Getting Ready for College a Guide for Parents of Middle School and High School Students

Getting Ready for College A Guide for Parents of Middle School and High School Students

Students To Do:

 Think about college as an important part of your future. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your family and with people at school.  Start saving for college if you haven’t already.  Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for high school.  Ask your parent or guardian to help you research which high schools or special programs will most benefit your interests.  Develop strong study habits.  Do your best in school and on standardized tests.  If you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a teacher, tutor, or mentor.  Become involved in school- or community-based activities that let you explore your interests and learn new things.  Speak with adults, such as your teacher, school counselor or librarian, relatives, or family friends, who you think have interesting jobs. Ask them, “What do you like about your job?” and “What education did you need for your job?”

To Explore:

 Visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/early to find out why you should consider college now and how to pay for it. The Web site also is available in the form of a workbook called My Future, My Way: How to Go, How to Pay.

Parents To Do:

 Use FAFSA4caster at http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov to find out how much federal student aid your child might receive. This information will help you plan ahead.  Continue saving for your child’s college education. If you have not opened a savings account, you can find information about tax advantages and links to state plans at http://www.collegesavings.org  Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests with a college major and career.  Help your child develop good study habits such as studying at the same time and place every day and having the necessary materials to complete assignments.  Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and counselor so that they can let you know about any changes in your child’s behavior or schoolwork.  Keep an eye on your child’s grades on his or her tests and report cards, and help him or her find tutoring assistance, if necessary.

HIGH SCHOOL Every Year in High School Students To Do:

 Work with one of your parents to update your information in FAFSA4caster at http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov, and continue to save for college.  Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require 4 years of English, at least 3 years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), 3 years of mathematics, and 3 years of science, and many require 2 years of a foreign language. Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.  Stay involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working or volunteering. Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.  Talk to your school counselor and other mentors about education after high school. Your counselor can answer questions about what classes to take in high school, how to sign up for standardized tests, and where to get money for college.

To Explore:

 Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College, which suggests some actions you can take as you start thinking about education beyond high school. The online version of the brochure is at http://www.knowhow2go.org.  Get answers to common questions about college: Read the “college q&a question of the week” at http://www.college.gov.  Learn about managing your money in the “Financial Literacy” section of http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/preparing.

Parents To Do:

 Talk to your child about college plans as if he or she will definitely go to college.  Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades— stay involved.  Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement or other challenging classes.  Watch videos for parents on the “News Parents Can Use” page at http://www.ed.gov/parents.  Add to your child’s college savings account regularly.

To Explore:

 Address your concerns about whether your child can or should go to college in the “parents/family” section of http://www.college.gov.  Explore http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/parent for information on academic preparation, homeschooling, financial literacy, saving, and borrowing for college.

9th Grade Students To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Talk to your guidance counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses. Find out what courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.  Start planning for college and thinking about your career interests. At http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/myfsa you can register with MyFSA and research your career and college options.  Make a list of your awards, honors, paid or volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Consider participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, and science.

To Explore:

 Visit http://www.college.gov for some reasons to consider college and ways you can get help.

Parents To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Use the College Savings Calculator at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/myfsa to determine how much you should be saving to meet college expenses and to find tips on maximizing your savings efforts.  Make sure you are fully aware of the provisions of any college savings accounts you have opened for your child.

To Explore:

 Visit http://www.college.gov and click on “parents/family” to learn how to help your child go to college.  Read "Challenging High School for All." CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOL FOR ALL

Make Sure Your Child Is Ready

High school is the training ground for college and work. You can help prepare your child for college by encouraging him or her to take challenging courses such as English, math (algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, for example), foreign language, science (biology, chemistry, physics, for example) and history or social studies. Taking these challenging courses will not only help your child succeed in college, but may also qualify him or her to receive scholarships available from the U.S. Department of Education, your state, private foundations and colleges.

Foster your child's independence, but continue to be aware of your child's studies and after school activities. High school activities, such as sports, band, school plays, internships or community service, will help build skills needed on the job, such as responsibility, time management, confidence and leadership. Continue to stay involved with the school as your child progresses through high school.

