Category Archives: CollegeTips

International Summer Program University of Vienna

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Deadline: 30 April 2014
Open to: students from all over the world
Venue: Strobl/Austria, July 12 – August 9, 2014

Description

The University of Vienna Sommerhochschule (SHS) was established in 1949, since then an International Summer Program is offered every year. Apart from its educational mission, one of the summer program’s most important aims has been restoring and promoting mutual understanding between Austrians and Americans that World War II had done so much to destroy.

Today the program provides a multidimensional survey of the present development of Europe and the European Union (EU). Participants will study both the decision making processes within the EU institutions as well as various aspects of European political culture. The program aims at contributing to an increased understanding of the EU and its possible future shape.

Students from all over the world have been drawn to the program, not only because of the outstanding academic reputation of its European Studies program and the excellent opportunities it offers students to learn German, but also because of its location directly on the shores of one of Austria’s most scenic lakes, Lake Wolfgang, in the Salzkammergut region, and because of the area’s excellent sports and recreational facilities.

The intercultural dimension provided by the summer program’s internationally diverse student population has become one of the most rewarding features of students’ learning experience. Today, more than 30 different nationalities are represented in the student body, up to 100 students accepted into the program, creating the conditions most conducive to intercultural and social interaction.

The Sommerhochschule operates under the academic and administrative supervision of the Rector of the University of Vienna. The organizers, faculty and sponsors believe that the Sommerhochschule’s formula of holistic learning – intellectual pursuit and physical exercise in a setting of intercultural and social exchange – helps reinforce mutual respect and tolerance among participants.

We would like to invite you to study at the University of Vienna’s campus in Strobl/St. Wolfgang and, like thousands have done before you, experience an unforgettable summer.

Eligibility

Applicants have to be at least 18 years old and must have completedtwo years of studies at college or university level in their countries of residence or have an educational background equivalent to one year at a European university before the beginning of the program.

Applicants must be in attendance for the whole period of the International Summer Program, be able to take part in the number of required courses, have an adequate command of the English language and be in good health. Students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of proficiency in English with their application. Applicants should also note that certain courses may have prerequisites.

Costs

The International Summer program is an all-inclusive program and provides not only courses in the European Studies and the German Language Programs, but also board and lodging as well as a social program for the participants.

 

The program fee includes the following:

  • Registration
  • The tuition for the four week program. Within the four week period, students can attend four courses.
  • Use of all campus facilities (e.g. library, computer lab, TV room, etc.).
  • Handouts, scripts and other relevant teaching material.
  • Accommodation and full board for the four weeks. Students are accommodated in single and double rooms. The meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Use of all sports and recreational facilities (students’ dock on the lake, the tennis court, the sports hall, the indoor gym and the table tennis equipment) and participation on the sports program (tennis and windsurfing lessons, organized ball games and tournaments and mountain hikes).
  • A ticket to the chamber concert.
  • All planned excursions, including Salzburg, St. Wolfgang and Ebensee.

As the International Summer Program is an all-inclusive program, applicants can apply only for the complete program. It is not possible to attend courses only.

Sommerhochschule fees are € 1,800 which include registration, tuition, use of all sports and recreational facilities (including tennis and windsurfing lessons), and all planned excursions.

An additional fee for room and board on campus will be collected by the Sommerhochschule for the host institution (Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung). This fee includes accommodation and full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the four week program.

Accommodation in a single room: € 1,625

Accommodation in a double room: € 1,325

 

Rooms will be distributed according to availability. Room reservations for double rooms will be considered in order of arrival, as long as double rooms are available.

All additional costs for travel arrangements as well as health insurance and medical care are the responsibility of the participants.

 

The two-week long Austrian Arbitration Academy can also be attended as an independent program. In this case the fees are € 1,200 which include registration, tuition, use of all sports and recreational facilities, and all planned excursions.

An additional fee for room and board on campus will be collected by the Sommerhochschule for the host institution (Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung). This fee includes accommodation and full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the two week academy program.

Accommodation in a single room: € 820

 

The currency used in Austria is the European Euro (€). The rate of exchange is approximately € 1 to US$ 1.35 (September 2013).

