The final semester of high school and the summer before embarking on college and/or a gap year, is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time. This extensive list of tips and helpful resources will help students and families with preparing for a smooth transition through the second half of 12th grade and with preparations for the next chapter that begins this summer.

If you have any questions or need support through this final semester, do not hesitate to reach out to Dana at dana@consultwithdana.com to learn more about her college readiness and success services.

 

                                                                           Helpful Checklist for College Readiness

• • Submit your intent to enroll and/or deposit – Traditionally, the deadline to do this is May 1st. You can find the instructions on how to do this in your college’s portal, the acceptance packet they mailed you, or in an email sent by the admissions office. If you are unsure, call the admissions office and they will assist you with submitting the necessary information.

• • Accept your financial aid offers – Be sure to first accept all grants, scholarships, and work study awards. Remember that you’ll need to do entrance loan counseling if you’re taking out student loans like subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

• • Review the rules for any scholarships or honors that you were awarded – This might include classes to take, GPA to maintain, if you need to reapply, etc.

• • Turn in residency verification paperwork – If you are attending a college in-state, they might ask for this. Usually a utility bill showing that you live in the state will suffice.

• • Work out a payment plan for remaining tuition –Reach out to the financial aid office to learn more about payment schedules and options.

• • Identify banking options and open checking account – Students should begin the process of learning how to budget and understand their banking options. At the very least, students should identify banks that can provide free/low cost banking options for college students that include access to checking accounts and ATM options. Locate banks near or on the college campus and see if those same options are available near your home. This will help to have access to money (without service fees) when both at college and at home during breaks.

• • Send your official transcripts to the school you’ve committed to – All admission decisions are conditional until you’ve proven that you’ve passed your classes with the same grades in which you’ve applied and you’ve officially graduated. Your school counselor should mail your final transcript to the college BUT it is your job to verify that the college received those transcripts. Usually they are due June 30th, July 1st, or July 15th.

• • Send any dual enrollment or college transcripts – If you participated in a dual or concurrent enrollment program or summer college program you will need to send official transcripts to your college. Again, it’s your job to make sure they are received.

• • Send your AP and/or IB scores to your college – If you’ve taken AP or IB tests and plan to take them in the spring you can wait until your test scores become available in July and send them all together to the college you choose to attend.

• • Submit your housing application – If you choose to live on campus, pay attention to housing deadlines, lists for what you can bring and can’t bring, and deposit information. Don’t be afraid to call the housing office to ask questions.

• • Register for Orientation – Usually this is when you’ll register for your classes (see below for tips). For colleges that have sessions throughout the summer, sometimes going earlier in the summer will allow for better class and time options. If you are seeking ways to save money because you have to travel to the college, ask the college if attending orientation around the fall move-in date will not be a disadvantage for you. Before and during the orientation, do the following:
    • • Find out who your advisor is and schedule an appointment with them – Bring any questions you have about classes, classes you need for your major, etc. to this meeting.
    • • Review the school’s college catalogue – Learn the college’s academic policies, classes you’ll need to take, and general education requirements.
    • • Register for classes – Bring with you a copy of your high school transcript, AP scores, college transcripts, or placement test scores to make sure you end up in the right classes. Your advisor can better advise you on classes this way.
    • • Sign up for any placement tests – Take any practice tests or review any practice materials before you take each placement exam to maximize your scores. Take these seriously.

• • If you need accommodations – Schedule an appointment with the disability services/learning support center on campus. Have any paperwork ready to submit to them (similar to documentation needed while in high school). Don’t be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself.

• • Submit a copy of your immunization records – Colleges require updated vaccination records and will suggest certain vaccinations before you leave for college. Take care of this before you attend orientation and register for classes.

• • Collect and make available medical information you might need – Create a list of allergies, past conditions that a doctor should know about, etc. Take a photo of this list and store on your phone or in Google Drive, so you always have access to it. If you’re opting out of the college’s insurance, make sure that your insurance will cover you while in that city/state/area and make sure there are doctors and hospitals that are part of your plan in the area. Carry a copy of your insurance card in your wallet.

