Tips to Help you Prepare for College May Day
- Dane Copeland
- Mar 27
- 5 min read
And..... the decision is?
The last few weeks and the month of April may be jam-packed with college visits, talking with students who attend your admitted schools, parents, and friends, and making pro and con lists. All of which, hopefully, will provide you with enough information to decide where to attend this coming fall. Beyond making a decision, there are a few more details to button up, paying attention to deadlines for submitting your SIR - Statement of Intent to Register and deposit to one school typically May 1st - but do check and confirm in case your school has a different deadline, housing deadlines, and sending any other key information to the school you will attend in the fall. Even if you plan to stay on a waitlist, you must ensure you have locked in a spot at one of your admitted colleges for the fall.
Here are some tips to help you finish up and launch:
Finish your school year strong - now is the time to avoid senioritis and low grades. Remember, your admitted school cares about your academics and will receive your senior grades, which should align with your application. If you have had a "hiccup" with any classes, you want to get ahead of that information being conveyed, which may mean checking with your high school counselor and emailing your admitted school.
Check your school emails. Make sure you are on top of deadlines for: housing, orientation, submitting documents, tuition payments, etc., and you know what the fall semester will look like so you can plan for it.If you haven't signed up for housing and sent in your deposit, look at the calendar and determine when you will do that. The early bird catches the worm and snags a dorm room.
·Save a PDF of your applications and essays. You never know when you might want to look at them again.
Final transcripts need to be sent to your school in June. Your school counselor should automatically send your high school transcripts. If you took any classes for credit outside of your high school, you will need to send those final transcripts to the school you will attend.
If you are working on any Financial Aid details or need to update them because your family's financial situation has changed, call and email the Financial Aid office. Follow up on anything you need or what they may need from you. Don't wait for your school to contact you. Financial Aid offices are there to walk you through your financial aid package and answer any questions you have. You are your own best advocate, so be sure to speak up.
Attend Orientation - Your school's orientation program, whether on campus or virtual, will help you 1) get acclimated, 2) allow you to meet some of your newly accepted classmates, 3) find out if you need to take any placement exams, 4) are exempt from entry-level requirements, and 5) possibly even pre-register for fall classes, depending on where you will be attending. If you can attend orientation, try to schedule as early as possible to make it work with your schedule. If the orientation is on campus and you can't travel, check if your school offers a local orientation program.
Families/Parents may be offered their own orientation sessions on Financial Aid, FERPA in College, and Legal Documents you may want, Health Insurance, Dorm Insurance, Tuition Insurance, Academic or Disability Support, Wellness Programs, Parents' Weekends, and other school-specific programs.
Send any AP scores that may qualify for credit at your school. If you are unsure about this, the College Board website has that information. Every school evaluates and considers scores differently; some may offer credit or allow you to place out of a course or advance.
Accommodations in college require students to be their own best advocates. Before arriving on campus, you will want to find out what services and accommodations are available, typically located in a college’s Disability office, and what you need to do, e.g., complete paperwork, provide documentation, e.g., psychoeducational testing report. You will want to find out if you need to provide professors with documents or information before the start of the semester or quarter, what information you need to share, and what can remain confidential. Any accommodations received in high school do not automatically roll over into college, and students, not parents, must advocate for what they need.
Let the other schools you've been admitted to know you won't be attending. This may be done via the school portal or by sending a brief email to the admissions office.
·Send Thank-You notes. If you haven't sent a note to teachers, counselors, coaches, or anyone else who has supported you during the college application process or throughout high school, now is the time—and share your good news with them. They will be happy to hear from you.
Bonus Tip: If you're considering taking a Gap year or deferring enrollment, check your school's policy to ensure you understand what you are bound to before making your final decision about where to attend. Some schools prohibit students from 1) enrolling in college courses (which can include community colleges or pre-college programs that offer college credit), or 2) applying to any other colleges, or 3) may not allow for Gap years, and you would need to reapply to their school if you choose not to attend. Know the parameters before you change your college plans (or make a final decision), and know that every college has its own policy.What Legal Documents Do Your Kids Need Before Going To College?
*Every family and student will have different needs and requirements. These suggestions serve as a starting point for families and are not exhaustive of what each student and family may need. It is the responsibility of each family to research and determine all documents that will be required for their college student.
Looking for more tips and inspiration to help you start your college journey? dream.search.apply.A Field Guide for an Inspired College Journey is packed with insights and resources to help you navigate your college path, and is available to order online and coming soon to your local bookstore.
Know someone starting their college journey? Feel free to share or connect us at dane@collegeu.solutions
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