preparation checklist

Helping Your Child Succeed in School,source:U.S. Department of Education
Preparation For Your Dream School,source: https://studentaid.ed.gov
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[restab title=”Elementary” active=”active”]

Students
TO DO:
( ) Do your best in school.
( ) Read a lot.
( ) Have fun learning!
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Visit www.kids.gov to learn about jobs and to find fun games to play online.
( ) Check out the Kids’ Zone at www.nces.ed.gov/nceskids if you like such games as puzzles and math teasers.
Parents
TO DO:
( ) Help your kindergartner develop an interest in reading by reading aloud to him or her.
( ) Check your child’s homework and follow his or her progress in school by looking at report cards and attending teacher conferences.
( ) Start saving for your child’s college education. Learn about the tax advantages of state college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans at www.collegesavings.org.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Read “Saving Early = Saving Smart!” at StudentAid.gov /resources#saving-early. This handout explains why it’s never too early to save money for college and how to use such resources as college savings plans and federal student aid.
( ) Check out Helping Your Child Become a Reader at www.ed.gov/parents (click on “Helping Your Child”) to learn how to create a foundation for learning for children up to age 6. The publication includes activities that make learning experiences out of daily routines and provides a list of resources for parents.

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[restab title=”Middle School”]

Students
TO DO:
( ) Think about college as an important part of your future. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your family and with people at school.
( ) Start saving for college if you haven’t already.
( ) Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for high school.
( ) Ask your parent or guardian to help you research which high schools or special programs will most benefit your interests.
( ) Develop strong study habits.
( ) Do your best in school and on standardized tests. If you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a teacher, tutor, or mentor.
( ) Become involved in school- or community-based activities that let you explore your interests and learn new things.
( ) Speak with adults, such as your teacher, school counselor or librarian, relatives, or family friends, who you think have interesting jobs. Ask them, “What do you like about your job?” and “What education did you need for your job?”
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Find out why you should prepare for college now at StudentAid.gov/prepare.
( ) Browse My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College, a workbook for middle and junior high school students, at StudentAid.gov/resources#my-future.
( ) Learn about a wide variety of careers—both at NASA and elsewhere—at www.nasa.gov /audience /forstudents /5-8 /career /index.html.

Parents
TO DO:
( ) Use FAFSA4caster at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov to find out how much federal student aid your child might receive. This information will help you plan ahead.
( ) Continue saving for your child’s college education. If you have not opened a savings account, you can find information about tax advantages and links to state plans at www.collegesavings.org.
( ) Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests with a college major and career.
( ) Help your child develop good study habits, such as studying at the same time and place every day and having the necessary materials to complete assignments.
( ) Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and counselor so that they can let you know about any changes in your child’s behavior or schoolwork.
( ) Keep an eye on your child’s grades on his or her tests and report cards, and help him or her find tutoring assistance, if necessary.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Get tips from the following documents at www.ed.gov/parents (click on “Helping Your Child”):

Helping Your Child With Homework offers suggestions on assisting your child with successfully completing assignments

Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence addresses issues that parents of 10- to 14-year-olds generally find most challenging.
( ) Browse Parent Power at www.ed.gov/parents for ideas to help you support your child as he or she transitions into high school.

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[restab title=”High School”]

Students
TO DO:
( ) Work with one of your parents to estimate your financial aid using FAFSA4caster at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov, and continue to save for college.
( ) Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of English, at least three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), three years of mathematics, and three years of science, and many require two years of a foreign language. Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.
( ) Stay involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working or volunteering. Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.
( ) Talk to your school counselor and other mentors about education after high school. Your counselor can answer questions about what classes to take in high school, how to sign up for standardized tests, and where to get money for college.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College, which suggests some actions you can take as you start thinking about education beyond high school. The online version of the brochure is at www.knowhow2go.org.
( ) Get answers to common questions about college by watching our videos on the “Prepare for College” playlist at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid.
( ) Learn about managing your money from “Start Smart: Money Management for Teens” at www.fdic.gov /consumers /consumer /news /cnsum06 /sum_06_color.pdf.

