2019 Education magazine

Page 34 2019 “Education making a difference” LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 investigating other ways to decrease the costs of your education. Beginning of senior year: fill out college applications and be sure to apply for a variety of schools and programs to keep options open. FAFSA forms come out October 1st each year and are the most important financial aid form for aid from federal and state governments, schools and scholarship committees use the information provided on the FAFSA to award need based funds. Continue adding college fairs and visits and applying for scholarships. By December of senior year, you should have your FAFSA form filed and have hopefully applied for schools and programs. If you begin the process in the fall, you should have received a decision from the admission office(s.) Once admitted, you can begin the many other tasks before you become a student such as applying for housing, meal, and roommate preferences. Revisit the school and sit in on a class or take a tour. Sign up for classes and freshman orientation. Make a down payment to be sure you’re in good standing with the financial aid office and set up payment plans if needed. By May, your “incoming freshman checklist” should be complete and you should be ready to head to orientation in August and become a student at your new school. Though figuring out how to pay for college and other programs can be challenging, Reynolds and the Logan County Education Coalition can help ease the process. [Angela Reiners]