• • Write thank you notes – Acknowledge the teachers and counselors who have supported you throughout the year with the college application and high school process. Handwritten notes are very appreciated but a personalized email can also suffice.

• • Sign up for any summer sessions or bridge program – If you want a bit more support to help you transition into college life and/or get a few credits out of the way, take a look at these options if they are available.

• • Plan out your books and supplies – Look first for used options and/or renting options to save money. (Hint: Wait for professor to provide course syllabus to determine how often a book will be used in the course. This could save money if book is not required reading.)

• • Keep track of important dates – Move-in day. Course Add/Drop deadlines. Tuition payment dates. Family Weekend. Fall Break. End of Semester.

• • Book appropriate travel arrangements – If you are choosing to attend college further away from home, ensure appropriate travel arrangements are made early on to avoid paying higher rates for airlines, trains, rental cars, and hotels. Identifying important dates will help with this planning.

• • Be familiar/do research on the various services offered to you on campus – Look up the following on your college’s website and read through what they offer:
    • • Career Center
    • • Health & Counseling Center
    • • Chaplains Office
    • • Financial Aid Office
    • • Writing Center/Tutoring Center
    • • Library
    • • Computer Labs/Facilities
    • • Disability Services Center (if you need accommodations)
    • • Support Resources (First Gen center, LGBTQI advocacy center, Women’s center, various cultural, racial, religious advocacy offices/groups, etc.)

 

                                                     Helpful Documents for College Students & Their Families

• FERPA (Family Educational and Rights to Privacy Act) Release Form/Waiver – The FERPA release/waiver form is provided to students (18 years or older) who want their designated family members to have access to their academic records including their transcript, grade reports, financial accounts, or if they want to speak to their academic advisor. Students are neither required nor expected to sign the waiver and it is not necessary for family members to have access to this information. The college will only speak to a family if this release form is signed and is included in the student’s academic file. (College provides waiver form)

• Authorized Payer – Per FERPA, a student has full authority and privacy over their financial accounts at the college. Parents/family members cannot have access the student account without expressed written permission. If a student wants their family to view or pay bills, enroll in payment plans, view transaction history, and have direct deposit for parent loans, creating an authorized payer is required.

• HIPAA (Health Information Privacy) Authorization – It is recommended that a student fill out this form before they arrive to college. Often times colleges will ask for this form to be filed in case a student chooses to use the college’s health and wellness resources like the Health Center or Counseling Center. This signed authorization will allow a family member to inquire about any medical issues that might come up and so they can have access to speak to your medical care providers in case of an emergency. If a student attends a college out-of-state, it is recommended that a HIPAA form be filled out for both states. (College provides waiver form)

• Psychiatric Advance Directive – If a student is under psychiatric care at the time they are attending college, it is recommended that family members seek to get a directive in case their student has a psychiatric emergency while in college. This will allow a designated person to make healthcare decisions on their behalf. The directive empowers the student/young adult to determine their care team in case they face a crisis and need support. (Available online)

• Medical Power of Attorney (Healthcare Proxy) – This will allow a parent/family member to make medical decisions for a student in case of a medical emergency and the student is unable to help in their own medical care. If a student is attending college out-of-state, a healthcare proxy form should be available for the home state and the state where the college is located. (Available online or in consultation with legal aid)

• Durable Power of Attorney – This form will allow a designated person to access a student’s bank accounts, credit cards, file a tax return, or handle other financial matters. Both this form and the medical power of attorney are helpful to have available in case of emergency. If a student is provided the opportunity to travel during college, especially overseas, documents like these are very important to have. (Available online or in consultation with legal aid)

• Living Will – If a student has assets or plays a fundamental role in the care of younger family members and has been designated as a guardian of a minor, having a legal document that states who should receive the assets and/or how the minor child/children should be cared for in case of death is very important. There are templates available online that can be filled out but it must be notarized in order for it to be considered legally valid. (Available online)