Published February 2013. Financial aid and student loan rules change often, so some details may be out of date. Ask us about your situation.
Right now, most high school seniors are still waiting to hear back from the schools they applied to regarding whether or not they have been accepted for the fall semester. For those students who applied to college using an early application, the wait may already be over, and now it’s just a matter of getting prepared for the fall.
If you have already been accepted to the school of your dreams, make sure that you send in a deposit as soon as possible to secure a spot in the fall. Also, be sure to contact the other schools that you’ve applied to and let them know that you are no longer interested in attending.
It’s important to not lose the momentum you’ve built up during the application process, whether you have already been accepted to your school of choice or are still waiting to hear back. There is a lot you can do during February to guarantee that the rest of the process runs smoothly.
One thing you may want to do is begin and complete filling out your College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile to take advantage of as many awards and grants as possible. Additionally, don’t wait any longer to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) documents so that you won’t miss out on government financial aid.
It’s also a good idea to apply for every merit scholarship that your school of choice offers. The best practice is to basically make scholarship searching your full-time job during February so that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Also, don’t be afraid to contact admissions offices as frequently as possible if you are still waiting to hear back regarding acceptance. Schools want to accept students who they believe will actually matriculate, and making your interest known may better your chances.