Why are students still looking? - Maybe you found that the college or university that you were accepted into is now beyond your budget. Some students have decided to study something different than they originally intended. You may had a challenging senior year of high school and learned just recently that you will actually graduate. There are students who have only recently discovered that college is a good choice from them.
Whatever the reason, you should know that there are many colleges and universities across the country, in addition to community colleges, that are still accepting applications for admission. Not only can you still get admitted, but many also have financial aid and housing available.
As of May 4, there were over 200 colleges and universities that responded to a survey indicating that they were still accepting. The Space Availability Survey was conducted by NACAC -National Association for College Admission Counseling and college members of this non-profit educational association respond to the survey each year.
Here is your 5 Step Quick Guide to starting the college planning process right now to start in the fall.
1. Move quickly. While it's still possible to get in and enroll for the fall, there is no time to wait. Others are applying now too and colleges eventually must finalize their plans as well. Plan to move fast to get all the documents and meet all of the time-lines. You will need to set up a plan to contact all the colleges in which you are interested (start by calling then go to the web site), apply for admission using a paper application or online, request housing if you want to be on campus, contact your high school for official transcripts, apply online for financial aid and scholarships if you need money. No time to waste - start today.
2. Think about your wants and needs. Because there are options, you have an opportunity to still select the best choice for you. Things to think about: location, size of the school, type of school, major /area of study, commute or live on campus, and consider your own personal needs. Cost is a very serious consideration at this point in the year. Learning about your options is critical if money has not previously been a part of your planning. Most institutions will require the first semester to be paid for before classes begin - often the first bills come out in July. Paying attention to your budget and the costs will help you make the best decision.
3. Gaining admission - You will need to contact each individual college to learn of the instruction's, procedures and required documents to complete the application process. Ask if it's possible to communicate and forward documents by e-mail, fax or online this helps you to respond quickly. Follow the instructions carefully since there is little time to waste. Get the names of campus staff you speak with so that you can develop a working relationship and not have to repeat your story multiple times. Most schools have online applications for admission. Most likely you will need a copy of an official high school transcript, standardized test scores and recommendations (college transcripts for transfer students). Contact your counselor or high school officials now to collect these documents. Since it's the end of the year, many high schools may be closing, but but often school staff are still available for a few days or weeks after schools close. Move Quickly.
4. Standardized Testing is still available. If you never took an SAT or ACT test or would like to boost your score, the ACT will offer it's last test on Saturday, June 12, 2010. SAT is not longer available until next fall 2010. The official registration deadline for the ACT has passed but you can still take the test as a Stand-By. Standby testing means that you will need to arrive at one of the testing sites on the day of the test and ask if there are any seats available. You will need to bring a completed paper registration form, a check or money order for $73 -ACT test without the writing portion or $88 for ACT test with writing and proper ID. You also will need to arrive very early -at 8:00am. Use this link ACT Standby Test for more information.
5. Apply for Financial aid and Scholarships. Much of the available financial aid requires that you first complete the online FAFSA Form (Free Application For Federal Student Aid). The form is still open and available online and aid is still available in many cases. The reality is that there will be some forms of aid that will no longer be available to you because the deadline has passed. However, some forms of federal aid are still available and a few states have later deadlines for some forms of state aid. Keep an open mind about Student Loans. Loans will certainly be available. Loans help to fill the gaps and should be considered an investment in you and your education. New legislation has created new opportunities for students as well. Remember to only borrow what you need and learn and understand the guidelines and your future responsibilities. Move quickly to accurately complete all financial aid forms so that all follow up documents and procedures are complete before classes begin.
Good Luck.
It may be helpful to also read:
State Aid Deadlines: More Money Comes With Knowing
Scholarships: What About Scholarships
