The Path To College

The path to going to college is a very exciting one! As the high school guidance counselor, I absolutely love working with students and families to figure out what school is the right one, to help with obtaining scholarships, and then seeing our kids walking across the stage at graduation knowing they are heading to the school of their dreams. Also, I have set up a quick list of the basics of the college admissions process.

When it comes down to it the process of going from a high school senior to becoming a college freshmen is pretty easy. The tough part is making sure that things are done correctly, that the college is the right fit, and that students and parents are getting the best deal possible in attending that school. Here is are a few things that really need to happen in order to make the college transition(I have put years or times of the year that these should be done):

1. Visit the campus. (junior year or beginning of the senior year)

2. Apply for admission as early in the senior year as possible. (August through October of the senior year)

3. Apply for housing if the student is planning on living in the dorms. (ASAP after being accepted from a college)

4. Apply for scholarships from multiple sources, but most of all investigate how to get as many scholarship from the colleges the student is investigating. (Junior and Senior year)

5. Have all college entrance exams been taken? ACT? SAT? Compass? (take practice tests during the sophomore year and junior year. Take the ACT near the end of the junior year AND the beginning half of the senior year)

6. Apply for financial aid by the priority deadline by using the FAFSA form. (January 1st to March 1st (depending on the college) during the senior year)

7. Once award letters from all the schools a student is considering have been received it will be easier to pick the college that the student will attend. (March to April of the senior year)

8. Accept and decline the award letters. Let the colleges know if the student will be attending or not. (Before May 1 of the senior year)

9. Set up a time for orientation at the school. (Early summer after the senior year if at all possible)

10. Send a final transcript after graduation. (Remind me and I will do this for you)