Parents
TO DO:
( ) Continue to talk to your child about college plans as if he or she will definitely go to college.
( ) Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades—stay involved.
( ) Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement or other challenging classes.
( ) Add to your child’s college savings account regularly.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Explore StudentAid.gov/parent for information on saving for college, borrowing for college, applying for financial aid, getting tax benefits to help make college affordable, and more.
( ) Learn from Help Your Child Improve in Test-Taking at www.ed.gov/parents (click on “Helping Your Child” and then “Archived publications”).

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[restab title=”9th Grade”]

Students
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Talk to your guidance counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses. Find out what courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.
( ) Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool at www.mynextmove.org to research your career options.
( ) Make a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Consider participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, and science.

TO EXPLORE:
( ) Visit StudentAid.gov/whycollege for some reasons to consider college
( ) Find ways to get help preparing for college at StudentAid.gov /prepare-for-college/help.
Parents
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Make sure you are fully aware of the provisions of any college savings accounts you have opened for your child.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Learn about the tax benefits of cashing in savings bonds to pay for your child’s education; search for “Publication 970” at www.irs.gov.

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[restab title=”10th Grade”]

Students
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.
( ) Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or the PLAN exam.
( ) Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).
( ) Go to career information events.
( ) Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search at www.mynextmove.org.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships at StudentAid.gov/types.

Parents
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Find out whether your child’s school has college nights or financial aid nights. Plan to attend those events with your child.
( ) Help your child develop independence by encouraging him or her to take responsibility for balancing homework with any other activities or a part-time job.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Learn about the standardized tests your child will be taking during 10th through 12th grades: the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT and SAT Subject Tests (see www.collegeboard.com), and/or the PLAN exam and the ACT (see www.act.org).
( ) Get a brief overview of financial aid from Do You Need Money for College? at StudentAid.gov/needmoney.

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[restab title=”11th Grade”]

Students
TO DO:
…all year
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Explore careers and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco.
( ) Learn about choosing a college (and find a link to our free college search tool) at StudentAid.gov /prepare-for-college /choosing-schools.
( ) Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations by college representatives.
…fall
( ) Take the PSAT/NMSQT.* You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.
…spring
( ) Register for and take exams for college admission.* The tests that many colleges require are the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
( ) Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search at www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch to find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Visit www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid and go to the “Types of Aid” playlist to see how the government can help you pay for college.
( ) Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft at StudentAid.gov/scams.

Parents
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Take another look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for college.
( ) Talk to your child about the schools he or she is considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child, and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.
( ) Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college representatives. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.
( ) Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Get in-depth information on federal student aid programs at StudentAid.gov/types.
( ) Learn about student and parent loans in the Direct Loan Basics brochures at StudentAid.gov /resources#loans.

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[restab title=”12th Grade”]

Summer Before 12th Grade
Students
TO DO:
( ) Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.
( ) Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.
( ) Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.
( ) Use the FAFSA4caster financial aid estimator one last time at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov, and compare the results to the actual costs at the colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow.

TO EXPLORE:
( ) Find out what government financial aid you can apply for, and how, in Do You Need Money for College? at StudentAid.gov /needmoney.
( ) Watch the “Overview of the Financial Aid Process” video at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid to learn about getting student aid from the government.
( ) Be careful when searching for scholarships: Read “Don’t Get Scammed on Your Way to College!” at StudentAid.gov/resources#consumer-protection.
Parents
TO DO:
( ) Review your financial situation and make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.
( ) Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.
( ) Find out whether your child has added any schools to his or her college wish list since the last time you visited colleges, and visit additional campuses if possible.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Take a closer look at StudentAid.gov/types and StudentAid.gov/fafsa to ensure you understand the federal aid programs and upcoming application process.

