UGA Admission Update for 2024

For the Fall 2024 First-Year applicant group, there are three updates the UGA Admissions Office wants to make known when students are preparing to apply to UGA.

• We will be exclusively using the Common App for our First-Year applicants. We will still use our in-house application for non First-Year applicants such as transfer students, but in order to have a consistent look and make sure there are no issues with trying to match documents across different platforms, all First-Year applicants will need to use the Common App. We will have our in-house application ready in case there are any major issues that come up, but we do not expect that this will be needed.

• While UGA will continue to have the same EA and RD deadlines, we will be splitting the EA decision release date into two release dates: In-State applicants will receive an EA decision in mid-late November, while Out-of-State applicants will receive an EA decision in mid-late December. Our EA applicant pool has increased dramatically over the last few years (for 2023 we had roughly 26,000 EA applicants), so we are making this change to ensure all EA applicants receive a thorough review and the Admissions Office is not overwhelmed during the EA process. When we are closer to the estimated time frames listed above, we will have a better understanding of the exact decision release dates and will share the dates at that time. In addition, our documents deadline for both EA and RD have been expanded to 2 weeks after the application deadline. This will allow for both applicants and school counselors to have a little more time to make sure all transcripts, recommendations and other supporting documents are in our office.

• UGA will keep the same longer personal essay (250-650 words) as before, using the essay prompts from the Common App. The shorter UGA specific essay (200-300 words suggested) topic will be changing, with the following essay prompt being used for the class of 2024 (and hopefully beyond that):

“The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).” As always, we also share an essay from an enrolling First-Year student that we believe shows great writing skills: If you asked me what object I’d save in a burning fire, I’d save my notebook. My notebook isn’t just any notebook, it’s bubble gum pink with purple tie dye swirls, and has gold coil binding it together. But more importantly, it’s the key that unlocked my superpower, sending me soaring into the sky, flying high above any problems that could ever catch me. However, my notebook is simply the key. My real power rests in the depths of my mind, in my passion for writing. But to know how my powers came to be (not from a spider or a special rock), I must travel back to the first spark. Nine years ago, on a cold winter morning, I sat at my tiny wooden desk in Mr. Barton’s famous Writer’s Workshop class. While I have no recollection of what I wrote, I can vividly recall my joy, the speed of my hand guiding the pencil on the paper, and the thrill I had knowing that I was the puppeteer. The story could be completely mine as long as I had my imagination. At this moment, my creative powers sparked like a car engine. This was the first time I truly enjoyed writing. Four years ago, I wrote my first 6-word memoir in my eighth-grade rhetoric class. Inspired by my father’s recently diagnosed terminal illness, I wrote “Take his words, don’t take him”. It was as if all the energy of my powers surged into six meaningful words meant to honor the man that I would soon lose to a villain known as ALS. This was the first time I felt my writing. Three years ago, my dad’s disease severely progressed. The ALS seized his ability to speak and locked it in a tower with no key. The only way we could communicate was with an old spiral notebook. Black pen ink filled the pages with his distinctive handwriting I personally liked to call chicken scratch. He was frail, yet full of life, when I walked into his room one day. He motioned for to me to read the notebook, and in his best chicken scratch it read, “I Love You”. Using my best eighth-grade girl penmanship, I wrote back, “I LOVE YOU MORE”. This was the first time I needed my writing. Two years ago, I found my key. I drove to Target and purchased my bubble gum pink, purple swilled tie dye, and gold coil binding notebook. My powers always dwelled deep inside me, but the instant I opened my notebook, it was as if a bright light illuminated my face, unlocking a world of possibility. Feeling frustrated about the recent passing of my dad, I took my feelings to paper. My hand flew, and before I knew it, I was left with a poem, entitled “Broken Smile”. Once completed, I was speechless. I never understood that I could feel so deeply about the words I had to say, that I could feel so powerful in a world that often rendered me powerless. I felt… like a superhero. One year ago, my powers began to flourish. My perfect pink notebook became the key to my inner thoughts and feelings… my superpower. I journaled about my day, wrote poems and meticulously crafted stories. But most significantly, tucked between the pages, I always carried a folded piece of paper to keep me inspired: a letter in the most beautiful chicken scratch I had ever seen. One month ago, I needed my powers more than ever before. I needed them to convey who I truly am for the chance at the future of my dreams as a writer. Except this time, I didn’t need the key because my powers grew into fruition. Instead, I opened my laptop only to type out one sentence… “If you asked me what object to save in a burning fire, I’d save my notebook.” Ariel A. This essay gives us insight into the student’s feelings and thoughts, and she shares her passions and her challenges through descriptive word choice. This is an excellent essay, but please know that we are not expecting this level of writing from the applicant pool overall. This essay example is meant to show our applicant pool how to express themselves through similes, sensory language (words that capture the senses of the reader), and emotion. When we are reviewing essays, we are looking more at the student’s voice coming through and less on technical writing skills.

