JLV College Counseling

Congratulations to all of the students who have made their final college choice. While the big choice has been made and the tuition deposit has been sent, there are still some things students need to remember before heading off to college in the fall. Here are 12 easy, but important, things to do after submitting the tuition deposit.

1. Notify other colleges you won’t be attending. The majority of colleges make it very easy for students to let them know that they will not be attending in the fall. By turning down the admission offer, it could open up a spot for someone on the waitlist. It is also professional and nice for students to let the colleges and admissions officers know they will not be attending.
2. Thank everyone who helped. There were probably many people who helped sometime during the college admissions process. Some of the helpers probably include school counselors, teachers, letter of recommendation writers, coaches, parents, and family members, just to name a few. It was a long process and a lot of people helped out. It is a nice gesture to thank them for their help and let them know the college you will be attending. Let the helpers celebrate your success and future plans.
3. Submit the housing application/questionnaire and deposit. Many colleges have deadlines to get the housing application in to guarantee housing for incoming freshman students. Students need to make sure to pay attention to the deadlines and submit all required housing documents by the deadline. Students should also make sure they are honest when filling out the housing questionnaire. It is important for students to answer the questions honest about who they are, not who they think or want to be. For example, if the student is a little messy, they should not say they are neat. The questions on the housing application help the housing office match students with similar habits. When students are polar opposites in regards to habits (i.e. room cleanliness), it could cause some conflicts.
4. Pay attention to email and the mail. The college may contact students to request information. Typically these requests have deadlines and deadlines are sometimes non-negotiable. Therefore, students should make sure they open every piece of mail and every email from the college to ensure they respond to any request from the college. Missing a deadline or not submitting a requested document could jeopardize enrollment in the fall.
5. Update FAFSA and provide required financial aid documents. If students estimated the figures to get the FAFSA in by the deadline, students and parents need to log back in and provide correct information. In addition, if the college is requesting financial aid documents, such as tax forms, students need to make sure the items are submitted. For many students, the financial aid award letter played a large role in the final college decision. Therefore, students need to make sure all documents are submitted to the financial aid office to ensure they do not lose out on a scholarships or grant.
6. Submit final high school transcript. The majority of colleges need and require the final transcript. Many high schools will automatically send transcripts to the colleges. However, it is a good idea to check with the school counselor to make sure the transcript will be sent.
7. Submit the latest college transcript. If students have taken college courses, the college the student will be attending in the fall will need the transcript. Without the official transcript, the college will not be able to award credit for the classes the student already took.
8. Submit AP and/or IB test scores. Many colleges will give college credit for AP or IB test scores. However, the only way to ensure the credit is given to the students is to make sure the official test report is sent to the college.
9. Sign up for placement tests. If colleges require placement tests, it is important to sign up. Placement tests will help academic advisors place student in classes in the fall.
10. Sign up for academic advising and registration. Depending on the college, some courses may fill up quickly. The sooner students sign up for academic advising and registration, the sooner they can register for classes and ensure they get in the classes they need and want in the fall.
11. Sign up for new student orientation. New student orientation is a great way for students to get familiar with the college, as well as meet other new students. Make sure the date is on the calendar and make plans to attend.
12. Continue looking for scholarships. It is never too late to get a scholarship. In addition to my monthly list of scholarships, there are also many great scholarships search site available, such as Fastweb and ScholarshipExperts.

The above list looks long, but the tasks are easy. Students should make sure to take care of all of these items to ensure a smooth transition to college. In addition to the above items, colleges may have additional things to do. Therefore, students should remember to pay attention to their mail and email for anything from their college.

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