You can submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) starting Jan. 1 of your senior year. Cappex recommends gathering all the information you will need for FAFSA prior to starting the online application. The application is eight pages long and requires you to reference a host of forms and information – including driver’s license, your family’s tax returns, bank statements and Social Security numbers – that take time to gather. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows applicants who have already filed their federal income tax returns to prefill the answers to some questions by transferring data from their federal income tax returns. This can save you time in completing the FAFSA. For additional information on the FAFSA go to www.fafsa.com. (Excerpts from Cappex.com)
For help in the college search and selection process, contact the College Resource Center at www.crccolumbusga.com or call 706-366-2993.

Keep your grades up! Admissions counselors look closely at your junior year grades.
Be active during the summer. Consider getting a job, interning or pursuing your passion.
Talk with family about your college goals and college costs.
Start visiting college campuses. (excerpts from www.cappex.com)

For help with the college search and selection process, contact the College Resource Center at www.crccolumbusga.com or 706-366-2993.

1.  Keep the audience in mind when writing your essay
2. Realize the reader will probably spend 1 minute on your essay so get their attention early
3. Make sure the reader learns something about you that he or she would not learn from your application
4. Tell a story, don’t write a resume
5. Try to “connect” to the reader

Excerpts from Collegeweeklive “Conquering the College Essay” session by Alan Gelb

For assistance with the essay process or with the college search and selection process, contact the College Resource Center at www.crccolumbusga.com or call 706-366-2993.