• December tasks for high school seniors
• Top 10 characteristics to consider during colleges visits
• Ask a professor
• Show Me the Future educates, entertains

December tasks for high school seniors

• Sign up for a PIN, to complete your FAFSA online.  Also let your parents know that they will need a PIN. www.pin.ed.gov
• Finalize admission applications. 
• Urge your parents to file their taxes as soon as possible after January 1. This will ease the financial aid process. 
• Research and apply for other financial aid, including grants and scholarships. mappingyourfuture.org/paying/financialaid.htm
• Watch for early admissions notices (they tend to arrive in December or January).

Top 10 characteristics to consider during colleges visits

10. Size of the school and classes - Do you want to attend a school whose classes could have a class size of 200 students during freshman year? Or do you prefer small classes where the professors may be able to give you more attention?

9. Location, location, location - Is the school located in a small town (more of a rural setting) or a large city with a more urban feel? Also, is the school located in a different weather climate than where you currently live?

8. Homesickness - How far is it from the school to your home? Will you be able to go home on a moment's notice, or are you only going to be able to go home during holiday and summer breaks?

7. Coed or single-gender - Is the school a coed or single-gender school? Which do you prefer?

6. Campus environment - Is the school categorized as a "walking campus?" Does it seem to be a supportive environment?

5. Housing situation - Are you going to live on or off campus? What are the dorms like? Is off-campus housing plentiful and affordable?

4. Social activities and clubs - What social activities and student clubs are currently organized on campus? Does the school offer intramural sports?

3. Facilities - What are the facilities like? Will you feel comfortable sleeping, studying, and/or learning here for the next several years?

2. Jobs - Are there jobs available (on or off campus) if you need to work part or full time?

And the number one characteristic to consider during colleges visits is . . .

Financing - After receiving your financial aid award letter (including grants, scholarships, work, and loans you're eligible to receive) from the school, what costs can you expect to pay for the year? Can you afford this school? Does another institution offer the same characteristics important to you at a lower cost?

Ask a professor

Want to know more about your college's or university's program of study but aren't sure where to find the answers? Call or visit with a professor at the college or university you are interested in attending!

Many college professors help recruit good students and provide advising. Since professors are the ones teaching the courses in your area of interest, they may have the most complete answers to your questions. Before you start dialing the phone or schedule the visit, here are some tips to remember:

• Do some research first. Visit the school website and find out about the program to make sure you're even interested in the school. The website also will provide you with basic information so you can ask more specific questions, and you may find the contact information for a professor.
• Be polite. Introduce yourself and explain why you're calling (especially important if you have to leave a message).
• Tell the professor what high school you attend, as he or she may know other students from your high school with whom you can speak.
• Be prepared with your questions. You may want to ask about the program of study requirements, the typical class size, and what makes the university's program unique.
• If you think you might have follow-up questions, be sure to ask the professor's hours. Many professors do not work traditional business hours. Many teach courses throughout the day or evening or do off-site research.
• If you make an appointment, keep it or make sure to notify the professor if you can't. Professors do have busy schedules, and it's rude to not show up for an appointment.
• Say thank you. Let the professor know that you appreciate the time he or she has spent answering your questions. If you just have a phone conversation, a verbal thank you is sufficient. However, if the professor takes time to meet with you (and possibly your parents), be sure to send a written thank you via e-mail or regular mail.

Show Me the Future educates, entertains

More than 45,000 individuals have played Mapping Your Future’s Show Me the Future® (showmethefuture.org), the free online life skills and money management game. This number represents all of the players who completely finished the game since its release on March 31 and includes individuals from all fifty states and various other countries.

The largest majority of players, 25,372, was female and 18,206 players indicated middle school as their last education level completed. It is evident that schools, especially middle schools, are promoting and using the game. Players are required to provide their school name, latest education level, and zip code—making it easy for Mapping Your Future staff to identify patterns.

Show Me the Future is an interactive feature, designed for middle and high school students. It teaches life skills and money management and helps students understand that the decisions they make today can have a life-long impact.

During the game, players are randomly assigned a career (with salary, educational requirements, and accompanying student loan debt, if applicable), and family status (married or single with one, two, or three children). The players then make the following decisions:

• Housing: rent or own with various price levels for each status
• Transportation: Public transportation or purchase a vehicle from various cost options
• Groceries: low-, medium-, or high-cost packages
• Childcare, if applicable
• Insurance: home owners/renters, automobile, health, life
• Clothing: low-, medium-, or high-cost options
• Charitable contributions
• Investments/savings

After making these decisions, the game reflects how much money is left in the monthly budget. Thus, students have the opportunity to witness a direct correlation between their wants and needs and their career and financial choices. Students can play multiple times to determine if they are making more financially sound decisions.

To promote Show Me the Future to your students and families, you can distribute bookmarks that feature both Show Me the Future and CareerShip®, Mapping Your Future's online career exploration tool. To request a free supply (in quantities of 100), send an e-mail to feedback@mappingyourfuture.org.

If you have questions about Show Me the Future, or suggestions for enhancements, e-mail feedback@mappingyourfuture.org.