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May 2019
Five Tips for a Smooth Transition to College
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May 1, College Decision Day, has passed. If you're a student who recently decided where to attend school in the fall -- or have someone in your life who recently made this decision -- congratulations!
To help make the transition to college as smooth as possible, we've put together the following tips. It starts with good communication – both between the school and the student and between the student and parent. Many schools communicate only with the student and send most of the information via email to the student’s school email account. Be sure to share information as needed and following up on questions!
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1. Attend orientation
Most schools offer a new student orientation so that students can meet new classmates, familiarize themselves with the campus, finalize unfinished business and learn about important resources. Attendance is highly recommended, if not mandatory, as the experience and information shared lay the foundation for a successful transition.
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2. Register for classes
The class registration process is different at each school, and may happen before, during or after orientation. At some schools, registration may start by filling out a paper form, while other schools have students register online. Be sure you understand the process at your school so you can get into your desired classes. If you have questions, contact the Admissions Office or your specific academic department.
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3. Pay your bill
No one looks forward to paying the bill, but doing so on time will prevent late fees and additional stress. Bills are typically sent in late June and are due in late July or early August. Some schools send paper bills, while others send an email notifying you that your bill is available in your student portal. Check now to see if you have access to your student account in your school's online portal.
If you have questions about financial aid or are struggling to pay the bill, contact the Financial Aid Office.
If you’ve exhausted all other options, including paying some or all of the bill through a tuition payment plan, and are looking for information on borrowing additional loans, visit
TheLoanforME.com
.
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4. Complete required forms and processes
- Student Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note: If borrowing a Federal Direct Loan, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note before funds can be disbursed. These tasks can be completed online at StudentLoans.gov.
- Housing Forms and Deposits: Make sure you have completed housing forms and submitted your housing deposit.
- Health Forms and Insurance Waivers: Schools require students to submit health forms before they are allowed to move onto campus or start classes. Also, many schools automatically bill students for the school's health insurance. If you have insurance through your parents you can waive the school insurance by the school’s deadline so the fee can be removed from your bill.
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5
. Purchase your books
Once you have registered for classes, your school is required to provide a list of books needed for each class. If you are unsure what books you need, contact the school's bookstore (and be sure to have a copy of your schedule handy). Visit the
Reducing College Costs
section of our website for tips to help you save money on books.
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The transition from high school to college can feel overwhelming at times -- you aren't alone in that feeling! If you need help and don't know who to call, start with your school's Admissions Office or contact us. Not only is FAME staff trained in this field, but many are also parents of college students. We'll be here all summer and are happy to help in any way we can!
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Join us for this month's FREE Wednesday Webinar:
Tips for a Smooth Transition to College
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
10:00–11:00 a.m.
Many students have committed to the school they’ll be attending in the fall. But in order to make a smooth transition to college and avoid summer melt, there are many steps students need to complete over the summer. In this webinar, we’ll discuss how schools communicate and the importance of attending orientation, as well as focus on tasks to be completed, including registering for classes, finalizing financial aid and paying the bill. Join us for an overview of these next steps, including helpful hints and suggestions to eliminate problems and get answers to questions that might arise.
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FAME's College Access and Financial Education Team:
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The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) does not discriminate in the administration of any of its programs or in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation. FAME is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
FAME provides links to other websites as a convenience and does not endorse or guarantee the content, accuracy or usability of such sites.
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