"Getting every child to graduate high school with a meaningful diploma... is one of the biggest challenges our country faces." —Former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings

One Parent's Story

Anthony wanted to be a member of the band. His teacher told him that unless he made good grades, he could no longer participate in the band. Anthony loved music. His mother noticed that she no longer had to tell Anthony to do his schoolwork. Anthony had an incentive to do well. He wanted to remain in the band.*

*This anecdote is based on an interview with a parent conducted during the preparation of the Empowering Parents School Box. The story is for illustration only. The child's name has been changed to protect his privacy.

Know What Your High School Child Needs to Succeed

Look for programs designed to help students succeed in college by teaching study skills, providing tutoring and helping students apply to college. Remember, college is a critical goal for what your child does in high school and for success in life. Those with a four-year college degree may earn more than 40 percent of what high school graduates earn.7 Some high schools offer Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or early college courses that might allow your child to skip some of the beginning-level courses in college, and, perhaps, graduate early. Charter schools or magnet schools, which focus on themes, such as science and technology or the arts, may help to encourage your child's talents and interests.

7 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers: Fourth Quarter 2005," USDL 06-098, Jan. 19, 2006.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs: (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html) offered at some public schools, most often at the high school level; coursework is challenging, and students may receive college credit for scoring well on tests offered by the program.

Keep on Reading

Continue to make sure your child is reading. Maintaining reading levels is important, and there are many ways to ensure your child does not fall behind. Check with the school to see if your child is reading on grade level. There are also programs under No Child Left Behind to help older students maintain their reading levels. The Striving Readers program is available for high school students. The purpose of the program is to raise the reading achievement levels of students in schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level.

Whether or not there is a Striving Readers program in your child's school, continue to encourage reading. Knowing how to read smoothly and quickly and being able to understand facts and ideas are critical skills for all subject areas, including math and science.

Partner With Teachers and Counselors

Get to know your child's teachers and counselors. Attend school "open houses." Request parent- teacher conferences when needed. To communicate with teachers:

 Find out the best time to contact them by telephone  Ask for teachers' e-mail addresses so you may contact them outside of school hours (teachers are usually not available during school hours)  Find out about Web sites where teachers may list class notes and homework assignments  Look for school newsletters in print and online  Sign-up to receive e-mail announcements.

Know that counselors:  Handle class registration and schedules  Can help if there are problems at home, such as divorce or illness, which could affect your child's school work  Have information on how and where to get college financial aid  Can tell you when college entrance exams are given, especially the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT).

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): a college entrance test to measure the critical thinking skills needed for academic success in college.

American College Test (ACT): a college entrance achievement test that seeks to measure what students have learned during high school.

One Parent's Story

Mia was having difficulty completing her homework. For several days, her mother watched her struggle. She reached out to Mia's teacher, who suggested tutoring as an option. Mia's mother concurred and found a tutor for Mia.*

Consider Safety

Under No Child Left Behind, a student may leave a school that the state says is "persistently dangerous." Or, if your child is the victim of a violent crime at school, he or she may attend another public school in the same school district. To get your child through the high school years safely:  Pay attention to your child's behavior and friends  Tell your child to leave valuables at home and to keep things locked up (theft is the most common school crime8)  Be aware if your child's grades drop or if your child is sad or angry  Talk to your child about any concerns you may have  Consult with counselors, social workers, school psychologists or others trained in solving these types of problems  Stay involved with the school  Be informed through your school's parent-teacher organization and the school newsletter or Web site  Continue to be an advocate for your child and other students in the process.

8 U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005, Washington, D.C.

Tips on Paying for College

The Federal Student Aid (FSA) program provides grants, loans and work-study assistance to students and parents with financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, low-income students who have completed a rigorous high school curriculum may be eligible for Academic Competitiveness Grants of up to $750 during the first year of college and $1,300 during the second year of college, as long as the student maintains a minimum grade point average. Low-income college juniors and seniors who major in mathematics, science, technology, engineering or critical foreign languages may be eligible for National SMART Grants of up to $4,000 per year.

