What Should YOU Be Doing This Fall
to Prepare for College Admission?

• Seniors
• Juniors
• Sophomores & Freshmen

What Should Seniors Be Doing?

Prepare for Your Enrollment Decision

You've applied to your colleges and for financial aid, so it's a pretty quiet time right now. It's okay to take a breather, but it's also wise to be thinking ahead. You'll want to give some thought to four things:

1. Keep up your grades. Winter is a dangerous time for the spread of senioritis, that dread disease where you think you've fulfilled your high school obligations while your teachers think you should continue working up to graduation.

Unfortunately for those with senioritis, colleges share your teachers' viewpoint, and you may actually have your admission revoked if your grades notably drop. Like all admission letters, ours says:

"Your acceptance to Albright is contingent upon completing this academic year in good academic and social standing."

2. Wrap up any financial aid issues that may be outstanding. You probably haven't received financial aid package from all your colleges yet, and that's normal. But make sure that the colleges have everything they need from you. If they don't, your financial aid package will be delayed, and that may complicate your final decision-making.

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Discuss how much you, as a family, can afford
to pay for your education.

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3. Now is also a good time to talk as a family about college costs. If you haven't already done it, it's a good idea for you and your parents to sit down and discuss how much you, as a family, can afford to pay for your education. That way, you'll have a crucial guideline in mind when the packages do arrive.

4. You don't have to make a final college decision until May 1, but it will be a lot less stressful if you start collecting your thoughts now.

First, make sure you have all the factual information you need. If you've done your job well so far, you will have applied to colleges that offer excellent educations, have the field(s) of study that appeal to you, and the club(s) and sport(s) that interest you. If, however, there is any factual information you still need about those colleges, find out the answers now. If you have questions about Albright, feel free to call us at (800) 252-1856, or to contact us by email.

When final decision time arrives, it will come down to affordability and your gut feeling about which place feels like "home" to you. To get a better sense of the colleges, you should revisit them. Most of us offer open houses for admitted students in the spring, and I strongly recommend you attend them. Sometimes, it can change your mind, but usually it confirms the decision toward which you're leaning. Having that feeling confirmed is really comforting for you -- and for your parents.

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