Are you skipping the counseling office’s career planning programs? Apparently a number of students across the country aren’t taking advantage of all that their high school counseling offices provide.

A National Center for Education Statistics survey of public high school counselors found that half or fewer juniors and seniors took part in available career planning opportunities at their schools, depending on the program offered. The largest participation was in career tests with 93 percent of public high schools offering a test but only 56 percent of juniors and seniors participating. Career days and career speakers were the next most popular activities, followed by internships, job site visits and job shadowing.

You might think it’s OK to put off career planning until later in your college years, but you’ll benefit from any career exploration you can do in high school. You won’t have as much time later on as you might think, and you can start learning about careers now through classes and experiences.

Utilize the Kuder Career Planning System and ACT’s World-of-Work Map to find out which careers will align with your skills and interests.You can also use ACT’s DISCOVER computer program for career suggestions. Your counselor can help you find the programs and show you how to use the results to explore careers.

Because many colleges expect to receive your final admission decision by May 1st, it is crucial that you submit your acceptance notification (form that accompanies your offer notification) as soon as you have made your choice. However, accepting admission isn’t the only task you have to complete. If you applied to and were accepted at other colleges, then you need to decline admission to those colleges so they can offer your spot to other students on their waiting lists.

Many institutions include instructions in their offer package regarding how to inform them of your decision to attend another university. You may be asked to return a response form via postal mail or update your status through an online student information system. However, if no status form is offered, you may send a short letter. The letter should be brief, positive, and to the point. Here is a sample letter for declining college admission:

John M. Student
123 Acceptance Lane
Anytown, USA 90000

April 20, 20XX

Admissions Committee
Y University
100 College Street
Anytown, USA 70000

Dear Admissions Committee:

Thank you for your letter of April 16, 20XX, offering me admission to Y University.

While I appreciate the invitation to attend your institution, after careful consideration of my admission offers, I have decided to accept an offer from State University.

Once again, thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(signature)

John M. Student

Finding a summer internship isn’t easy. While there are usually various positions available, you will still have to compete with a lot of other college students and people already in the workforce who are looking for a career change. The key is to start your search early and use the right sources during your search. Use the following resources to assist you in finding a summer internship.

The Internet. The Internet is a great resource to use, especially when you want an internship that isn’t local. When you begin your search, look for general internship websites, such as monster.com, as well as industry-specific websites. If you already have a list of companies in which you would like to intern, check out the career section of each company’s website. A lot of company websites will also have a section just for internships.

Career Services. The Career Services office at your school is there to assist you in finding internships and employment. Most offices will have a list of internship programs and related information available for your review.

Career Fair. Many colleges and universities have on-site career fairs to help their students find internships and full-time employment. Check with the Career Services office at your school to see if/when a career fair will be held on your campus. If you decide to attend a career fair, be sure to bring copies of your resume to hand out to recruiters as well as dress in a professional manner. Recruiters may even request an on-the-spot interview, so be ready for questions.

Major Department. If you want to get an internship that is related to a specific major, check with faculty at the major’s department office. They should be able to tell you of any internships that they are aware of and give you contact information.

Social Media Sites. Social media sites have become one of the best avenues to use when searching for an internship. Three of the most common social media sites to utilize when networking for an internship are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Personal Contacts. Networking is very important during an internship or job search. If you have friends, relatives, professors, former employers, or acquaintances who work or know someone in your field of interest, be sure to talk to that person and let him know that you are interested in obtaining an internship for the summer.

Cold Contacts. Cold calling companies is a great way to find an internship that hasn’t been vastly advertised. Telephone, write, or visit employers in your area and inquire about summer jobs/internships for college students. Be sure to explain why you would be beneficial to their company by briefly promoting your skills and strengths.

Print Materials. Internships can be found through a variety of print materials. There are annual directories of internships, which can probably be found in your school’s career services office. You can also find internships in trade magazines that are published for a specific career field and in newspaper classified ads.

The above-mentioned sources should get you on the right track to find an internship for the summer. Once you have found several internship possibilities and applied to them, you need to get ready for the interviewing process. Read How to Sell Yourself During a Job Interview for tips on how ace the interview.

As a student, you may not be able to afford a hybrid car, but there are plenty of small steps you can take to help the environment. To become an energy conscious student, adapt these practices to your everyday life.

Recycle. Students use a lot of paper each semester. From class notes to school newspapers to Internet print-outs, your paper consumption can add up pretty quickly. To really help the environment, save the paper and go electronic as much as possible. Use your laptop/tablet for note-taking and bookmark Internet pages instead of printing them out. When you have to use paper, always recycle. Many high schools and colleges have paper recycle bins around campus, so utilize them. Don’t forget to recycle other items as well, such as cans and bottles.

Buy vintage. By purchasing items from thrift stores, not only will you be helping the environment, but you will also have a more unique wardrobe and bedroom/dorm/apartment than your peers. Buying items second-hand instead of brand new means no new manufacturing resources that create pollution and carbon emissions had to be used.

Purchase used textbooks. If you are a college student, be sure to buy used textbooks instead of new ones and sell them back at the end of the semester. Buying used books saves trees and money. Check out half.com and textbooks.com. Research companies that make a conscious effort to recycle and reuse textbooks. Bookbyte.com recycles textbooks, keeping them out of landfills and donates usuable textbooks to the “Rotary Books for the World” project.

Unplug idle electronics and chargers. Just because you aren’t actively using an appliance, doesn’t mean that it isn’t using electricity. If it’s plugged into an outlet, it’s sucking power whether it’s being used or not. To save money, waste less electricity, and cut down on your carbon emissions, unplug your cell phone charger, computer, TV, toaster, and lamps when you are not using them.

Save water. Water is a limited resource and is “recycled” through water treatment facilities. The more water we waste, the more energy we have to produce to run those facilities. Save water and energy by taking shorter showers, washing full loads of laundry, and turning off the faucet when brushing teeth and washing hands.

Walk, bike, or take the bus. Stop driving your car everywhere you need to go. If you live close enough to school, try walking or biking. Live a little farther away? Take mass transit. If you do have to drive your car, drive the speed limit in order to use less gas and roll down the windows instead of using the air conditioner.

Carry a refillable water bottle. Save money and the environment by using a refillable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. Bottled water leaves a huge carbon footprint because of the packaging and transportation.

Eat less meat. Out of this whole list, eating a vegetarian diet is the activity that will have the greatest impact on helping the environment. A United Nations report states that “meat production produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined.” If you refuse to give up meat completely, you can still be green by avoiding meat just a few days a week.

Environmental issues are more important than ever. Be sure to do your part to help make our earth a better place to live.

Dorm rooms are known for being cramped and tiny. Small living areas make clutter and messes stand out that much more, so take steps every day to keep your dorm room neat and organized.

Make your bed daily. The bed is usually the focal point of every college dorm room. Take a couple minutes every morning to make your bed. It will make a huge difference in the appearance of your room.

Give every item a home. The key to this is organizational tools. Do you have shoes scattered across your floor? Get a shoe organizer. What about those shampoo and body wash bottles spread across your desk? Shower caddy to the rescue! Organization is a fundamental step in having a neat dorm room. Check out more dorm room organizers from dormco.com.

Utilize your laundry bin. Don’t just throw your dirty laundry on the floor or across your bed. Use a laundry hamper or bag. Not only will it keep your room less cluttered, it will also make laundry day easier.

Organize your desk. A cluttered desk is uninviting and will only distract you from your studies. Invest in a filing cabinet and file important papers, documents, and receipts that you need to keep. Recycle old term papers, exams, and assignments that are no longer needed. Utilize small storage containers for pens, pencils, staples, post-its, etc.

Empty your trash basket regularly. Get into the habit of taking your trash to the dumpster once your trash bin is full. Don’t wait until you have trash overflowing onto your floor. Leftover food and food containers should be taken to the dumpster immediately as to avoid giving your dorm room an unpleasant odor.

Clean up spills immediately. Be sure to wipe down surfaces (i.e. counters, microwaves, etc.) after preparing meals in your room. This will prevent crumb/dirt buildup and sticky surfaces. Food crumbs attract unwanted guests, such as ants and mice, so be sure to clean up spills immediately.

Wash dishes. You probably won’t have dirty dishes often, but when you do, wash them immediately after use. If you don’t have a sink in your room, you may want to get a dish pan. Assemble a dishwashing caddy, complete with dish soap and sponges, to keep items organized.

Clean out your fridge. Don’t let your fridge become a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean your fridge at least once a month by throwing out expired food items and wiping up spills with mild bleach or disinfectant. To avoid bacteria growth, store leftovers in air tight containers and toss the leftovers after about four days.

Dust and vacuum as necessary. You will probably want to dust and vacuum every one to two weeks depending on how dirty your room becomes after a week is up. Invest in a vacuum or borrow one from your RA. If you have tile or concrete floors, use a Swiffer to pick up the dirt. Wipe down all surfaces to keep dust at bay.

Use air freshener. From dirty socks to leftover Chinese food, smells can become overwhelming in tiny dorm rooms. Stand-alone air fresheners and sprays will help eliminate the odors.

Having a clean and tidy dorm room will make dorm life so much more enjoyable for you, your roommate, and your guests. So, break out that vacuum and get to work!

Deciding where to attend college is a huge decision because you will probably be spending the next four or more years there. Students often choose a college for all the wrong reasons and end up transferring to a different college or maybe even dropping out of school altogether. Don’t become one of those students. Here are the top ten reasons notto choose a college:

1. Your boyfriend/girlfriend is going there. Think of all the different people you are going to meet in college. You may get to college and realize that you want to focus more on developing new relationships. You may also decide you don’t want to be distracted by a relationship and want to focus more on studying and earning your degree. You should give yourself the opportunity to experience college life and enjoy your educational experience so you can reach your maximum potential.

2. Your best friend is going there. If you and your best friend want to go to the same college because you both like the courses and extracurricular activities that are offered, then that’s great. Just don’t choose a college solely because you want to go to school with your best friend. Going away to college means meeting a lot of new, unique people. If you choose a college so you can be with your friend, the two of you may spend every day with each other, and you may not take the opportunity to meet other people and make new friends. Making new friends will help you grow as a person.

3. It’s a party school. While school should be fun at times, it is more importantly a place for you to learn new ideas and earn a degree. While enjoying your time outside of the classroom is important, you can’t spend all your time at school socializing. You need to pick a school that is conducive to your educational needs.

4. You decided in the 7th grade that you wanted to go there. While it is important to begin thinking about college early, you shouldn’t choose a college solely because you decided when you were young that is where you wanted to go. You need to open yourself up to other possibilities and give yourself other options. If, after you’ve visited the campus, spoken with college representatives, and found a suitable course of study, you’re still convinced it’s the right school for you, then you can begin making plans to attend. Just make sure you have considered a variety of possibilities before making your final decision.

5. Your mom and dad are alumni. Try to avoid letting your parents persuade you into going to their old alma mater if you’re not interested. To be successful in school, you need to pick a college that is right for you based on a number of factors. If you share the same enthusiasm for your parents’ school, still be sure to look around at other campuses to broaden your perspective. If you aren’t excited by the prospect of becoming a legacy, have an open and honest conversation with your parents and offer reasonable examples of why you might be happier somewhere else. Chances are, when you work together as a family, you’ll come up with a choice that makes everyone happy.

6. It has a good football team. Unless you want to be on the football team, don’t choose a college just because you like the team. While school spirit is important to have, you need to base your decision on what the school can offer you in regards to academics, extracurricular activities, and so forth.

7. Your school counselor told you to pick it. Your school counselor can be a great resource when you are choosing a college. He or she can help guide you through the process and answer questions you might have about a college, based on valuable experience with former students. It is important for you to let your counselor know all of your interests in order to help you determine which colleges might be a fit, but you must also remember that this is your decision to make. It’s best for you to take suggestions, research the schools and then make a decision on your own.

8. The school is prestigious. Just because a school has the reputation of being prestigious, it does not mean that you are going to like it. What if the school doesn’t offer the major that you want? What if it doesn’t offer the extracurricular activity in which you want to be involved? You need to consider aspects that are important to you when choosing a school instead of worrying about how whether or not it is a high-status school.

9. The tuition is low. Money is often a big factor when choosing a college, but keep in mind that a school that is more expensive may offer you a larger financial aid package with more gift aid (depending on your financial situation) than a school where the tuition is lower. Apply to the schools you really want to attend, including schools with high and low tuitions, and then compare their financial aid award notifications in order to make a decision. Don’t forget that you can also get a student loan to help you pay for tuition.