In addition to applying for federal financial aid, students and families are encouraged to pursue scholarships available through colleges, businesses, civic groups, tribes, and churches. In addition, families may want to learn more about tax-advantaged college savings plans and other sources of college aid.

Academic Competitiveness Grants: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/AcademicGrants.jsp?tab=funding need-based grants available to first- and second-year college students who have completed a rigorous high school curriculum as determined by state and local agencies and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education; recipients must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.

National SMART Grants: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html need-based grants available to those who are third- and fourth-year undergraduates who are majoring in "physical, life or computer sciences; mathematics, technology or engineering; or a foreign language critical to national security."

When Your Child Turns 18

When your child turns 18 years old or enters a college or university at any age, the rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) transfer from you to your child. A student to whom the rights have transferred is known as an "eligible student." Although the parents' rights under FERPA transfer to the eligible student, FERPA provides ways in which a college or university can share education records on the student with his or her parents.

Under FERPA, colleges and universities, at their discretion, may release any and all information to parents, without the consent of the eligible student, if it has been determined that the student is a dependent for tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Also, schools can disclose information from education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter. Another provision in FERPA permits a college or university to let parents of students under the age of 21 know when the student has violated any law or policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. Nothing in FERPA prohibits a school official from sharing with parents information that is based on that official's personal knowledge or observation. Academic Performance at the 12th Grade

The NAEP exams are also given at the 12th grade. These tests, taken by a sample of students from across the country, give a "national report card" of what students know. Although specific curriculum and standards are set by each state, and vary from state to state, the following NAEP achievement levels can give you an idea of what to expect your child to know and be able to do in reading,9 mathematics10 and science11 when your child is in the 12th grade. These achievement levels build on those for the fourth and eighth grades, but the knowledge is more in-depth and complicated. These NAEP achievement levels are taken from the frameworks in reading, math and science at the "proficient" level.

9 http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/achieveall.asp (2005) 10 http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/achieveall.asp (2006) 11 http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/science/achieveall.asp (2002)

Reading

Twelfth-grade students, when reading material written at the 12th-grade level, should be able to accomplish the eighth-grade requirements plus:

 Give answers to questions about what they have read that are thorough, thoughtful and extensive  Judge reading material critically  Analyze the author's use of literary strategies.

Mathematics

Twelfth-grade students should be able to select strategies to solve problems and integrate concepts and procedures. They should be able to:

 Interpret an argument, justify a mathematical process, and make comparisons dealing with a wide variety of mathematical tasks  Perform calculations involving similar figures including right triangle trigonometry  Understand and apply properties of geometric figures and relationships between figures in two and three dimensions  Select and use appropriate units of measure as they apply formulas to solve problems  Use measures of central tendency and variability of distributions to make decisions and predictions, to calculate combinations and permutations to solve problems, and to understand the use of the normal distribution to describe real-world situations  Identify, manipulate, graph, and apply linear, quadratic, exponential, and inverse functions  Solve routine and non-routine problems involving functions expressed in algebraic, verbal, tabular, and graphical forms  Solve quadratic and rational equations in one variable and solve systems of linear equations. Science

Twelfth-grade students should be able to:

 Know the themes of science (models, systems, and patterns of change) required for understanding the earth, physical, and life sciences and know how these themes illustrate essential relationships among the sciences  Analyze data and apply scientific principles to everyday situations  Have a working ability to design and conduct scientific investigations  Select and use simple laboratory equipment and write down simple procedures that others can follow  Analyze data in various forms and use information to provide explanations and to draw reasonable conclusions  Have a developmental understanding of both physical and abstract models and be able to compare various models  Recognize some inputs and outputs, causes and effects, and interactions of a system and be able to correlate structure to function as parts of a system that they can identify  Recognize that rate of change depends on initial conditions and other factors  Apply scientific concepts and principles to practical applications and solutions for problems in the real world  Show developmental understanding of technology, its uses and its applications.

