College Search Resources
Savvy seniors have spent at least part of their summer working on their final college list. The College Manual, available from Ms. Monticello if you've lost yours, has information about how to do a college search, make college visits, the application process, and web sites to find the right college and how to pay for it.
Ms. Monticello is available to talk to students and their parents about finding the right college, applying to colleges, and getting financial aid. Please call her to set up an appointment or just to ask some questions by phone.
Application Tips
Online applications are the best way to apply to college. Saving time by using common applications is a big plus, allowing students to spend their valuable free time on those essays rather than writing and rewriting the same personal information on all those applications.
Some common applications include:| Texas Common Application Used for all Texas public universities |
https://www.applytexas.org/ |
| Texas Mentor Used for many private Texas colleges |
http://www.texasmentor.com |
| Common Application Used for many private universities nationwide |
http://www.commonapp.org/ |
The school's internal deadline for submitting college applications and supporting documentation is Friday, November 30 . Colleges say that the earlier a student applies, the more time there is to make sure the application is complete and correct. Ms. Monticello is anxious to help in any way to make sure that all students' college applications are the best they can be.
Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, families need to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). Fill out the FAFSA on the Web since for quicker processing, giving students a better chance of getting the best possible offer from their colleges' financial aid departments.
For the Class of '08, students can begin filling out the FAFSA on January 1, 2008. It requires that families have their 2007 income tax return finished so the correct financial figures can be used.
Some colleges also require families to submit the CSS Profile, a pay service of the College Board. Check the College Board web site (www.collegeboard.com) to see when to begin working on it.
Remember, the accurate early birds will get the juiciest, premium financial aid worms! Also, you should always contact the financial aid offices of the colleges where you'll file your applications so you can be aware of their deadlines and what paperwork they will need.
Web-based Resources
All the information and resources you will need to find financial aid and scholarships are on the Web. One great resource is Fastweb.com, which allows students to enter their profile and targets scholarships for which they may apply. Fastweb also gives information on other forms of financial aid and how to apply for them. An interesting article on giving the best, truthful picture of your family's finances when applying for aid is found at http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/maximize.phtml.
Word of Caution
Beware of some unscrupulous individuals and organizations that are more interested in parting you from your money than in finding college money for you. Researching individuals and organizations that say they "guarantee" to find your student a scholarship is the wise thing to do.
Some websites that can educate you on what to guard against are http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/content/focus/story/40.ptml?ID http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml