Summer is coming to an end. Before you know it, you’ll be loading up your belongings in the family SUV and heading off to college. You are so ready, right? Well, maybe not. Here are some tips for things to do this summer before you head off to college.
1. Make sure your school has your financial aid ready for you
By now, you should have already applied for financial aid. If not, you need to complete the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/ ASAP!
NOW is the time to check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to make sure your financial aid is ready and all paperwork is complete. This will help you avoid any unnecessary surprises or financial aid delays when you arrive on campus. At Vernon College, this information is available 24 hours per day on MyVC. For your convenience, we have provided step-by-step instructions at https://www.vernoncollege.edu/how-to-check-your-financial-aid-status
You will also want to make sure you have enough money to cover any gaps between the cost of your school and the financial aid you’ve been offered.
2. Complete the student loan process
Just because you have been awarded a student loan, that does not mean the money is sitting at your school. You must complete 3 additional steps so your loan funds will be available. You will need to accept your loan and complete entrance counseling and a master promissory note. If you are not sure how to do that, we have provided step-by-step instructions at https://www.vernoncollege.edu/student-loan-tutorial and https://www.vernoncollege.edu/How-to-Complete-The-Entrance-Counseeling-and-Sign-Your-MPN.
If you are using student loans to help you pay for college, make sure you are borrowing only what you need and keeping track of what you are borrowing. These are student loans and they must be paid back.
3. Register for classes and prepare for a whole new world of time management
Make sure you are registered for classes that count toward your degree plan or certificate, and that you understand your class schedule. One of the biggest challenges for a lot of you will be time management. When you head off to college, you will not have somebody there to wake you up, make you breakfast, and send you out the door in clean clothes with completed homework in hand. You need to know deadlines for registration, papers, financial aid, coursework, and everything in between. Your chance of succeeding academically will rapidly evaporate if you do not manage your time well. You are worth the investment–manage it well.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing you soon! The VC Financial Aid office wants to provide you the financial support you need to afford your education!