10. It looks good in the guidebook. Do not choose a college without visiting the campus first. While guidebooks and virtual tours will help you narrow down your choices, it is important to visit your top two or three schools in person so you can get a feel for what the campus atmosphere is like.

When it comes to choosing a college, students can give many good and bad reasons why they picked a certain school. Instead of choosing a college for the reasons listed above, take the time to research schools and find out what they have to offer. You want a school that will get you well prepared for the future, as well as one where you feel comfortable.

You finally submitted the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You think everything is going smoothly until you receive notice (via your Student Aid Report) that you have been selected for FAFSA verification. What does this mean?

Verification is a process used to verify certain information on the FAFSA to ensure its accuracy. Some students are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Others are selected by the school. Usually only a certain percentage of students are selected for verification (but keep in mind that some schools choose to do 100% verification so every student file is verified).

Why is your file being verified?
There are several possibilities for being selected for FAFSA verification. Keep in mind that more possibilities exist, but the following are the main reasons for being selected:

• You were selected randomly.
• The submitted FAFSA application has incomplete data.
• The data on the FAFSA application appears to contradict itself.
• The FAFSA application has estimated information on it.

What needs to be done after the selection?
After you receive notification that you have been selected for verification, you should first read any messages from the Department of Education appearing on the Student Aid Report. Contact your Financial Aid Office (FAO) if you have any questions. Next, you should submit copies of documents that the Financial Aid Office requests. These documents may include:

• Verification Worksheet
• IRS Tax Return Transcript (Note: If you use the IRS Data Retrieval option when completing the FAFSA and make no changes to the tax information, a tax return transcript may not be required.)
• Marriage Certificate
• Social Security Card
• Alien Registration Card
• Other information/documentation

The type of documents required will vary from student to student, and not all students selected for FAFSA verification will have to submit the same documents. Do not turn in any documentation that was not requested.

What happens if there are discrepancies in the application?
After you turn in all required documents, the Financial Aid Office will compare them with your Student Aid Report. If errors are found, corrections will be made. If the errors are significant enough to change the amount of financial aid that you were awarded, the Financial Aid Office will send you a revised award notification showing increased or decreased amounts.

If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you need to return the information and requested documentation as soon as possible. Processing usually takes two to three weeks, but it can take longer during the peak season. Because verification must be completed in advance of disbursing any money from any financial aid program, it is vital to send complete and correct information as quickly as possible. Above all else, don’t be upset because you were selected for verification. This is a process that is required by the federal government. The Financial Aid Office may even discover errors in your report that could actually increase your eligibility for more aid.

In April, many colleges and universities begin sending offer notifications to students who have been accepted for their incoming freshman class and have applied for financial assistance. Offer notifications list the cost of tuition and fees plus the amount of financial aid available through the school. When you’ve been accepted and receive financial aid offers from more than one school, you need to compare the offers, make a choice, and accept the offer that best fits your needs - and your budget.

How do you compare offers? Follow these guidelines and make a list of pros and cons of each school and the key reasons for your decisions. Most families need to consider the annual net cost of attending each school and the annual cash outlay required of the family. To figure these out, you can make a chart listing each school and include the following:

(A) Estimated Annual Expenses

• Tuition
• Fees
• Room
• Board/meal plan
• Travel
• Estimated price of books and supplies
• Personal expenses

(B) Total Gift Aid (aid that does not need to be repaid)

• Grants and scholarships
• Other gift aid

(C) Net Price = A - B (Each college participating in federal student aid programs should have a net price calculator on their website.)

(D) Work Study / Job Offers

(E) Loans to be Repaid

• Stafford Loans
• Perkins Loan
• Other student loans

(F) Cash Outflow = (C - [D + E])

Once you’ve completed the chart, consider the pros and cons of each school along with the financial considerations. Consider the nontangible factors (your feelings about the school and the environment) as well as the tangible factors (cost, course offerings). Listen to your parents but realize that the decision is ultimately yours.

If you want to obtain a good post-secondary education at a moderate price, you may want to consider attending a public university or college in your home state. Because you/your parents are already contributing to the funding of public colleges in your state when paying taxes, you are charged less than out-of-state residents who haven’t made tax payments to the state. If you attend a public school in another state, you will have to pay out-of-state tuition, which can result in shelling out thousands of dollars extra each year. If you do decide to attend a public school out of your home state, keep in mind that you can’t quickly change your residency status in order to get a tuition break. There are stringent rules to follow when it comes to determining eligibility. Here’s what you should know about qualifying for in-state tuition.

