SENIORS
February: Prepare For The Next Step
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Keep your grades up. The college that you do attend will want to see your final transcript. Colleges expect you to finish 12th grade with strong grades.
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Review your acceptances and compare financial aid packages.
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Make sure you understand what items in your financial aid package are grants (you don’t have to pay back) and what are loans (you have to pay back). Use a chart to compare the offers you receive, as each financial aid letter will look different. Here’s a chart: bit.ly/CompareAidCalculator.
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Weigh the cost of attendance with the salary you might earn to choose the best fit academically and financially.
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Call the college with questions about what your financial aid will cover.
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Write to the admissions office if your first-choice college puts you on the waiting list. Explain that it is your first choice. Describe new activities that you have participated in or new accomplishments since you sent in your application.
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Attend preview days for admitted students and get to know the campus and the people.