12th Grade
Students
TO DO:
…all year
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Work hard all year—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.
( ) Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.
…fall
( ) Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
( ) If you haven’t done so already, register for and take such exams as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT for college admission.* Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
( ) Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
( ) Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.
…winter
( ) Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) has (have) not completed tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.
( ) As soon as possible after Jan. 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require. You can complete the
FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov or on paper, but

completing the application online is faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February. Refer to “FAFSA Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist as you go through the application process.
( ) If you have questions about the federal student aid programs or need assistance with the application process, call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or the TTY for the hearing impaired, 1-800-730-8913.
( ) After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.
( ) Complete any last scholarship applications.
…spring
( ) Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.
( ) Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.
( ) Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.
( ) When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Refer to StudentAid.gov/fafsa to learn about the FAFSA process.
( ) Understand the FAFSA better by watching the videos in the “FAFSA: Apply for Aid” playlist at www.YouTube.com /FederalStudentAid.
( ) Find the office of Federal Student Aid at www.Twitter.com /FAFSA and www.Facebook.com /FederalStudentAid to get regular financial aid tips.
( ) Make informed decisions about student loans; find important information at the “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?” section on page 4 of this checklist and the “Federal Versus Private Loans” page at StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

Parents
TO DO:
( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.
( ) Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA (see “FAFSA Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist for specific instructions).
TO EXPLORE:
( ) Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For tips, read “Student Aid and Identity Theft” at StudentAid.gov /resources#consumer-protection.
( ) Go to www.irs.gov and read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.
( ) Understand the benefits of federal student loans by reading “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?” on page 4 of this checklist.
( ) Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing StudentAid.gov/types/loans#considerations with him or her.
( ) Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered Direct Loans, the Direct Loan Basics brochures might be useful to you. Find them at StudentAid.gov /resources#loans.

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[restab title=”College”]
General overview –College Life: College: 4 -5 years You’ll enter as a freshman pre-med, which it should be noted is just an advising category NOT a major. You can major in anything you want, preferably something you are passionate about or at least enjoy. I was a sociology major, I have friends who were everything from applied math to guitar performance to business to political science. As a pre-med you’ll take one year of general chemistry, organic chemistry, intro biology, and physics, all with lab. Most medical schools also require at least a semester of “college math” which typically means calculus. A semester of stats is a good idea. Extra science courses which may be beneficial (even required by some medical schools) include: Anatomy, physiology, genetics and biochemistry. After you have completed (or nearly completed) the big 4 requirements (bio, chem, organic, physics) you will prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test (the MCAT). This will typically be in the spring or early summer of your junior year (though if you end up taking 5 years to graduate, you could schedule it later). It’s a test about 5.5 hours long, now given on computer (which is new for 2007 – but won’t be new for you). There are 3 sections, each scored 1-15: Physical Sciences (50% Physics, 50% gen chem), Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences (25% Organic, 75% Biology). National average for all test takers is about a 24, national average for everyone who applies to medical school is about a 27, and the national average for everyone who matriculates to a medical school is essentially a 30. Typically only about 60-70 people, out of some 70,000+ administrations of the test, ever score a 42. 90%ile is usually at a 34.

During your pre-med years, you need to be shadowing physicians, volunteering (hospitals are great), being involved on campus, taking part in research with a professor, and doing well academically. The national average for overall GPA of matriculants is 3.6, and a science/math GPA of 3.3 (or a touch higher). You don’t have to get all A’s, and an occasional C is not the end of the world, but you should be getting mostly A’s.

In the summer before your senior year, you will begin filling out the “primary” application online through a service called the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This includes a personal statement, list of post-secondary experiences, your transcripts, and lots of demographic information. You will select which medical schools you wish to have this primary application sent to, pay a boatload of money for the service and send them off. Most students will send out between 10-15 applications. Schools will judge your application, ask you for more money, and then send you a “secondary” application. This would include extra essays, more information about yourself, your experiences and your goals. Some secondaries are easy requiring no work, and others have 8 or more essays. The secondaries will be assessed and then you’ll be invited for an interview at the school. Once all these steps have been completed your complete file will be reviewed and you’ll either accepted, waitlisted or rejected. Currently only about 45% of all applicants receive an acceptance into one of the 125 allopathic medical schools in the US (those that grant an MD).

