Getting Ready for College!

Yes, for all you seniors out there, it's that time of year. The time of year that we've all been waiting desperately for since we walked into the academic and emotional roller coaster also known as high school. May is finally here and it's time for the class of 2016 to receive their high school diplomas! By now, life has, or should have, taught us that every time one door closes, another one opens. Well, this is a prime example of that lesson holding itself to be true. Whether you like it or not, high school is coming to a close and its time to start the next chapter in our lives. For some of us, this means going to college. If you plan to go to college in the fall, you should have received all of your acceptance letters by now and it's time to dig in and start making preparations for this next big adventure in your life. If you haven't realized it by now, college cost money. A lot of it. Clarification is a beautiful thing so please allow me to stress this point one more time...GOING TO COLLEGE COST A SHIT TON OF MONEY! With that being said, I encourage you to take every piece of advice to heart. Investigate it, apply it, see it through because you never know what's going to work for you.

The most important thing to complete after applying for college is your FAFSA. Although every college and university is different and has different deadlines for you to complete this, you should take my advice and complete this AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! First of all, I urge you to go talk to your guidance counselor. They can offer lots of advice and suggestions about your local scholarship opportunities and what's available for you. If you're interested in more scholarship opportunities, I personally encourage you to try FastWeb.com. This website offers plenty of different scholarships all personalized to you and your major. After all of this, you should contact your desired school's Office of Financial Aid. A Financial Aid Officer can tell you your options and what you should plan on. They can also provide more information about student work programs and loans. ​Contrary to popular belief, scholarships is not the first thing you should worry about when thinking about paying for college.

Like I said before, every school is different and may have different deadlines that you must meet. Please make sure you talk to your admissions counselor and ask them about what steps should be taken to ensure that your spot is reserved. They will help you with the rest. Don't be afraid to ask them anything, trust me, even the smallest answer can save your academic life. They likely will not hold your hand, but they will keep you on the right track until you move in the Fall!

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