FAFSA Workshop

FAFSA Workshop Laquinn Richey North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence 350-6478

Junior Year • April

– Take the SAT and/or ACT or register for May tests

• May

– Final opportunity to take required tests for those applying for early decision – Consider a summer job or volunteer to gain experience in your area of interest

• June

– Make arrangements for campus tours – Review test results and determine if you should retake them in the fall.

Junior Year • July – Visit colleges that interest you – Send for applications from target schools and review for common requirements – Draft application essays – Make a note of application and scholarship deadlines as well as test registration deadlines and dates

Junior Year • August – Note all admission deadlines – Continue to visit schools that interest you – Start filling out and submitting admission application – Develop a resume

Senior Year • September – Register to take or retake the SAT and/or ACT – Meet with college representatives – Check dates and locations of college fairs and parents nights at colleges – Decide which teachers and other people you would like to write letters of recommendation – Recheck application and scholarship deadlines and submit

Senior Year • October and November – Finalize your college choices – Finalize application packets (make sure everything they’ve asked for is included) – Promptly respond to any request from admissions officers

• December – Submit admission applications – Gather information needed to file income taxes

Senior Year • January – Request transcripts of first semester grades be sent to select colleges/universities – Apply for outside scholarships • Guidance counselor, www.fastweb.com, college financial aid webpage, newspaper

– Make appointment for taxes and continue to gather information

Senior Year • February – File taxes and file FAFSA – Verify that schools have received all application materials

• March – Expect Student Aid Report (SAR) and submit verification paperwork if selected – File taxes and file FAFSA if not already done

Senior Year • April – Expect to receive letters of acceptance or nonacceptance • Review all acceptance packages carefully • Make final visits to schools that have sent acceptance letters to make final decision

– Select the school you plan to attend and send a deposit by specified deadline (if required) – Notify schools of your decision – Send thank you notes to those who wrote recommendations

Senior Year • May and June – Take any remaining placement tests – Request that final transcripts be sent to college you’ve selected

• July and August – Finalize your college budget – Note deadlines for tuition and room and board payment

Important Information College applications should be submitted before the FAFSA is filed. This enables the college to establish a student account before receiving the FAFSA information, thereby enabling the school to apply the funds to the student’s account upon receipt.

If the FAFSA is filed before the student’s account is activated at the college, the student will need to notify the Financial Aid office and have them extract the information manually.

Apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can.

Follow application directions explicitly.

This is extra money in your pocket!!

You will not receive if you don’t apply!

Familiarize yourself with the information located in the student handbook.

Everyone

should apply for FAFSA. Many schools require it before administering any financial aid, including scholarships.

The North Alabama Center For Educational Excellence is available to help with ACT Prep Classes ACT fee waiver (for those who qualify) Scholarship Information College Application Assistance Electronic filing of the FAFSA and many other services.

For appointments, please call Ms. Amerson at the Athens office 256-233-1220.