the document on hand. Teach your child how to file documents and retrieve them whether they are on paper or electronic.

* It never hurts to scan or photograph a paper document for future reference. It doesn’t have to be perfectly filed, it just has to be accessible.

Senior summer checklist

·      Complete the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) – This is usually completed in January or February, but if your child has not already completed the FAFSA he can do so at any time. Fortunately, as a parent, you can keep track of whether or not this has been accomplished because you will need to provide information from your tax return in order for him to complete it.⁵

·      Receive a 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.

·      Register for orientation and enrollment – Your child won’t be a college student at all without enrolling, which usually occurs during freshman orientation. Make sure he’s signed up for an orientation and/or enrollment program and has received a confirmation of the program’s date(s)

·      Take placement exams – These are often administered as part of orientation and enrollment, but your child should check to confirm this and sign up for testing if it is required. Some colleges will not let students enroll without placement exam scores.

·      Submit a final high school/college transcript – Some high schools will do this automatically if they also sent one after the student’s junior year; most require a written request. If your child has taken any classes at a different college, he will need to have an official transcript sent from that college as well.

·      Complete scholarship applications – This is an ongoing process that I will discuss at length in a later chapter, but many colleges use the student’s completed FAFSA in conjunction with a separate scholarship application to award scholarship. 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 the typical deposit to hold his spot in the residence halls. Receiving confirmation of these deposits is essential.

·      Submit proof of immunizations – I’ll talk more about what immunizations are usually required and recommended later in the book. 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 deposit or partial payment. If you’re up in the air about which plan to choose, review the options to see if there is a reasonable incentive to purchase a larger meal plan over a smaller one. If not, start with the smallest one possible; he can always increase it later.

·      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 as well. More on this later in the book.