• January tasks for high school seniors
• Seniors: Be ready to apply for financial aid
• Holidays offer time to complete college admissions, financial aid tasks
• Top 10 things to know about college admissions testing

January tasks for high school seniors

• As soon as possible after January 1 and when tax forms are complete (they don't have to be filed until April 15; you can use estimates), complete your FAFSA online. Go to mappingyourfuture.org/paying/fafsa.htm for more information.
• If you can't attend financial aid nights, ask if you and your parents can borrow a video of an event from your counselor. 
• Contact the U.S. Department of Education at 800-4-FEDAID for assistance completing the FAFSA and/or plan to attend a College Goal Sunday event (free FAFSA advice) near you. Go to www.collegegoalsundayusa.org for more information.

Seniors: Be ready to apply for financial aid

High school seniors should become familiar with financial aid and be prepared to apply for it. To apply for most financial aid, you need to complete one application: the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Your school may require another form to apply for additional “institutional” grants and scholarships.

You should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 of the year you are requesting aid. Check with the schools you’re interested in attending and your state department of higher education for specific deadlines (some state deadlines are online at www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003a.htm#state_deadlines).

Here are some tips to help you be ready to apply online and on time:

• If possible, complete your income taxes (and/or have your parents complete their income taxes) before you complete the FAFSA.
• Plan to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, as it reduces errors. If you are unable to apply online, the FAFSA is available in paper form or as a PDF document at federalstudentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/fafsa_options.html#pdfFafsa.
• To submit the FAFSA online, you and your parent need to apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) by going to www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN allows you to sign the on line FAFSA electronically.
• Be prepared to h ave the following items [for you and your parent(s), if applicable] on hand when you complete the FAFSA:
  • Income tax return, or solidly estimated tax information
  • W-2 forms and other records of money earned
  • Records of untaxed income (e.g., Social Security benefits)
  • Current bank statements
  • Business and farm records
  • Records of investments
  • Drivers licenses and Social Security cards
  • Dates of birth
• Answer all questions (even if you need to estimate).
• List the colleges you’re considering attending.
• Remember to sign the FAFSA electronically with a PIN if you complete the FAFSA online.
  • If you complete the FAFSA online without a PIN, you’ll need to sign and mail the signature pages.
  • If you complete a paper form, sign the completed form and mail it.

Financial aid is the term for any scholarship, grant, work, or loan program that can be used to help you pay for college. Most financial aid is based on your financial need, not on grades.  Financial aid can come from various sources:

• Federal government aid
• State government aid
• Colleges
• Private foundations
• Scholarships and grants

For more information about financial aid, go to mappingyourfuture.org/paying/financialaid.htm.

Holidays offer time to complete college admissions, financial aid tasks

While the holidays are a busy time for many of us, they do offer some free time. While you'll want to make some time for fun and relaxation, the holidays are an opportunity to complete some tasks if you are a college-bound high school junior or senior.

Here's a checklist of tasks you can complete during the holiday season:

• Apply online for as many college scholarships as possible. Mapping Your Future offers links to online scholarship resources at mappingyourfuture.org/paying/scholarshipresources.htm.
• If you haven't completed your college admission applications, be sure to do so..
• Prepare and register for the standardized tests for college admissions. To learn more about standardized tests, go to mappingyourfuture.org/collegeprep/tests.htm.
• Gather information you will need to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You will want to complete this form as soon as possible after the first of the year. The form is located online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Write down the pros and cons of each college you are considering if you haven't yet made the decision regarding where to attend.

Of course, there are other tasks that you can complete—these are just a few you can easily complete over the holidays, while leaving some time for the celebrations!

Top 10 things to know about college admissions testing

10. There are various standardized tests used for college admissions. Become familiar with each of them.

9. You can check with the schools you are interested in attending to find out which admissions test they require or prefer.

8. It's a good idea to ask your high school counselor or contact the testing agencies (www.actstudent.org, www.sat.org) for samples of past tests to become familiar their content.

7. If you will take the ACT as a high school senior, you can take the PLAN (the pre-ACT test) in 10th grade. If you plan to take the SAT as a senior, you can take the PSAT (the preliminary SAT) when you're a sophomore.

6. You might be able to enroll in or complete a test preparation program. Ask your counselor for more information.

5. Taking one or more practice tests can help ease your fears and help you become familiar with the type of test questions.

4. If you have a disability, you may have different options for taking the test. The test administrators will try to provide reasonable accommodations appropriate to your disability.

3. You should take the test on official testing dates. It's better to take your test earlier in the year so you'll have time later should you decide to re-take it.

3. You must register for the test (preferably before the deadline to avoid possible late fees).

2. You should get to know the test day procedures (especially arrival time and required identification).

And the number one thing to know about college admissions testing is . . .

Getting plenty of rest the night before the test and eating a healthy breakfast in the morning can help you do better!