 

2024 Coke Scholars app open Aug 1-Oct 2, 2023!

Getting ready for the 2024 Coke Scholars application.

 

Congratulations on wrapping up the 2022-2023 academic year! We hope you are able to enjoy some well-earned downtime this summer. We wanted to share a brief update that the 2024 application for the Coca-Cola Scholarship (open to high school students who will graduate during the 2023-2024 academic year) will be available from our website August 1 through October 2, 2023.

       Application

Note that we have an earlier deadline this year!

Click here to view program details and a listing of the 2023 Coke Scholars.

 - The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Team

 

Avoiding Admission Sabotage

By Lee Bierer 

Stories abound of students and even teachers sharing inappropriate items on social media. You would think students who are about to apply to colleges and be evaluated by admissions officers would know better. The truth is that obviously, the vast majority of high school students are very responsible about their social media presence but we only hear about the foolish ones whose mistakes live on as lessons for others.

The big question most parents ask me is whether or not colleges are fishing in the social media waters. Are colleges and universities proactively seeking out information on prospective applicants or not? Do they research the social media accounts of their applicants? Are the results factored into the evaluation of applicants, i.e., how bad does it need to be before it negatively impacts a student’s chance of being accepted? What’s harmless and what’s harmful?

I worked with a family whose high school senior son was visiting a neighborhood friend who was a freshman at college. They went to a party and someone took several pictures of the student drinking and then posted them on FaceBook and Instagram. Someone at his private school tipped off the administration and many of the colleges to which he was applying. The student was expelled from his school and his college acceptances were severely impacted.

Recent research from Kaplan Test Prep, whose survey of nearly 400 admissions officers, demonstrates that “the percentage of admissions officers who visit applicants’ social media pages to learn more about them has hit a record high of 40% — quadruple the percentage who did so in 2008,” when Kaplan first explored this issue. Further research also identified that only 11 percent of admissions officers do it “often.” Googling an applicant to learn more about them has remained relatively stable over the past two years, at 29 percent.

Why are colleges looking?

It’s interesting to note that what triggers admissions officers to look beyond the traditional elements of the application (GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars) and turn to Google, Instagram and Facebook are both positive and negative factors.

• Special talents -Students who are musicians, writers, models, or poets will often invite admissions officers to view their social media presence in their applications. According to Kaplan’s research, 42 percent of admissions officers reported an increase in such invitations compared to two years ago.

• Award verification – There is no formal “fact-checking” process when students submit their applications. Colleges generally take at face value whatever honors students list and the time commitments and leadership roles students state in their extracurricular activities and work experiences. However, a mention of a particularly distinguished award will sometimes trigger a search.

• Negative stuff – Some admissions officers say that if an applicant mentions they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.

• Scholarship applications – Students applying for special scholarships can come under greater scrutiny, as schools want to ensure those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving; extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking.

