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5 Time-Saving College Application Tricks for High School Seniors

By WTOP Staff

Senior year of high school is a time for students to develop a sense of what they will do next, whether that means attending college or completing a gap year. Seniors must also finish their course work, participate in extracurriculars, research colleges and apply.

As with any complex task, your senior year will proceed far more smoothly if you have a plan in place. Simple timesaving strategies can help your plan come to a reality.

1. Create a personalized calendar: Generic college application checklists are just that — generic. Your life is unique, so identify the precise dates of major senior-year events, such as test sessions, and enter them in a calendar that allows you to synchronize your schedule across multiple platforms.

Google Calendar is an easy-to-use example. It will allow you to set alarms and reminders, but it is important to remember to set multiple reminders several weeks or months before the date in question.

[Learn to strategize for a smooth college admissions process.]

Your college admissions essays may be due on Jan. 1, but it does little good to first remember this the day they are due. Setting reminders to go off in advance will allow you to remain on schedule. Time management tools like Wunderlist, a Web-based service that includes smartphone and desktop apps, are also useful to keep you on task.

2. Narrow your college application focus early: Deciding upon a short list of colleges as early as possible in your senior year will allow you to fill your calendar with key dates applicable to those particular schools, including early action and early decision deadlines.

When visiting schools for the first, or even second time, consider capturing video as you walk through the campus to help you recollect the school’s vibe when you ponder your options later.

You can also use Pinterest, a website that allows users to create digital pinboards, to collate all the positives and negatives of the colleges you’re considering, as well as other college-related advice, in one easy to access place.

3. Select your exam dates as soon as possible: Once you have a short list of programs, you can decide which exams are most appropriate for you to take and when you should take them. These might include the ACT, SAT and SAT Subject Tests.

Keep in mind that schools do not receive your results immediately. You may need to sit for your exams in September or October if you plan to apply early. Remember that scoring well will require an investment in study time and schedule this time in your personalized calendar.

[Check out these essential virtual tools for college.]

When engaging in your ACT/SAT prep, save time by keeping annotated bookmarks of your test – prep materials to help you stay organized as you study.

Web-based tools like Diigo allow you to highlight relevant sections and add notes directly in the online material for easy retrieval. You don’t want to burn valuable time struggling to find notes instead of easily being able to pull them up at a moment’s notice.

Implement five-minute breaks after every 25 minutes of studying to stay refreshed and retain information better.

3. Set financial aid deadlines: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is required by colleges in order to calculate tuition assistance, cannot be submitted until Jan. 1. But you can save time by beginning the process of gathering necessary information before that date.

Additionally, if you plan to apply for scholarships, each one will likely have a different deadline. Program scholarship deadlines and timelines for each step in the submission process, including gathering essay feedback, into your online calendar.

[Learn about five ways to build critical thinking skills before college.]

If you’re applying to more than one scholarship, you’ll likely need similar information for each one, such as extracurriculars, employment and achievements. Take the time now to write all of this information out and save it, along with scholarship forms, essays and other materials, in an online folder. This will also come in handy down the road when applying for internships or part-time jobs during college.

4. Remain well rested to finish high school strong: Believe it or not, getting enough sleep is ultimately the best thing you can do for yourself during the final months of college. Well-rested students have a clearer, sharper mind and are able to accomplish more in less time, and perform better in class.

Colleges and universities will request transcripts of your final year in high school, and they may even revoke your offer of admission if your grades drop.

Remember that your senior year of high school is one more part of your journey to college. You will have different tasks to accomplish, but having a plan and incorporating helpful resources can ensure a productive, hassle-free experience.

More from U.S. News

Timeline: Key Steps for Completing College Applications Successfully

Incorporate Jobs, Hobbies Into College Applications

10 Universities That Receive the Most Applications

5 Time-Saving College Application Tricks for High School Seniors originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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