First off, congratulations for graduating high school and getting accepted into college. We know that receiving acceptance letters from colleges can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you applied to more than one college. Relax, this is an exciting time for you! Now that you’ve received your acceptance letters it’s time to choose where you want to attend and complete the necessary steps to begin your future. Here are some first steps to guide you…
- If you applied to more than one institution, review the acceptance letters, choose where you would like to attend and notify the school. Also check out, “I’ve been accepted to more than one school. How do I choose?”
- Most acceptance letters will provide you with a username and password to log into the campus website. They will also provide you with a campus email address. It is important that you log into the website frequently because this is where you will receive communications about your financial aid, housing, etc.
- If you haven’t already done so, apply for financial aid as soon as possible. You can apply online for the 2012-2013 academic year at http://www.fafsa.gov/. Remember that you should never pay to apply for financial aid or scholarships.
- And speaking of scholarships, apply for as many as you can! Colleges can provide you with campus based scholarships, but it takes some research and you must apply before the deadlines.
- If you are planning to live on campus you will need to apply for housing. Don’t procrastinate because on-campus housing goes quickly!
- Attend orientation as soon as you can and then register for classes. You will not be able to register for classes until you have completed orientation. General education classes usually fill up fast, so don’t wait too long.
- Review the financial aid awards that are offered to you. Accept grants and scholarships first and then accept student loans only if they are absolutely necessary. Don’t forget that you’re be required to pay back any student loans you borrow, so borrow wisely.
- Pay your tuition and go to your campus bookstore to buy the books and supplies you will need for your classes.
Not too bad, right? Knock out this list and you’ve got it all under control. Now you can concentrate on getting good grades and enjoying the first semester of your college life!