The worst reason a student’s social media presence may be viewed is referred to as “Admissions Sabotage.” The ugly truth is that college admissions officers are occasionally anonymously alerted to social media postings by students or parents who are trying to sabotage another student’s chance of being accepted; presumably with the hope that they will instead be accepted. Admissions officers will typically follow up to verify any accusations.

 

Top 5 College Application Tasks for the Summer Before Senior Year

Final exams are almost over, seniors are about to graduate and juniors are wishing they weren’t rising seniors with all the pressures of college applications ahead of them.

The summer before senior year of high school is a vitally important time for students to make progress on their own college admissions process. If juniors are unwilling to dig in, the best solution is to ask them to reach out to some senior friends and ask them how best to use this summer. Guaranteed, seniors will admit that they wish they had done more of their essays and applications last summer until waiting until the fall crunch.

Before the school year starts and fall and winter college application deadlines loom, students can knock out several key tasks to avoid stress down the road. The three months of summer are an ideal time to finalize the college list and begin the essays and applications. It’s a great time to make some headway on the inevitable to-do list.  The fall gets complicated with extracurricular activities, community service, requesting letters of recommendation, and, yes senior classes. Most students are wise enough to not slack in their senior year. They should be to continue taking rigorous classes and making sure their first semester grades are the best they can do. Many schools will request mid-year grades and if a student is wait-listed, as so many are now, their performance in the first semester of their senior year is frequently the tipping factor for colleges.

Experts say it’s important for students to use the summer to recharge mentally and physically for the next school year. But students should also be aware that the college application process has several layers to it, and some may take more coordination and planning than others. To that end, experts say, the earlier a student can start, the better.

Finalize the College List

The unfortunate fact is that college admissions have gotten more difficult over the last several years. What used to be a “Safety” school, may no longer be a true “Safety”. Make sure the list is balanced with 1-2 “Lottery” schools; 2-4 “Reach” schools, 2-4 “Target” schools, and 2-3 “Safeties”. A successful college selection requires thoughtful research. Rising seniors should spend time learning about schools over the summer to identify institutions that may be a good fit for the student academically and socially and definitely a good fit for the family financially.

Work on College Essays

The Common Application www.commonapp.org opens on August 1; however, students can fill out many of their applications in June and July and it will re-populate when they re-open their applications in August. As far as the essays, Common App has already announced the seven essay prompts for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Applicants are only required to submit one essay on the Common App, but experts say the summer is a good time for rising seniors to narrow down a few preferred essay choices and start writing them. These essays are not meant to be written in one sitting; students should do some soul-searching and be introspective about how they’ve grown and changed. Colleges want to get to know the student; what makes them tick? Remember the essay is the student’s best opportunity to set themselves apart from their peers with a thoughtful essay.  Beyond the Common Application’s Main Essay (Personal Statement), many colleges will have supplemental essays that are tailored to each school and/or specific programs, honors colleges, etc.

Visit College Campuses

Summer can be a good time for families to visit college campuses. In-person visits give prospective students and their families the opportunity to ask questions about academics, financial aid, and anything else they’re curious about. If families can’t make it work to visit all of the schools on the list, students should be sure to take a virtual tour – resources for virtual tours include: www.youvisit.com; www.youtube.com – type in the name of the college or university of interest. Many students like www.campusreel.com where they can get a more honest, behind-the-scenes look at the school with student-produced videos.

Research Scholarships

While some scholarship application windows may not open until the fall, prospective college students can still explore available award opportunities. There are websites that can assist students in their scholarship search. My advice is to apply for scholarships early and often throughout the senior year. Make sure to create a calendar with scholarship requirements and deadlines.

Study for Standardized Tests

The testing landscape has changed dramatically since the COVID pandemic. Many schools are now “Test Optional” and far fewer schools require submission of test results. However, you’re likely to have at least one school that will want your test results, so the likelihood is that you’ll be testing over the summer and into the fall.

Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@bierercollegeconsulting.com; www.bierercollegeconsulting.com 

 

Changes in the HOPE Scholarship Beginning July 1st!