Use by permission of public domain from: http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/schoolbox/booklet3/checklist_pg6.html

10th Grade Students To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.  Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or the PLAN exam.  Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).  Go to career information events to get a more detailed look at career options.  Log on to your MyFSA account at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/myfsa and try the Career Finder, or look at your career search results again if you used the Career Finder last year (see 9th Grade). Then include the recommended majors from the search as you use the College Matching Wizard on the site to find schools that might be a good fit with your interests and goals.

To Explore:

 Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships at http://www.college.gov.

Parents To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Find out whether your child’s school has college nights or financial aid nights. Plan to attend those events with your child.  Help your child develop independence by encouraging him or her to take responsibility for balancing homework with any other activities or a part-time job.  Learn about the standardized tests your child will be taking during 10th through 12th grades: the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests (see http://www.collegeboard.com), and/or the PLAN exam and the ACT (see http://www.act.org).  Get a brief overview of financial aid from "Financial Aid and Scholarships for College" below.

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE

All parents are concerned about the cost of a college education, but help is available from many sources, including the federal government. Your child's high school guidance counselor, as well as the financial aid officer at your child's future college, can provide information about scholarships and grants, which is money that you do not have to repay, as well as federally guaranteed student and parent loans, which you do need to repay but at a competitive rate. The place to start when looking for college financial aid is the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Center, which can be reached at 1-800-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243 ) or http://studentaid.ed.gov. Access to federal, state and even institutional financial aid begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Before your child even applies for college, it is possible to get a sense of the federal aid available to your child by using the online FAFSA4caster. Not only will this tool provide you with an estimate of the amount of federal aid your child is likely to receive, it will reduce the amount of time it takes to complete the official FAFSA form when the time comes.

As stated above, the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) program provides students with grants, loans and work-study opportunities based on the student's demonstrated financial need. In addition, low-income students who have completed a rigorous high school curriculum may also be eligible for Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG's) of up to $750 in their first year of college and $1,300 in their second year of college, as long as they maintain the necessary grade point average. Low-income college juniors and seniors who major in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or critical foreign languages, and who maintain a minimum grade point average, may also be eligible for National SMART grants of up to $4,000 per year. To learn more about these programs, visit:

Academic Competitiveness Grants: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/AcademicGrants.jsp?tab=funding

National SMART Grants: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html

Finally, check with your high school guidance counselor and college financial aid officer to learn more about additional sources of scholarships and grant aid, including those provided by private foundations, civic associations, churches, parent organizations, businesses and the colleges, themselves.

When applying for financial aid, you and your child should:

 Use the FAFSA4caster early in the high school years to get an estimate of the student's eligibility for federal financial aid and to reduce the time required to complete the FAFSA later on;  Consult with the high school guidance counselor and college financial aid advisors to learn about financial assistance opportunities available to your child, including his or her eligibility for ACG and National SMART grants;  File tax returns early in the year since information on these forms is required to complete the FAFSA form; Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible, keeping in mind due dates established by your child's college as well as federal due dates posted on the FSA Web site. The FAFSA can be completed and submitted, in paper format or online, as early as January 1 each year;  Complete the FAFSA online if possible, as the online form provides you with instructions, information prompts and technical assistance; and  Apply for financial aid each year that your child is in school. An updated FAFSA must be submitted for each child you have in college and for each year that the child will attend college.

When working with the online FAFSA form, your child will need to:

 Get a personal identification number called a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov;  Keep an eye on the e-mail inbox for a response and further instructions; and  Make sure the financial aid office at each college your child may attend has all the information needed to determine eligibility for state and institutional aid.

Tips for a Winning Scholarship Application

Here are some tips to give your child when he or she is preparing a scholarship application:

 Read the requirements to see if you are eligible.  Complete all parts of the application.  Read and follow all directions.  Submit a clean and neat application.  Submit a well-composed essay (if it is required) that makes an impression.  Be aware of and meet all deadlines.  Give your application materials a final review.  Get help if you think you need it; have someone else look over the application.  Be sure that the work you submit is your own.  Make sure you are satisfied with your application before submitting.  Mail the application to the proper address with the proper postage or submit the application online.  Be sure to mail the application early so that it will be received by the due date.  Follow-up with the sponsoring organization to make sure your information was received and to see if there are any questions about what you submitted.

