Brittany Jackson

Well, with the first week of 2010 under our belt and the New Year’ excitement fading, it is time for seniors to start buckling down. The next five months are going to go by so fast; we will be walking across the graduation stages before we know it!

Today, I just wanted to offer a few reminders to get you thinking about life after high school!

Remember to fill out the FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application as soon as possible. The U.S. Department of Education uses this form to determine Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by conducting a “need analysis” based on financial information, such as income, assets and other household information. Pell grants and other financial aid can really help out with the college costs. The earlier you complete the application, the better your chances of receiving the maximum award.

Check out Zinch.com, Fastweb.com, Scholarships.com, and other popular Web sites. Many individuals and groups are giving away money to worthy, ambitious students. All you have to do is find the right match and sell yourself. Extra money never hurt anyone!

If you have not yet sent off for all your college applications, then go ahead and do so. Some colleges and universities offer merit scholarships to qualified students.

Don’t forget to visit the schools you are interested in. You can’t always believe what you see on the internet and in the brochures; some things you just have to check out for yourself!

Also, don’t forget to reply to the schools to which you have been accepted so they will know whether or not you plan to attend.

Keep your grades up. Just because we are in the second semester doesn’t mean we can slack off because universities still review the final transcripts. If they see that your grades have slipped, they may have second thoughts.

Happy second semester, guys…May will be here before we know it and then the real life begins!

(Brittany is a senior at Middle College High School. This is her next installment in a series of periodic columns about getting ready for college.)