Changes are coming for the HOPE Scholarship on July 1st for students in the state of Georgia.  And, it is positive news for our families!!

Here are some of the major changes for students in the state of Georgia:

• The HOPE Scholarship and Grant at public institutions (TCSG and USG) award increases effective Fall term 2023 (FY 2024). Increase is 100% of the prior year hourly undergraduate tuition rate. (This means there is no longer a two tier system in Georgia for Zell Miller and HOPE!!).

• The HOPE Scholarship award at eligible private institutions increases to $2,496 for full time
semester enrollment and $1,664 for full time quarter enrollment, effective Fall term 2023 (FY
2024).

• The Zell Miller Scholarship award at eligible private institutions increases to $2,985 for full time
semester enrollment and $2,034 for full time quarter enrollment, effective Fall term 2023 (FY
2024).

More information is coming on GA Futures!

4 Things Athletes Can Do This Summer To Improve Their Recruitment Chances

By Matt Musico

The college athletic recruitment process is a big ball of intimidating unknowns for students and families trying to navigate it. Summertime can be a great opportunity for high school student-athletes to get in front of college coaches at showcases, tournaments and clinics, and visit college campuses.

Here are four things high school athletes can do over the summer that may help them manage the recruitment process and improve their recruitment chances.

1. Focus on Improving Your Game

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to make significant progress in your own development. Do you wish you could throw more weight around in the gym? Is there a certain aspect of your game you’d like to strengthen but you never had the time to do it? Well, now you have a chance to make significant progress.

There’s no need to do this alone, though. Developing a plan of attack is crucial toward achieving any goal. Reach out to a trusted adult (trainer, high school coach, club coach, etc.), share what you’d like to accomplish over the summer, and devise a plan to follow so you can get there.

Once the time comes and you’re finally getting evaluated by college coaches in person or it’s time to make that highlight video, you’re likely a vastly different – and better – athletic version of yourself than you were even just a couple months ago.

2. Learn How to Market Yourself

The college admission and athletic recruitment experiences provide lessons high schoolers can use forever. One such skill that’s uncomfortable for many is marketing yourself. You may not be comfortable putting yourself in a vulnerable position to receive criticism, but it may be necessary, especially if you’re not a blue-chip recruit.

Getting your name in front of busy college coaches can be equally challenging. Here are three things you can do from the comfort of your own couch to help improve your recruitment chances:

• Submit prospective student-athlete questionnaires. If a college offers athletics, it’s likely that some sort of athletic questionnaire lives on the college’s athletic website – it’s just not easy to find all the time. Some colleges have it right on the athletic home page, or on each sport’s homepage, or in an obscure location on the school’s website. What’s good about filling this out, though, is that doing so puts your information right into a coach’s recruitment database. For a sample, see Clemson University’s Football Recruiting Questionnaire.
• Send introductory emails to the coaching staff at each school. In addition to filling out the questionnaire, it’s important to follow that up with an email to the coaching staff introducing yourself, while also sharing relevant information (athletic resume, highlight video if it’s available, transcripts, etc.). Don’t opt for sending this to only the head coach. The coach may have the final say, but there’s likely someone else on the staff in charge of recruitment efforts. Send this email to everyone on the staff so you increase your chances it gets in the right hands.
• Leverage social media and the power of the internet. Don’t be shy about posting clips of yourself, and make sure you tag any accounts that can help increase exposure. You also shouldn’t be shy about following and/or direct messaging coaches or recruitment departments. Just be thoughtful about the way and how often you communicate. This is the time to get creative and let the power of social media potentially help you get ahead.

If you’re looking for an easy way to find the athletic department of colleges you’re interested in, the NCAA’s Search for a School function is helpful.

3. Look into college summer showcases

Participating in a college showcase is an opportunity to play in front of multiple colleges at once, although you should be aware of the limitations of showcases. According to Varsity Edge, “Many families attend showcases hoping for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and it’s not that simple. Simply showing up, hitting a few home runs or 3-pointers probably will not get you a scholarship offer the next day!” However, many coaches use showcases as a tool to select students they may want to pursue further.