Source: This section was adapted from "Financial Aid Tips" from Army School Liaison Services, 2006.

11th Grade Students To Do:

All Year

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Explore careers and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/oco.  Log on to your MyFSA account (see 9th Grade) at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/myfsa and look at the information for any colleges you saved if you completed the College Matching Wizard (see 10th Grade) in the past. Try the college search again if you’ve changed your mind about what you want from a school.  Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations by college representatives.

Fall

 Take the PSAT/NMSQT.* You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Spring

 Register for and take exams for college admission.* The tests that many colleges require are the SAT Reasoning Test, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.  Use http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/scholarship to find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.

* REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, see your school counselor about getting a fee waiver.

To Explore:

 Visit http://www.college.gov and click on “how to pay” to see how other young people paid for college.  Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft from Save Your Money, Save Your Identity at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/lsa.  Familiarize yourself with ways to pay for college at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide. The following sections of Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid will be especially useful to you right now: o Federal Student Aid at a Glance o Other Financial Aid Sources o It’s a Jungle Out There

Parents To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School” of this checklist.  Take another look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for college.  Talk to your child about the schools he or she is considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child, and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.  Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college representative. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.  Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.

To Explore:

 Get in-depth information on federal student aid programs from Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide.  Learn about student and parent loans in Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/repayingpub.

Summer Before 12th Grade Students To Do:

 Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.  Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.  Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.  Update your information in FAFSA4caster one last time at http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov, and compare the results to the actual costs at colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow.

To Explore:

 Find out what government financial aid you can apply for, and how, in the following parts of Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide: o Part A, “What You Should Know Before You Apply” o Part B, “How Do I Apply?,” especially the first two sections, “Getting Your Federal Student Aid PIN” and “Completing the FAFSA”  Be careful when searching for scholarships: Read "Don't Get Scammed on Your Way to College!."

Parents To Do:

 Review your financial situation and make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.  Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.  Find out whether your child has added any schools to his or her college wish list since the last time you visited colleges, and visit additional campuses if possible.

To Explore:

 Take a closer look at Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide to ensure you understand the federal aid programs and upcoming application process.

12th Grade

Students To Do:

All Year

 Review “Every Year in High School”.  Work hard all year; second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.  Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

Fall

 Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.  If you haven’t done so already, register for and take such exams as the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT for college admission.* Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.  Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!  Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.  To prepare to apply for federal student aid, be sure to get a PIN at http://www.pin.ed.gov so that you can complete your application and access your information online. One of your parents also should get a PIN.

Winter

 Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) has (have) not completed their tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.  As soon after Jan. 1 as possible, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require. You can complete the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov or on paper, but completing the application online is faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February. Refer to "FAFSA Filing Time” as you go through the application process.  If you have questions about the federal student aid programs or need assistance with the application process, call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or the TTY for the hearing impaired, 1-800-730-8913.  After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.  Complete any last scholarship applications.

Spring

 Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.  Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges' financial aid packages.  Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.  When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

To Explore:

 Refer to Part B of Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide as you work through the FAFSA process.  Make informed decisions about student loans; the following resources are important at this point: o The “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?" section o Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt, especially the sections headed “PREPARE,” including “How are federal student loans different from private loans?,” and “RECEIVE” (http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/repayingpub) o Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid, especially the sections headed “Borrower’s Responsibilities” and “Borrower’s Rights” (http://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide)

Parents To Do:

 Review “Every Year in High School”.  Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA (see “FAFSA Filing Time”) for specific instructions).

To Explore:

 Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For tips read “Student Aid and Identity Theft”.  Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education (at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf) to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.  Understand the benefits of federal student loans by reading “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?”.  Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt (www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/repayingpub) with him or her.  Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered Federal Direct Loans (also called William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, Direct Stafford Loans, or Direct PLUS Loans), the Direct Loan Basics for Parents brochure (at http://www.direct.ed.gov/pubs/parentbasics.pdf) might be useful to you.

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