 

 

Payment

Applicants are required to pay the deposit of € 300 and upon notification of their acceptance the remaining fee of of € 1,500 for the program feeand the accommodation fee of € 1,625 for a single room (or € 1,325 for a double room) into the bank account of the Sommerhochschule:

 

Innovationszentrum Universität Wien GmbH – Sommerhochschule
Bank: UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Bank address: Schottengasse 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Account number: 00282240100
Bank code: 11000
BIC: BKAUATWW
IBAN: AT57 1100 0002 8224 0100

 

The applicant’s full name (first name and surname) has to be stated as “reason for transfer” or “reason for payment”. All charges in connection with the payment must be borne by the participant. In some cases charges can be incurred both in your home country and in Austria.

 

Checks are accepted but please note that bank charges are higher for checks than for a bank transfer.

Application

In order to ensure that students can prepare all materials needed for the application in time, it is advisable to read the information given in the application chapter carefully before starting the application process.

Further details are available HERE  

A limited number of partial scholarships ranging from € 300 to € 2,400 are available for the European Study section of the International Summer Program. For More Information about scholarships, Please Click HERE

 

Sommerhochschule

Campus of the University of Vienna

Alser Strasse 4/Hof 1/Tuer 1.16

1090 Vienna | Austria

 

Phone: +43-1-42 77-24-131

Fax: +43-1-42 77-92 41

sommerhochschule@univie.ac.at

International Summer Program

July 12 – August 9, 2014

Strobl | Austria

European Studies

German Language Courses

Apply to Become “MSC Junior Ambassador“

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Deadline: 10th December 2013
Open to: young professionals and students who were born in or after 1985
Venue: 31 January – 2 February 2014 at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany

Description

The Munich Security Conference is a leading international and independent forum in the field of foreign and security policy. Established in 1963 by Ewald von Kleist, it brings together decision-makers and experts – heads of state and government, foreign and defense ministers, diplomats and other government officials, military leaders, members of parliament, leaders of international and non-governmental organizations, CEOs and other private sector experts, as well as think tankers and academics – from around the world to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges. Since 2008, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, a senior German diplomat and former deputy foreign minister, has been chairman of the conference. The next MSC will be held from 31 January to 2 February 2014 at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich.

In the run-up to its 50th edition in 2014, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) is announcing the second round of the Munich Security Conference Junior Ambassadors program. By means of an essay contest, we want to give three dedicated students or young professionals the opportunity to attend next year’s MSC. The program is open to young professionals and students who were born in or after 1985.

 

Essay Topic and Guidelines

 

At the 60th Munich Security Conference in 2024, what will be the most important security challenge on the agenda, and why?

 

Submissions should not be longer than 6,000 characters and be written in the style of an op-ed. We expressly welcome a wide range of perspectives and put a premium on original, creative writing and surprising arguments. The winning essays will be published on the conference’s website. We will pay for travel expenses and provide accommodation at a conference hotel for the three winners. We expect the Junior Ambassadors to be willing to share their conference impressions via our website and social media from their perspective as the youngest conference attendees.

 

Deadline for entries is Tuesday, 10 December 2013, 11.59 pm Eastern Standard Time. You can find the application form here: https://www.securityconference.de/en/junior-ambassador/. In addition to your essay, please also upload a short CV and fill in the form. The MSC will only notify those contestants that have been selected. The MSC is not accountable for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind occurring with or as a result of the prize, or from participation in the contest.

You can download a PDF version of this text here.

Green Store Challenge by H&M and the DO School

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Deadline: 7 January 2014
Open to: emerging social entrepreneurs aged 18 to 28 from around the world
Fellowship: tuition fee and all costs associated directly with program activities

Description

The DO School is an innovative educational institution offering training, mentoring, and education to outstanding emerging social entrepreneurs to kick-start their own ventures all around the world.

The DO School offers a unique one-year educational program enabling talented emerging social entrepreneurs to launch their own innovative and sustainable ventures. The program allows its participants to learn from passionate peers, engage with current leaders
and experts, and create change by implementing their social start-ups in their home countries.

The yearlong program takes place in two phases: the 10-week Incubation Phase on their Hamburg campus and the 10-month Implementation Phase in the Fellows’ home countries. During the Incubation Phase Fellows solve a group Challenge in order to learn
hands-on how to act as a successful entrepreneur.

H&M challenges the DO School Fellows to create a Green Store prototype. This Green Store prototype must be sustainable in terms of materials, construction, energy, operation and other aspects and will be realized in Germany. The prototype should be scalable to H&M stores worldwide, be economically beneficial and make the idea of sustainability tangible for customers and employees.

