Feeling a little caged in with all of the decisions you’re having to make about your future?
I was talking with my friend, Buster, who offered a few tips about surviving the college search process. There’s a lot to consider, and it can be overwhelming. Here’s what he had to say:
First thing to do? Bite the bullet and just sit down and talk with your parental units about just how you’re going to pay for college.
Money is usually not everyone’s favorite subject, but knowing where your parents feel financially comfortable can be a first step in creating a dialog and letting them know that you appreciate their involvement in the process. While there is a great deal of financial aid/scholarship money available, the expectation on the part of the colleges and on the part of the federal government is that the family will pay for college to the degree the family is deemed able to do so given the parameters of the aid process established by Congress. In other words, based on the information you and your parents submit on the FAFSA, the government determines what your family can afford to pay for college. Colleges will have their own formulas to determine how institutional aid may be distributed on their campuses. Some colleges require the CSS PROFILE. Others will have college specific aid forms. The key is to know what forms are required by schools that are of interest to the applicant. Merit money awards can require financial aid applications or may be completely independent of the aid process–this varies from college to college. Do your research!
Take it from me, while the ultimate decision is yours, having the parentals happy with your college/career choice or just happy with the fact that they were included and consulted during the search process can make for a much better junior/senior year.
Not everyone’s parents went to college and those who did may have a different view of what they enjoyed versus what you want out of the experience. For you to know you have the support of your parents and your parents to know that you care what they think can be great for the whole family. The same holds true for siblings. The decision of which college to attend and how much to pay impacts everyone in the family. Some of my buddies forget that this time might be the last they experience life as a full-time resident with their families. The dynamic changes the moment mom and dad drop you off at the dorm.
Ready to apply? Get a professional email address AND CHECK your e-mail.
It can be detrimental for a college/potential employer to see an unorthodox/unprofessional e-mail address. It is fine to have separate personal e-mail (for your friends) and professional e-mail addresses. Just think . . . when you apply online and the school wants an address on file, do they really need to know that you are a cheerchic? Do they really need to know that you think so highly of yourself that your email address is shorelinehottie23? Sure the name of your rec league soccer team may be the Shoreline Hotties and your number is 23, but colleges and potential employers won't necessarily put that together. A professional email address is a must. It is one you can have for the rest of your life, unlike clyderulz34.
Woof,
Clyde
and really get feathered up for your exams because a lot of you are going to have to send seventh semester transcripts to colleges. What do you want them to see when they review your regular decision applications--good grades or, well . . . let’s not go there. 