Medical School: 4 years First two years are the basic science years. There are a wide variety of curriculum designs which I won’t get into here, just know that not all schools do the same thing. In very general terms, most schools use the first year to teach you the way things are supposed to work in the body, and the second year is how they get messed up and how they are treated. Every school also includes a sort of “how to be a doctor course” in addition to the basic sciences which teaches you how to properly take a history, perform a physical exam, write in charts, begin to understand insurance, deal with ethics, handle special patient populations, understand the medical literature, and so on. You take out massive amounts of loans (I’ll have a debt of ~$155k when I’m done in 2009 and I pay in-state tuition at a state school…it’ll be approx. 80-100k more at a private school), study your ass off, get really drunk after tests and basically give up the first part of your 20’s.

After 2nd year, all medical schools require you to take the United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE) Step 1, a 6 hour, 300 question multiple choice exam that must be passed to move on to the next year. It tests on all aspects of the first two years, typically in clinical vignettes, with questions that are usually “3rd Order” or higher in nature (an example of a third order question: image of a cell with an arrow pointing to a unidentified granule in the cell with the question “What is the function of the product released by this granule?” you have to know 1) what cell and tissue, 2) what enzyme is released by that cell in that tissue, and 3) what the function of the enzyme is.) USMLE is also notorious for “Type A” questions in which all the answers are technically correct, but you must find the “most correct” answer choice. The third year is a series of required clerkships, in which you become an integral part of the health care team. Most schools have about 6 required clerkships with the most popular being: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, OB/GYN, Psychology (I don’t think I’ve a curriculum that didn’t include those 5, ever, they’re pretty standard). The 6th or 7th options include Family Practice, Neurology, Emergency, Pathology, and Radiology. You as an M3 are essentially the first contact with the patient when they are admitted, and you begin the formulation of the treatment plan. You’ll have maybe 3 or 4 patients you’ll be “responsible” for, who you’ll interview and examine, and then present to your Intern (MD who just graduated), they’ll help you with the Assessment and Plan, ask you questions, teach, and then you’ll present the case to a resident, repeat, maybe present to a chief resident, and then to the Attending (actual full on MD, done with all their training and legally liable for the patient you are using to learn).

Fourth year, is comprised of a variety of different electives in which you get the opportunity to figure out what field you want to end up in for residency early on in the year (july, august, september, october) and then explore the other types of medicine you want to experience before you no longer have a chance (november-april). August through October is the time to prepare residency applications, November through February is interview season, and in the middle of february (for most specialties) you send in a list of your top choices (ranked in order), while the residency programs rank the applicants they saw. The lists are fed into a computer and in 6 minutes some 24000 residency positions are filled trying to get everyone their top choices. You also have to take USMLE Step 2 during your 4th year. It has two parts Clinical Knowledge which is just like step 1 and Clinical Skills which is done with standardized patients where you are given 15 minutes in a room to interview and examine a patient, then 10 minutes to write the chart note, and you’re graded on how you handle yourself, your exam skills and chart writing. (If you watch Grey’s Anatomy, this is the boards exam that Alex failed last season).

Residency and fellowship: 3-7 years.

This is where you finish your training and become a specialist. Pediatrics is three years, but if you want to enter something like pediatric cardiology or pediatric oncology, you would have to enter a 3 year fellowship after your 3 year residency. There are a variety of different paths so I won’t get into it here just to say that Peds, Internal Med, and Family Practice are 3 years. General Surgery is 5, OB/GYN is 4. Few residencies are more than 5, but when you tack on a fellowship training could be as long as 7. As a resident or fellow you are gaining the requisite (as determined by each specialty oversight organization) knowledge base to be a practicing physician. You work long hours (No more than 80/wk) for little pay (first year house officers average about $44k/yr before taxes – each year has a raise attached but it’s usually about 2,000 – 3,000 dollars)…and you have outrageous loans to pay off.

