Meningitis Shot Updates

Military Information

Emotional Health & Wellness

Nine steps to making your college plans a reality!

These are important steps that need to be completed over the summer for you to be able to enroll in the fall. The tasks listed below are common to most colleges, but you should check your acceptance materials or contact your college to see if there are other tasks specific to your college. To find out how to complete any of the tasks below at your college, call your admissions office or try a Google search for each task. For instance, if you are attending the University of New Mexico and want to appeal your financial aid, Google “University of New Mexico financial aid appeal.”

1. Contact a school counselor if you need help over the summer

Counselors will be working this summer to help you with any challenges that arise. On your city’s web page within the SCOPE 2020 site, you can find the email address for the counselor(s) helping graduates from your high school.

2. Log into your college’s personalized web site

Most colleges now provide a website, named something like my.collegename.edu, where you can check your financial aid status and other important deadlines.

Your username and password were probably sent with your acceptance packet or in a separate letter/email. If you can’t find your username and password, contact your school’s admissions office.

3. Check the status of your financial aid

Complete the FAFSA and apply for aid if you haven’t already.

Check your most recent award letter and your personalized web site to see whether there are additional steps you need to take to apply for aid.

If you are considering an appeal, contact your financial aid office to ask how to appeal.

4. Register for your college’s orientation

Many colleges now hold required summer orientations for all first-year students.

Register ASAP, since many colleges hold their orientations early in summer.

Check what documents you are required to bring with you to orientation.

5. Check whether you need to complete placement testing before the start of the semester or before orientation.

Colleges often require placement tests in math, reading and writing. Some colleges do these tests at orientation; others require you to do the tests online or on campus beforehand.

6. Complete any housing forms

If your college offers housing; most colleges require you to pay a housing deposit and complete and housing form in order to be eligible for on-campus housing. Some colleges have limited housing to do this ASAP.

7. Check when term bills are issued and when they are due

Talk with your counselor about how to pay whatever balance is left after your financial aid award. You can also talk with your counselor and your parents about the possibility of setting up a tuition payment plan.

8. Check your college’s policy around health insurance

Colleges have different rules for which students are required to have health insurance and whether students are automatically enrolled in the college’s student health insurance plan.

Check your college’s requirements ASAP since the college health insurance can be costly.

If you already have qualifying insurance, you may be able to apply for a health insurance waiver.

9. Submit other required paperwork and documentation.

Your college will expect to received proof of your high school completion. Submit your final high school transcript and an official indication or your graduation to your college’s admissions office.

Especially if you’re expecting to live on campus, your school’s health services will require evidence of your immunizations. Submit immunization records to health services.