Eligibility

The DO School invites applications from emerging social entrepreneurs aged 18 to 28 from around the world, with relevant interests and skills. A maximum of 20 Fellows will be selected for the H&M Green Store Challenge and successful candidates may come from, but are not restricted to the fields of engineering, architecture, fashion and design, as well as environmental activism, retail and human resource management.

Fellowship

Every Fellow accepted into the DO School program receives a scholarship covering the entire tuition cost of the one year program. The scholarship also covers all costs associated directly with program activities (such as materials, entrance fees, etc) during the ten-week Incubation Phase on campus.

Please note that fellows are responsible for organizing and paying for their own travel to the DO School campus in order to participate in the ten-week on campus phase. Fellows are also responsible to arrange for and pay for travel health and accident insurance for the ten weeks duration. During the entire program year Fellows are responsible for their personal cost of living (food, insurance, transportation, personal needs, etc). During the Incubation Phase on campus Fellows will stay at a subsidized DO School accommodation in shared rooms and be required to contribute 900 € in Hamburg or $2,000 in New York towards their ten-week accommodation.

Fellows can apply for extra funding to cover their cost for setting up their ventures. They may complete the form for financial aid. For more information on financial aid visit the financial aid page HERE.

Application

The deadline for applications to the Green Store Challenge is 7 January 2014.

Applications for the one-year DO School program are completed through the online application form HERE. Below are the three steps you need to complete to submit your online application:

  1. Create a user account. You will receive an email with a link. Click on this link to activate your account. If you do not receive this email within a few minutes, please check your spam folder.
  2. Complete all parts of the online application form. You will be asked to fill in personal information, answer application questions, and agree to the conditions of application. To save your work and return to it at another time, click the “save” button.
  3. Submit your application. Once the status of all three parts is complete, you can click the “Submit Your Application” button. You cannot make any changes to your application after your submission. No late submissions will be accepted. Successful submission will be confirmed by a screen saying: “Your application has been submitted”.

For more information please visit the official website HERE.

MA History Scholarships at Central European University

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Deadline: 23 January 2014
Open to: MA applicants in the History department at Central European University
Scholarship: full tuition (with a value of €11,000 to €12,000), housing in the CEU Residence Center, health insurance, and a monthly stipend to cover living costs

Description

Central European University is an English-language, graduate university located in Budapest, Hungary. With students from some 100 countries and faculty from more than 40, CEU offers an extraordinary student/faculty ratio of 8:1. CEU is accredited in the U.S. and Hungary.

CEU’s Department of History offers students interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives on the history and culture of Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe in conjunction with the Ottoman, Middle Eastern, and larger Eastern Mediterranean world. Their curriculum covers this broad Eurasian span from the early modern period to the present, and they also encourage students to take classes and engage with faculty and peers in other disciplines at the University such as Medieval Studies, Anthropology, Public Policy, Gender Studies, Sociology, Environmental Studies, as well as Legal Studies just to name a few.

The CEU community challenges students to craft cutting-edge research projects in dialogue with the current debates and research at the forefront of the social sciences and humanities. Please visit their website to learn more about our thriving community in the department as well as the success stories of our recent alumni who have landed coveted positions in competitive tenure-track posts, the world’s top PhD programs, as well as high positions in government, NGOs, and the private sector.

Program Offered

  • Master of Arts in Central European History (One Year)
  • Master of Arts in Comparative History: Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe 1500-2000 (Two Years)
  • Master of Arts in European Women’s and Gender History (MATILDA) (Two Years)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative History of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe
  • Specializations in Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, and Eastern Mediterranean Studies

Selected Areas of Research

  • Comparative history of communism
  • Comparative history of fascism
  • Comparative history of Habsburg, Ottoman, and Russian empires
  • Comparative religious studies
  • Cultural history
  • Early modern history
  • Gender studies
  • Intellectual history
  • Nationalism studies
  • Social history
  • Urban studies

While earning degrees at CEU, they also encourage students to take advantage of paleography as well as language classes in the Department and CEU’s Source Language Teaching Unit that teaches beginning, intermediate, as well as advanced Arabic, Armenian, Ancient Greek, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, German, Hungarian, Latin, Russian, Ottoman Turkish, Turkish and others.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a first degree from a recognized university or institution of higher education, or provide documentation indicating that they will earn such a first degree before enrolment in a CEU Master’s program.

CEU Financial Aid is awarded on a highly competitive basis to candidates for programs at the university. They urge each applicant to the university to make a responsible assessment of their financial need before requesting financial aid, or to seek support from other sources such as foundation grants, or individual or employment sponsors.

