Senior to-do List for Christmas Break

Seniors - I know it is a challenge to fit in post-high-school planning into your busy schedules when school is in session, so I have some recommendations for over Christmas Break:

1. Finish any loose ends for your college applications (request transcripts, SAT scores, letters of recommendation, etc. before you leave for the break), if they are not all done yet.  Remember to apply to at least one "sure thing" so you have a back-up plan in place.

2. Make sure you and your parents have a PIN for the FAFSA.  www.fafsa.ed.gov so that you can get online on January 1st to do your FAFSA.  Remember, you do NOT need to have filed your 2011 taxes to submit your FAFSA...you can use last year's for now and then update it with this year's once you have filed your taxes.

3.  If you have received acceptance letters in the mail already, CONGRATULATIONS!  You can use Christmas Break to fill out housing applications and also schedule visits to your top schools so you will be prepared to make an informed decision before their response deadlines (usually in May).

4.  Compare your GPA/SAT scores to your colleges' academic scholarship criteria and decide if it's to your benefit to re-take the SAT again this year.  If so, go to www.collegeboard.org and sign up.

5.  Check out www.fastweb.com , www.getcollegefunds.org , and each of your colleges' financial aid pages for in-house scholarships that you can do over the break as well.  Many of these have EARLY deadlines, and you must be accepted to the college before you can apply.

6.  For those of you who are wanting to do a year of service prior to starting college, check out the service links on the Guidance and Counseling page of www.westernmennoniteschool.org our WMS Website.

7.  This is also a good time to explore college majors if you haven't decided what you want to do yet. There are links on our WMS Website to help you with this as well.

8.  Enjoy your time with your family; ask for advice from people you love and respect like parents, youth pastors, and friends who are already in college.  Taking advice from others can save you a lot of stress.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!