State Residency Requirements
State residency is the key factor used to judge eligibility for in-state tuition. Residency requirements vary significantly from state to state. The College Board’s Guide to State Residency Requirements will give you specific information on the requirements for each state. Typical requirements for residency determination include:

• A durational residency requirement (usually 12 months). Tennessee is the only state that has no durational requirement.
• The intent to maintain domicile or be a permanent resident of the state for the foreseeable future.

Because your college of choice usually has the authority to determine whether you qualify, you should be ready to provide proof of residency and intent to remain a resident. Examples may include:

• Car or voter registration
• Income tax returns with an in-state residential address
• Records of attending secondary school in the state
• State driver’s license
• Home ownership in the state
• Local bank account
• Records of full-time employment in the state
• Local civic group or club involvement

Keep in mind that these examples are provided as a guide. No state has a comprehensive list that automatically grants resident status.

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver
If you are in a certain geographic area and are looking for academic programs that are not available at your state institutions, you may be eligible to participate in a tuition-exchange program. Partaking in this program means that you will be charged in-state tuition (even though you are not a state resident) or will be offered a reduced tuition rate. Regional tuition waiver programs include the Academic Common Market (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia), the New England Regional Student Program (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont), the programs of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States), and the Midwest Student Exchange Program (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin).

Some schools may also offer out-of-state tuition waivers to the following and their dependents:

• Active-duty military personnel stationed in the state
• University faculty or staff
• School teachers in the state
• Newly settled retirees
• High school graduates who left the state for a period of time
• Etc.

Again, this list is not comprehensive. Some schools may offer tuition waivers to certain people and their dependents, while other schools will not. Decisions are made on an individual basis.

Non-U.S. Citizens
Typically, if you are a non-U.S. citizen, you are only eligible for in-state tuition if you are a lawful permanent resident or have been granted a visa in an eligible category. (This varies from state to state.) Of course, you must still meet the state residency requirements, such as durational residency and intent to maintain domicile.

This information is intended to give an overview of the policies involved in qualifying for in-state tuition. All questions about a specific circumstance or practices of a particular school should be directed to that institution.

Diversify Your College Activities

College life offers an array of activities in which to participate. You should try to take advantage of as many new endeavors as possible in order to broaden your horizons. Here are a few more reasons why you should diversify your college activities.

You could find a possible career path. If you limit yourself to activities that you are already comfortable with, then you could miss out on a possible career path that you find truly exciting. By participating in an extracurricular activity that you have never considered before, you could end up having a whole new perspective on what you want to do with your life. So, if you are the type of student who is interested in art, why don’t you mix it up a little and try joining a science club? Only involved in math clubs? Try something new by writing for the school newspaper. You never know…you could find the career of your dreams.

You will look good to potential employers. Employers want well-rounded individuals who are interested in growing and learning about new ideas. You should still definitely be involved in activities that pertain to your career path, but you should also be involved in maybe one or two other activities that show you can be a flexible and diverse employee. For instance, even if you won’t be dealing with the general public in your chosen career field, employers for that career will still want an employee with good communication skills. Think drama club or debate team.

You will meet and make friends with a variety of people. College is a melting pot of diverse cultures, lineages, and ideas. Being involved in different activities will allow you to meet a variety of people and learn about their different cultures and ideas. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can while making new friends along the way.

You will build self-esteem. By putting yourself out there and trying something new, you will help build your self-esteem. You will be proud of yourself for opening up to new experiences. Think about how great you would feel if you tried out for a sports team and made it, even though you thought you weren’t that good. If you try something new and succeed, you will gain the confidence to keep trying new activities.

You will expand your leadership skills. Part of being a leader means being able to adapt to new ideas and experiences. Become involved in an activity that challenges you. A person who does not feel the thrill of challenge will not progress into being a leader.

Keep in mind that while you should diversify your college activities in order to be a well-rounded person, you shouldn’t spread yourself too thin. Don’t be involved in so many different activities that you don’t have time for your school work. Find a few activities that you are interested in and that pertain to your possible career path(s), and then find one or two activities where you can challenge yourself and be open to new possibilities.