Scholarships

CEU is committed to attracting talented students from around the world—a commitment backed by generous financial aid. The University provides a variety of scholarships and research grants for which applicants from any country are eligible to apply.

CEU Master’s Degree Fellowships (full or partial) include a full tuition scholarship (with a value of €11,000 to €12,000), housing in the CEU Residence Center, health insurance, and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses.

CEU Master’s Degree Tuition Scholarships (full or partial) cover between 50 and 100 percent of tuition expenses up to €12,000 per year.

Further details about financial aid are AVAILABLE HERE.

Application

The deadline for applying for MA programs at CEU is 23 January 2014. Early applications are encouraged.

To apply you must complete the online application form HERE and submit the required academic records, letters of recommendation, CV, proof of English proficiency as detailed on the How to Apply page HERE.

CEU charges an application fee of 40 USD for each applicant, which allows them to be considered for up to 2 departments and for any number of programs within each department in one admission cycle. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be waived.

For inquiries about the History department, the programs, the funding schemes, and the admission process, or for any other questions related to their department, please contact Ms. Agnes Bendik at BendikAg@ceu.hu.

History Department
Central European University
Nador u. 9
H-1051 Budapest, Hungary
Phone: +36 1 327-3022
Fax: +36 1 327-3191

For more information see the official website HERE

Discover Kazakhstan: The Country in the Heart of Eurasia

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Deadline: 3 April, 2014

Open to: This summer university is targeted at advanced undergraduate and graduate students including doctoral students

Venue: 28 July – 14 August, 2014, Suleyman Demirel University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

 

Description

There are 30 places for which we would like to have approximately 20 international participants and 10 from Suleyman Demirel University and other Kazakhstani Universities.

During the Summer School a variety of teaching formats will be used. The sessions will be conducted in the form of classical lectures, workshops, roundtables, field trips and excursions in order to impart and enhance active interaction. The young researchers should actively contribute to the programme by organizing informal fellow meetings, by presenting their own papers in a “Research Forum”, and by presenting their projects on final “Impressions of Kazakhstan” mini-conference.

Self-organized meetings: The program will include explicitly marked spaces allocated for self-organized meetings for participants. The participants with similar research interests may discuss methodological or theoretical questions, and build more sustainable networks. The Summer School organizers will encourage such meetings throughout the event.

Research Forum: Younger researchers are invited to present a paper on desired, current or completed work (20 minutes), to be discussed by the Summer School audience.

“Impressions of Kazakhstan”: All participants should prepare a 20-minute presentations, where their share their personal opinion and impressions about Kazakhstan and reflect on the topics studied during the Summer School.
Eligibility

Summer School is aiming especially at those young scholars who are interested in the content of proposed summer school or already carrying out their own research related to the topics. The participants will have a chance to meet fellow students with the same interests, lecturers and leading researchers from Kazakhstan and abroad. The main aim is to establish contacts and networks that would be helpful for their current and future projects.

This summer university is targeted at advanced undergraduate and graduate students including doctoral students from the fields of:

  • Philology
  • Humanities
  • Social sciences (anthropology, sociology, ethnology, Turkic studies….)
  • Journalism
  • Translation
  • And other relevant fields of cultural studies

Costs

The course fee is 400 €/person

The course fee includes:

  • 60 hours of classes/lectures (10 days with 6 x 50 minutes of classes)
  • Workshops, roundtables, thematic field trips
  • Course materials
  • Use of the PC-Pools and Wireless LAN at the university and dormitory
  • Cultural and leisure programme
  • All excursions

Information about grants will be available at a later period.

 Accommodation

Accommodation for participants will be provided in single/double rooms in student dormitory. The price for the whole period of the Summer School is 200 €.

Application

Deadline for all applicants is 3 April 2014. Decisions of acceptance will be announced by 15 April 2014 via e-mail.

The participants will be selected based on academic excellence, quality of letter of motivation and a reference letter written by a university professor or a supervisor. Language skills required to participate in the Summer School is Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Please send us:

  1. Application form
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Letter of Motivation (one page)
  4. Reference Letter
  5. Transcript

All applications have to be done in English. Late or incomplete applications will not be taken into a consideration.

The selected participants will receive a letter via e-mail with necessary information about registration and payment details.