4. Do Thoughtful (& Thorough) College Research

There’s nothing wrong with having athletics drive your college application experience. However, just be mindful that there are many factors that you should consider when evaluating a college.

Coaches and administrators can leave or get fired. Upperclassmen teammates will either graduate or transfer. You could get injured, and it’ll change your entire trajectory, or maybe you won’t even be able to play anymore. The last thing any college athlete needs to realize is he or she is only attending a school for the athletics program, and actually hates every other aspect of the school.

This is where thoughtful college research comes into play. Always check out the athletics program and do your due diligence, but also apply that to everything else. What kind of majors are available? What kind of internships do students in those programs get? How are the dorms? Is the food bearable? What does the general vibe of the campus seem like?

There are no wrong questions to ask — if it’s on your mind, it’s worth finding out. The goal of a final college list is to be excited about every single one of the schools that land on it, whether sports are part of the picture or not.

 

Matt Musico is a full-time sportswriter, but he's also spent the better part of a decade working in higher education. Half of that time was spent working in an undergraduate admissions office, while the other half has involved working with high school families as a private college counselor.

 

6 Ways College Is Different from High School

By CollegeData

It's hard to know what college is really like until you get there. But no matter when or where your freshman year begins, college will be different from high school in these important ways.

1. Time in college is managed by you, not the school

One of the biggest challenges for new college freshmen is time management. Most students are surprised by the amount of "free" time they have compared to their lives in high school. In college, you may have three classes one day, and none the next. You might be tempted to kick back, but it's up to you to balance studying and coursework with socializing and other pursuits. 

2. College professors expect you to learn and think independently

As a college freshman, you will be responsible for your learning. You’ll be expected to cover course material on your own with less hand-holding by professors and instructors than you might have experienced in high school. It’s common for some professors to assign material not covered in lectures (and to include that material in exams) and to call on you to explain readings, contribute to discussions, and debate key points.

At the same time, college professors are there to help and they want you to succeed. However, you will need to be proactive and reach out to them. It will be up to you to email instructors and visit their office hours, and to seek out academic services at the college, such as tutoring or study groups. Many of the students featured in CollegeData’s Road to College Student Stories say that attending office hours and taking advantage of their colleges' academic resources helped them succeed.

3. Cramming at the last minute doesn't work

Some high school students are successful with last-minute studying. But exams in college are generally given less frequently, cover more material and are more difficult than high school tests. College exams often require in-depth and thoughtful answers that demonstrate your mastery of the content. As many freshmen learn the hard way, this means you need to consistently keep up with your studies and coursework and not wait until the last minute to study for a test.

4. Your social life is wide open

If you are living on campus or away from home, you may feel like a bird let out of a cage when you arrive on campus. You’ll meet many new people — and you’ll be able to do what you want when you want. But with this new freedom comes the responsibility to set priorities and boundaries, including balancing studying and course work with non-academic pursuits.

5. You might be sharing a (very small) personal space with a stranger

Even if you're used to sharing a room with a sibling, living with someone you’ve never met can be a challenge. You'll need to negotiate everything from "lights out" time to what's considered “personal space” and "neat." Your roommate may not be your best friend. However, a roommate can be a familiar face as you settle into college.

6. From money to moods, you'll be responsible for taking care of yourself

Like many students facing a new and unfamiliar experience, you might hit some rough patches in college. It might be difficult to make friends, or you might be disappointed in your course grades. It’s easy to over-extend yourself socially or make mistakes managing your money. Many college freshmen come to a point where they may need to assess their priorities, and in some cases, make some changes.

Fortunately, most colleges provide resources to help students adjust to college life. These include health care professionals, mental health services, and academic and career counselors. But taking steps to get on track will be up to you.

