College admissions time can be stressful for both students and parents. It seems almost impossible to get all these ends to meet. Between tracking down letters of recommendation from your teachers to getting the office to send over your grade transcripts, you’re ready to lose your mind. Half of the requirements to get into your college depend upon assistance from offices, clerks, teachers and administrators. Then, of course, you have to pay your fees, get your physical, write your essay, fill out your application and meet all the deadlines. By the end of this grueling process, you’re probably wondering, “Is it even worth it?” Little do you realize that this is just the beginning of a never-ending sea of financial aid forms, internship opportunity applications and resume writing.
As soon as the college admissions process is finished, you should immediately set your sights on funding college. Be sure to have an honest discussion with your parents and see if they’re willing to throw in anything to help you out. Look at your current job situation and your prospective job situation. If you’re keeping your current job, how many hours a week can you realistically work? If you’re going away to school, you need to begin applying in the town you’re moving to immediately before the late summer rush of applicants flood every possible job opportunity. Work won’t necessarily cover everything, though. You may also need to look for student financial aid to scrape together short-term cash to cover tuition and board. The last thing you want is to be de-registered from all your classes because you were late with your payment!
Most college admissions offices have special financial aid offices, where you can find forms to facilitate this application process. Your first college assistance search should be for grants or scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. The best place to start is with scholarship databases; apply for everything! Visit www.scholarships.com, www.finaid.org, www.supercollege.com, www.fastweb.com, www.apps.collegeboard.com. Also check www.grants.gov, www.collegescholarships.com/grants and www.gocollege.com. Scholarships awards are given to a number of different students with various requirements, so even if you don’t think you’re the smartest, most athletic or most talented individual, do not sell yourself short. Most students who apply receive something, so give it your best shot! Make it your goal to apply for a certain number of scholarships for school each week all summer long.
Once college admissions and college loans have been taken care of, you will likely take a class on resume writing in your freshman year. Understanding how to write a good resume and cover letter will be essential to finding a summer internship opportunity and eventually, entry level jobs too. Education and experience mean little without a nice way of packaging it. You need to convey your strengths, work objectives and experience level to prospective employers to put your best foot forward. You will find many resources on campus if you ask your guidance counselor about the school’s career development center.
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