Hello Blogger World! Here are My Top 5 College Checklists

Hello everyone!

After much thought and many California dreams-I have decided to start blogging on my favorite topic: College Counseling!  In today's college bound world, there are many college resources available online. However, that sometimes makes things more confusing, and harder to focus on finding accurate and essential information specific to you or your student. I decided to make things a little simpler for you all and blog about my favorite sites that I have used over the last couple years.  If you have any questions or concerns, or want to add your favorite sites, feel free to comment or email me at anytime. I am also willing to review sites for you guys if you want to know my opinions. More than anything I want this blog to be a place where people can come get crucial advice and info for college without getting overwhelmed. Writing your college admissions essay is enough stress already right??

My first topic and a very important place to start is: College Prep Checklists. Checklists are essential in making sure you are organized and taking care of important events/assignments on time. Print these out and put in your assignment book, in your locker, hang on the fridge, or be real subtle parents and make copies for your student's car, pillow, shower door, or local Del Taco drive through window. Here are my favorites:

1. http://www.cccco.edu/Portals/4/Find/College_Prep_Checklist.pdf

• Print this out now!! This is a perfect in-depth College Prep checklist that you can use starting before high school through 12th grade. It lists everything from what classes to take, when to take pre-college exams, financial aid info, how important getting involved is and when to contact and visit colleges. This checklist was found on the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office website. http://www.cccco.edu/

2.http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/CollPrep.pdf

• Put in your Google favorites ASAP! In today's economy, going to college is more expensive than ever. Here is an excellent college prep checklist from studentaid.ed.gov highlighting steps to ensure appropriate financial aid for college for pre-high school students-high school seniors.

3. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/8435.html

• Ok, you have finally decided on what schools you are going to apply for. So exciting! But even more overwhelming. Use this checklist to stay organized and on track with application tasks, paperwork and deadlines.

4. https://www1.salliemae.com/content/pdf/library/sm%20step-by-step%20guide.pdf

• Financial Aid process still confusing? Use this step by step guide to Student Financial Aid.

4. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/9763.html

• Congrats! You got accepted. Now what do you bring for your dorm? This checklist on collegeboard.com will tell you. Now don't start looking for the local U-Haul number right away.. Most colleges have a  local Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, or my favorite, Target, so you can buy most essentials once you have arrived. However, if your daughter's shoe collection is as big as mine-you might want to reconsider the U-Haul trailer. ;)