You Will Adjust to Life as a College Freshman

Many freshmen report that the independence they face as college students takes at least a few months, if not the entire school year, to get used to. But once they get past this initial adjustment, most students find their niche and embrace their newfound independence.

For tips on adjusting to college life, visit CollegeData's Transition to College section.

 

10 Ways Parents Can Help Prepare a Middle Schooler for 9th Grade

by Heather Tierney | May 12, 2023

Perhaps one of the most challenging transitions for parents happens as their child nears the end of 8th grade. With high school so within reach, there is understandable anxiety for both parent and child. After working with high school students for the past 25 years, and as a parent to teens, I’ve learned some important reminders to make the adjustment more meaningful.

1. Encourage your child to advocate for themselves

 If your child hasn’t already, this is the time to encourage him to advocate for his education. Unless there is an imperative issue or your child is not getting a response from his teacher, your child should learn how to communicate with the adults in his academic world. This may be an excellent time to show your child what a cordial, professional-looking email looks like (a greeting, a concise and specific message, and a closure such as ‘thank you’).  

Remind your child that email interactions give an impression of yourself so that someday — when your child is an adult — he will be in the habit of effective online communication. Assisting your child to contact teachers independently also helps him feel more adult, capable, and responsible for his learning. In addition, it sends a message that he is taking individual accountability.

2. If your child can’t advocate for themselves, you need to advocate for them

If your child is not ready or unable to communicate on behalf of herself, let her know you are her advocate. This does not mean you excuse all of her choices, but it does mean that you are her biggest cheerleader throughout her education and are willing to reach out to teachers, counselors, and other resources when needed.

3. Keep an eye on the parent portal  

Many schools post formative and summative scores throughout the grading period. One score can often have a significant effect on an overall grade. The sooner this is noticed, the more time your child has to remedy. In addition to looking at the score, see if the teacher posts a comment. Students frequently overlook these comments, and they often provide essential feedback.

4. Encourage your child to choose classes that matter to her, not to her friends  

I wish I could convince students to take this advice! Despite this critical suggestion, most students will register for the courses their friends take or recommend. However, the right path for one student is not necessarily the right one for another. Encourage your child to choose paths based on interest, a counselor or advisor’s recommendations, or a future career plan. High school is a beautiful and safe time to explore academic options.

5. An undesired grade in a class is sometimes an important lesson learned 

As a parent, when my teen does not do well in school, my immediate reaction is to fix it. However, I must ask myself if I am working more than her to resolve it. If this is true, I do my best to step back. Of course, I want her to do well, but I also know that the reality of seeing an unfortunate grade on her transcript will bother her. Hopefully, this reality will serve as a reminder and motivator in the future. If it does not, it is time to connect with resources at the school for guidance and support. 

6. Talk to your child about phone etiquette 

In middle school, phones are often off-limits. In high school, however, students are sometimes given more adult-like responsibility for their phone use. This is the time for your child to understand how his phone use influences the impression others have of him.  

For example, a peer may be comfortable interacting while simultaneously looking down at a phone, but a teacher may likely view this negatively. In addition, phones can become highly distracting and affect academic success. Using the next four years as a platform to learn the appropriate use of devices is crucial before entering the post-high school world.  

7. Meet upperclassmen and students outside of your social circle  

Many freshmen shy away from their ‘elder’ peers, but freshmen have told me that getting to know students from other classes can be helpful. These peers can offer advice, help students learn the unspoken social rules of school, and become peer mentors with difficult homework. In addition, getting to know peers outside of your immediate social group helps build the school community.

8. Join an activity

Perhaps this is the most crucial suggestion on this list. Joining an activity offers a young high schooler an immediate social group, a positive way to use her time, an opportunity to be seen as a leader, and a chance to meet students with similar interests. It can offer a sense of belonging. It is so exciting how many clubs, organizations, and athletic groups are available to students today. If a club is not offered, and you have a willing child, she could suggest the club idea to the administration — my favorite example: the Rubix Enthusiast Club, which a group of students kept active for years.  

