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HS Senior Calendar: december

current location: college planning center ... HS college guide ... senior calendar ... december
for the month of december
Your college applications should be sent this month for regular submission. Use your holiday to become familiar with the student financial aid process.

Monthly Tasks:
consumer lending
shop for the holidays
college planning information

College Planning Month of December:

Task 1: Monthly Checklist
checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed
Have you decided on a college or trade school to attend after high school: see the September plan

Complete and submit your college entrance application.

Most college admission deadlines are in January:
see the October plan

Make sure all official transcripts and reports are sent to your colleges. Schedule any interviews that may be required.

Visit your preferred college,
talk to alumni and schedule campus interviews:

Finish your college essays;
have someone critique:

Check your dates
if you are taking any college entrance exams. Make sure test scores are being sent to your select colleges:
see the September plan

For those who did early submission:
check with your colleges to make sure they have all of the information. Early admission notices will start arriving. Make sure you reply to school requests.

If you have been accepted, you must notify them of your decision (with required deposit money) by early next month. Watch the deadlines.

Search diligently for potential scholarship awards:

over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location
Estimate and understand your college costs:
see November plan

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College Planning Month of December:

Task 2: CLEP Testing / Some Holiday Shopping

Consider taking and preparing for the Advanced Placement Exams or CLEP tests, if applicable. This allows you to test out of some college courses that can save you time and money.

The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your school for exam administration, enrollment and information.

  • Information about the advanced placement program:
    the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
    www.collegeboard.com

  • View our advanced placement prep/study guides:
    includes prep planning books and other reading materials that can help you with these exams:
    click here for advanced placement materials

 

How about some Holiday Shopping
with these on-line shopping centers:

  • First thing, get this discount card designed for students:
    using this card can save you money at many locations tailored for students and their families:
    www.studentadvantage.com

  • Ideas for: Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, and the entire family
    our affiliated holiday shopping site for the entire family: www.What-to-Get-for-Christmas.com
  • Holiday Shopping Directory
    complete directory of the net's popular shopping centers:
    www.nBuy.com

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College Planning Month of December:

Task 3: Collecting Your Aid Documentation

Collecting Documentation

Start collecting financial information about you and your parents in order to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form will be required for all college aid programs. You can submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1.

see TASK #2 in January for FAFSA submission

 

Filing the FAFSA form will be required if you intend to receive financial aid assistance from the school.

The FAFSA form is administered by the Federal Government and it will be required for all Federal Student Loans, many scholarships, and other college financial aid packages. It is used by colleges to determine your financial aid eligibility.

 

Preparing for the FAFSA form:

  1. Register for a PIN
    so that you can sign your FAFSA form and other loan documents electronically. It will speed up the process:
    www.pin.ed.gov


  2. Start gathering the documentation needed to complete the FAFSA form:

    • social security number
    • driver's license number (if any)
    • W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
    • income tax returns
    • parent's federal income tax returns (if you are a dependent student)
    • untaxed income records
    • bank statements
    • business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
    • alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

      link to the FAFSA site to review required documentation


  3. Find your school codes:
    you will need this information so that your FAFSA filing can be sent to the schools of your choice. Again, the colleges use this information in designing a financial aid package to help pay the cost of college attendance.
    www.fafsa.ed.gov.../fslookup.htm


  4. View interactive worksheets:
    you can use these worksheets to help prepare for the real submission
    www.fafsa.ed.gov/worksheet.htm


  5. Register for Selective Service (male students):
    Young men that have reached age 18 must register with Selective Service before submitting the FAFSA form. This is required by law:
    www.sss.gov

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College Planning Month of December:

Task 4: Happy Holiday Links

Happy Holiday.
The new year will bring a change in your life. Let's get prepared:

 

Any plans for New Year's Eve?