Summer For Colleges
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Where has the time gone? This is the ongoing question we ask when doing fun things takes priority over tasks of greater importance. This especially holds true when there is more pressure and stress to choose the best and most affordable colleges during your junior and senior years, when most of the high school education has elapsed.
The average student has about 12 to 13 weeks during the summer. This is not to suggest that you spend every waking moment at the library or college to do research. It indicates that there must be a balance between relaxation and spending time more wisely. Working to save money for college, doing volunteer work, meeting new people, and developing financial plans and strategies for visiting colleges are some of the many ways to make the best use of your available hours to help increase your value to attend the best colleges you can afford.
Schedule meetings with your guidance counselors before and after your summer vacation. This lets you learn about the colleges and financial aid given to graduating seniors for the last two years. Could you get some of their names for networking and their perspective on the college? Schedule time to contact admission and financial aid officers to learn about their selection process and how they award merit—and need-based financial aid.
Understand the steps in this process and the timetables to accomplish them. Update your resume to report volunteer and paid work, leadership roles, and summer courses at some colleges. Understand the different types of tests and which ones will help you get additional scholarships. Be sure to simplify the steps so your parents can understand the strategies and individual roles better.
You can plan to visit colleges en route to family vacation spots. Colleges may be in partial sessions, but taking advantage of just being there and getting a better sense of the locale, whether it's a virtual visit, will work in the future. Make appointments to meet admissions and financial aid staff to start a dialogue and understand their policies and what it takes to get in. Be sure to write specific questions concerning their time. Before your visit, develop a spreadsheet showing how much each college awards in aid, types of aid, on-campus job opportunities, and student indebtedness after graduation. This information can be obtained on the College Board (www.collegeboard.com) website. An economic review of finances and projected sources of income- Check out the current employment trends and where job growth will be in the long term. The U.S. Dept of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook will provide a wealth of information to take advantage of an education leading to an in-demand profession.
Colleges use “enrollment management” to seek and select the best candidates. They then offer generous financial aid packages based on the student’s merit. Using your time wisely will help you acquire the attributes they seek. Though you may have good grades, being a well-rounded student can be more valuable
Read as much as possible about alums and their accomplishments. Learn about their success strategies and network with them whenever possible. Research colleges that offer virtual tours to save you on travel costs and take you beyond descriptions alone. It will also help you screen out those you would like to visit.
Learn as much as possible to improve your reading proficiency, language, and test-taking skills. Many of these skills will help you with your interviews and how to package yourself with a more impressive resume.
Analyzing needs is essential when quantifying the cost of attending college. Although it is unlikely that you or your family can cover everything, it is preferable to address the financial issue upfront rather than set yourself up for disappointment. Remember that your focus should be on the average net cost of education after financial aid, not the retail price. Some students may find it more beneficial to attend two-year colleges before transferring rather than starting at a more expensive school.
Ask questions, but formulate your own opinions—network with upbeat people to build positive self-esteem and confidence, and stand above the crowd.