9. Seek out resources when needed  

I’ve learned that many students and families are unaware of the enormous assistance a school can offer. Your child may likely have access to an academic advisor, a social worker, a psychologist, a chemical dependency or mental health counselor, a physical therapist, and more.  

Know that these people are not just there for personal support, but also as adults who can offer research and information. If your child is curious about these individuals’ occupations or daily life, these people are often very enthusiastic about communicating with youth. And as a parent, if you are concerned about your child, it is good to know what resources are there for you.

10. Start fresh 

The start of high school is a wonderful time to set new personal, academic, and social goals. These goals could be things like getting outside of one’s comfort zone, raising one’s hand in class, or cutting back on procrastination. Encourage your child to think about her personal growth, and be sure the goal is her idea. And when you see her make progress on it, remind her to congratulate herself. These next four years are about figuring out who she is and wants to become.

10 Things to Do This Summer to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College

By CollegeData

Setting up your new life as a college student might take some time. There's a lot to do! Get a head start this summer with these 10 tasks.

Making the transition from high school to college can be exciting, difficult, and take longer than you expected. Sure, some students might adjust in just a few weeks. For others, it can take months to adapt to the “newness” of college life, as well as having more freedom and independence.

No matter how long your transition to college might take, you can set yourself up for an easier and less stressful time by handling some important tasks before freshman year begins. Here are 10 things you can do this summer – aside from attending freshman orientation and meeting your roommate – that will help prepare you for a successful freshman year.

1. Get Your Finances in Order

Most college students will have some responsibility for managing their spending money, tracking college costs, and staying on top of their financial aid. This responsibility can feel overwhelming at first, but you can develop and practice your money-management skills over the summer. Here are a few tasks you might want to tackle now.

• Create your college budget. Summer is a great time to establish your college budget and practice living within it while you’re still at home. If you need help setting up a budget, refer to CollegeData’s budget template.
• Figure out your banking needs. Most college students will need some type of bank account to deposit paychecks, financial aid disbursements, or funds from parents or other sources. You may want to open a joint account with your parents, and determine whether you’ll use a credit, debit, or prepaid card to pay for expenses. For tips on managing your money wisely, visit CollegeData’s financial literacy page.
• Review your student loan(s). If you’re taking out federal or private student loans, make sure you understand the loan terms. When will you be required to start making payments, and when will you or your college receive the money? If you’re a first-year undergraduate student and a first-time borrower of a federal student loan, your school may not give you your loan money until 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period. Check with your school to see whether this rule applies and budget your money accordingly. You’ll also be required to complete entrance counseling, where you’ll learn more about the terms of your federal loan and repayment options. To estimate what your student loan payments might look like, visit the Department of Education's Loan Simulator.

2. Make a family communication plan

Whether you’re attending school across town or across the country, the way you communicate with your parents is likely to change. For some families, a simple “good morning” text once a day, or every few days, is enough to stay connected, while others might talk or text multiple times a day.

To avoid conflicts and communication mishaps during college, consider talking to your parents now, about how — and how often — you plan to communicate with each other. Think about how much communication you might need to stay connected to your family, but also maintain your sense of privacy and independence. Ask your parents how often they’ll want to check in with you. Parents may expect more contact with them during your first few weeks of school, as well as in certain situations, like if you get sick, if you’re feeling homesick, or if you’re struggling in a class. Some families even set up a communication contract to help define communication boundaries and expectations.

3. Consider FERPA, HIPAA, and Medical and Financial Proxy forms

Once you turn 18, you have more privacy rights than you did as a minor thanks to two privacy laws: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The FERPA prohibits colleges from sharing information in your student records — for example, your GPA, academic standing, financial aid, or disciplinary actions — with your parents without your consent.

The HIPAA prohibits health professionals from sharing your health information with your parents, except in emergencies. If you’d like your parents to have access to this information, you will need to sign FERPA and HIPAA waivers.