Research opportunities with NASA SHARP, RSI, JRI (I want to do research very badly!) or more math at a local college

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[restab title=”AID”]

FEDERAL STUDENT AID
What Is Federal Student Aid?
Federal student aid comes from the federal government—specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that helps a student pay for education expenses at a college, career school, or graduate school.
Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid also can help pay for a computer and for dependent care.
There are three main categories of federal student aid:

Grant—Grant money usually doesn’t have to be repaid. Most U.S. Department of Education grants are based on the student’s financial need.

Work-study—Work-study money is earned by a student through a job on or near campus while attending school and does not have to be repaid.

Loan—Loan money must be repaid with interest.
For details about the federal student aid programs, including maximum annual amounts and loan interest rates, visit StudentAid.gov/types.
Why Get a Federal Student Loan?
Federal student loans offer low fixed interest rates; income-based repayment plans; loan forgiveness; and deferment (postponement of repayment) options, including deferment of loan payments when a student returns to school. Generally, repayment of a federal loan does not begin until after the student leaves school. And did you know that a student receiving a federal loan does not need a credit history or a cosigner? Private loans from banks often do not offer such benefits. So if you need to borrow money to pay for college or career school, start with federal student loans. More information is available at StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

MORE SOURCES OF STUDENT AID
The U.S. Department of Education is the main source of financial aid for college, but it isn’t the only source.

Visit StudentAid.gov/types#federal-aid to find out about education funding available from other federal agencies.

Visit www.ed.gov/sgt to find out about money available from state governments.

Visit a college’s website or ask its financial aid office about money the school offers its students.

Read the rest of this page to learn where to look for scholarships from sources other than those listed above.

FAFSA FILING TIME
Students
You must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM) to apply for federal student aid—that’s government money for college or career school. Financial aid offices use information from the FAFSA to determine whether you are eligible to receive federal grants, loans, or work-study funds. States and schools also use the information from the FAFSA to determine whether you qualify for additional aid. In fact, some schools won’t consider a student for the school’s merit scholarships until the student has submitted a FAFSA. So be sure to fill out a FAFSA even if you think you won’t qualify for federal aid.
DEADLINES
If you want to be considered for aid from your state or college, you must meet its FAFSA deadline. If you plan to go to college in the fall, your state financial aid deadline is probably going to be between March and May; and your college financial aid deadline may be as early as February. The FAFSA site at www.fafsa.gov lists many state deadlines and tells you how to find yours if it’s not listed. For a college’s FAFSA deadline, check the school’s website or contact its financial aid office.
TO DO:
( ) Get free information and help from your school counselor, the financial aid office at the college you

( ) Your school might request additional information from you. Be sure to respond by any deadlines, or you might not receive federal student aid.
( ) All applicants: Contact the financial aid office if you have any questions about the aid being offered.
( ) First-time applicants: Review award letters from schools to compare amounts and types of aid being offered. Decide which school to attend based on a combination of (a) how well the school suits your needs and (b) its affordability after all aid is taken into account.
( ) Keep in touch with the school you’ve chosen to find out when tuition and fees are due, whether your financial aid will cover those expenses completely, and how much (if any) extra financial aid will come directly to you once your tuition and fees are paid.
( ) Pay special attention to letters or e-mails from schools, and contact the financial aid office if you do not understand what the school is offering you.
( ) Follow all directions on the FAFSA and on any communications from your school.
Parents
TO DO:
( ) File taxes as early as possible, but don’t delay the FAFSA due to your taxes not being done. It’s okay to estimate your financial information on the FAFSA; you just need to finalize it later.
( ) Complete the “Students: To Do” list on pages 22–24 of this checklist with your child. If possible, file the FAFSA online—it’s much faster and easier, and your information is safe because it’s encrypted (i.e., we use a mathematical formula to scramble the data).
( ) Examine the bill from the school your child chooses and make sure you understand all the fees and how they will be paid (e.g., through scholarships, student loans, etc.).

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