Thanksgiving Checklist

I like to use the Thanksgiving break as a big paperwork TO-DO-LIST.  Set yourself the goals of getting your paperwork together to put yourself in position to be successful for the Showcase in February.

1.  Identify 5 Colleges you would like to attend.  Look at our list of schools that attend.  Break out the lap top and start looking at the schools that interest you.  Make sure you like the University and not just the coach.  Create a spreadsheet of the pros and cons of the school.  Include location, cost, majors, offensive phil, defensive phil, student reviews, admission deadlines, admission requirements, whatever but be detailed and consistent.

2.  Talk to your parents about Money and College.  Do you want to see your parents start taking you more seriously.  Do you want to show them how mature you are.  At Thanksgiving dinner break out your spreadsheet you created from topic 1 and start talking about your college choices.  The topic of money should enter this conversation at some point.  Once you understand where the family is financially you can then start to make more realistic decisions.  Who knows great aunt Joyce at the end of the table may commit to helping you pay for some of the cost.  The important part is to show your parents that you are taking your college choice seriously.

3.  Apply to 2 schools.  They do not have to be your 2 top choices but you need to apply to 2 schools.  You will practice the application process, and you will have options after the Showcase.  You need to apply to 2 of them lets get two out of the way here.

4.  Fill out the FAFSA Forecaster on the FAFSA website.  This will give you and your parents practice on the financial aid process and you will learn how to transfer the information from the 1040EZ to the FAFSA form.  This is 100% free.  I can not stress how important it is to fill out your FAFSA and to know your EFC #.  Your EFC # is way more important then being 2nd team all district.  Please trust me on this and memorize your number.  You will not be able to get an official EFC # until your parents do their 2015 taxes.  However you can get an estimate which should help you in your search for the right school.