These waivers, however, only apply to the sharing of information. If you want your parents to be able to take action on your behalf in a healthcare, legal, or financial emergency, you’ll want to establish a Medical Proxy and a General Durable Power of Attorney. These will enable your parents or other designated individuals to make medical and financial decisions for you if you are incapacitated and cannot speak for yourself.

4. Learn what you need to de-stress

It’s a rare college student who doesn’t experience some level of stress or anxiety during their freshman year — and if the stress monster rears its ugly head, you’ll want to be prepared. Try to identify what activities help you best deal with stress, anxiety, and depression, so you can turn to them if needed. Is it physical exercise? Meditation? Talking to a mental health professional or a confidante? Listening to music?

If you gravitate towards unhealthy habits when feeling overwhelmed (such as overeating, marathon gaming, etc.) think about healthier options or seek support to manage these tendencies before college starts.

5. Review your college’s COVID vaccination policies

COVID vaccination policies differ among colleges. Some colleges require proof of COVID vaccination and boosters to register for classes and/or to live in campus housing. Familiarize yourself with your college’s requirements and deadlines for submitting proof of vaccination, including exemptions allowed, and plan accordingly.

6. Gather and safeguard important documents

You will need to bring some important documents with you to college and keep them in a safe place. For example, you might need proof of acceptance to register for classes, a photocopy of your birth certificate if you get a part-time job, and your health insurance card if you have a health emergency. Some of the documents you may need include:

• Driver’s license and/or passport (copy and actual)
• Health and dental insurance cards
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of social security card (if you don’t have one, summer is a good time to request one with the SSA.)
• Financial aid information
• Class schedule
• Student ID
• Immunization record/COVID immunization card
• Medical records, especially if you have a medical condition that needs regular treatment or medication
• Copies of your FERPA and HIPAA waivers
• Acceptance letter
• Housing and meal plan documents

Figure out how you’ll safeguard these documents while at school — you might put them on a flash drive, copy them to your smart phone, or keep hard copies in a secure location. Your parents should keep copies of these documents as well.

7. Plan to Get Involved on Campus

Getting involved with your college community has many benefits. Studies by California State University Sacramento and Purdue University showed that students who were active in campus activities and clubs stayed enrolled at higher rates, were more satisfied with college, and had better grades than students who were not. Many colleges hold club fairs when school starts, but you can get a head start researching clubs and organizations over the summer. Find out if any of the clubs or groups you’re interested in will require applications or auditions, or connect with organizations over social media and introduce yourself.

8. Practice some adulting skills

College life means more independence — and more responsibility for day-to-day tasks, like doing your laundry or getting the oil changed in your car. Take advantage of any extra time you have this summer to master these and other adulting skills. You’ll thank yourself when you always have plenty of clean underwear.

9. Search for scholarships

You’re more likely to have an easier adjustment to college if you are not worried so much about paying for it — and summer is a great time to search for scholarships. Thousands of scholarships are available to college students at all levels, with deadlines that fall throughout the year. To get an idea of scholarships you might qualify for, visit CollegeData’s Scholarship Finder.

10. Enjoy the moment

Starting college is an important milestone for you and your family, marking a new and exciting stage of your life. Consider planning a way to acknowledge this milestone, such as a special outing with your friends or a celebrational dinner with your family. Be sure to make time to enjoy shared experiences that are meaningful to you.

There’s no way to know for sure how long it will take you to adjust to your new college life. But tackling some of these tasks over the summer can help you anticipate the changes coming your way and help you feel more prepared as a college student.

Major changes are coming to the FAFSA for the '24-'25 academic year, and families need to know about them now to plan

Please join Grown and Flown College Admissions for a special session with Jeff Levy, Certified Educational Planner, on Thursday, May 18, at 8 pm ET. Jeff will discuss significant changes to the FAFSA and what this means for your family. This is an essential session for all parents. Jeff will also answer "paying for college" questions.

 Here is the link to join us on Zoom.