Opening Doors
July 2009
Greetings,
Summer is already upon us and high school seniors are over the rush of graduation and ready for the next exciting phase in their life—college! You can help them by providing a list of things they can do over the summer to help make their first few weeks at college a little easier. Share the list below with pre-college programs, TRIO programs, and other college access programs that have students who might benefit from the information.
Summer Planning Checklist for Incoming Freshman:
- Let your high school counselor's office know which college you'll be attending and if you received any scholarships.
- Make sure your high school sends your final transcript to the college you'll be attending.
- Follow up with your college's financial aid office to make sure all of your paperwork is complete.
- Make copies of your financial aid forms, health forms, and other registration forms to keep in your files to help resolve any future issues that might come up while you're in college.
- Save money from your summer job to use toward your first year of school.
- Send thank-you notes to everyone who helped you plan and prepare for college, include your high school counselor, people who wrote letters of recommendation, and others who gave you help and encouragement along the way.
- Write, call, or email your new roommate. Take some time to get to know each other and talk about what you each plan to bring to college.
- Make a list of what you'll need for your dorm room. Coordinate with your roommate on some of the larger items.
- Spend time with your family and friends before you leave for college. Make the most of your time together.
- Pick up a campus map and become familiar with your new campus and surrounding area.
As your students prepare for their first year, have them research their college online and identify academic support centers, student organizations, and other campus resources. These tasks and the planning checklist will help smooth the transition from high school to college, making it easier for your students to open the doors to a successful future.
Until next time,
La Toya Sykes, Director
Outreach and Access Awareness
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