You can Download “Tentative Programme”

For further information please visit us at www.sdusummerschool.kz or contact us via kdana@sdu.edu.kz

The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship: EMEA

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Deadline: 17 February 2014
Open to: Female students studying Computer Science
Scholarship:  € 7,000 (or equivalent) award for the 2014-2015 academic year

Description

The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship is a global program. If you are a student who will not be enrolled at a university in Europe, the Middle East or Africa for the 2014-2015 academic year, please visit the Anita Borg Scholarships Homepage to learn more about our Anita Borg Scholarships around the world.  Google Anita Borg Scholarship recipients will each receive a € 7,000 (or equivalent) award for the 2014-2015 academic year. A group of female undergraduate and graduate students will be chosen from the applicant pool, and scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of each candidate’s academic background, passion for increasing the involvement of women in computer science, and demonstrated leadership. All scholarship recipients will be invited to attend an annual Google networking retreat in 2014.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

  • Be a female student currently enrolled at a university for the 2013-2014 academic year
  • Intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time student in a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD program at a university in Europe, the Middle East or Africa for the 2014-2015 academic year
  • Be studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics or a closely related technical field
  • Maintain a strong academic record

Application

The deadline is February 17, 2014, 17:00 GMT.

Please complete the online application which includes:

  • General background information (includes contact information and information about your current and intended institution for the 2014-2015 school year)
  • Current resume/CV (up to 2 pages)
  • Academic transcripts from your current institution (and prior institution if currently in graduate school)
  • A reference letter from a professor, instructor, adviser or supervisor
  • Responses to essay questions

Questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions or email us at anitaborgscholars-emea@google.com

For further information please visit the official website HERE.

Work Immersion Study Program in Germany for American Students

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Description

The Work Immersion Study Program in Germany provides an opportunity for community college students to gain practical work experience, improve German language skills, and experience German culture firsthand from June through August. The three-month program starts with a one-month language course in Germany, followed by a 2 month internship with a German company. German citizens cannot participate.

Other Criteria

Candidates must be permanent residents or US citizens. Candidates should be between the ages of 18-27 and enrolled in a degree program at a community college. Relevant work experience, such as previous employment or summer internship is preferred. Only those individuals who have completed at least one year of study at a community college will be considered.

 

Number of Awards up to 10
Host Institution CDS International, Inc.
Includes Three months, consisting of a one-month language course in June, followed by a 2-month internship.
Nationality Required American
Locations of Study Germany

The New School Competition – $160,000 USD awards

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The New School invites high school/upper secondary school students all over the world to participate in The New School Competition. The New School Competition includes five prestigious schools in New York City that prepare students to understand, contribute to, and succeed in a changing society from a creative point of view. First prize will be awarded with a full scholarship. Second prize will be awarded with a partial scholarship. Scholarships are only eligible for students graduating no later than June. Extraordinary submissions will be awarded with an iPad Mini, only eligible to students graduating after June. What you have to do to enter the competition:

1. Register – Sign with your name and email address.

2. Take The New School quiz – Answer multiple-choice questions to show your knowledge in your future school and its NYC campus.

3. Complete the Logical reasoning test – Answer multiple-choice questions that will test your logic and reasoning skills.

4. Select one of the five schools that you’re interested in attending.

5. Take the School specific quiz – Answer multiple-choice questions related to the school you’re interested in attending.

6. Complete the Creative Case – Solve the case by uploading a video. Remember to not limit your creativity and imagination.

7. Write a short motivational statement.

8. Share on Facebook and get recommendations from friends – Collect recommendations to increase your chances of winning. Let your friends help you to reach all the way to New York City.

9. Apply to your chosen school and program by no later than February 1.

10. Join The New School in New York City – Start your career at The New School in the city that never sleeps. You should expect to spend about an hour on The New School quiz, the Logical Reasoning test and the School Specific quiz combined. The Creative case is up to you. Don’t limit your creative side. To find more information about the competition, its rules and eligibility please visit http://bit.ly/17FCQpI.

 

Other Criteria

Scholarship prize is eligible to high school students worldwide who graduates no later than June. For iPad Mini prize students who graduates later then June are also eligible to compete.

Summer paid intern with FIRE – Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

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FIRE’s Summer Internship Program

http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/g4p8Ggg4S5Cp/

Overview

FIRE offers an eight-week, paid Summer Internship as part of our efforts to educate students about their rights at colleges and universities. This internship gives current undergraduates the opportunity to assist FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses all across the country. FIRE interns do substantive work and participate in weekly seminars with FIRE staff and other experts on freedom of expression, due process, and much more.

Interns will work at FIRE’s downtown Philadelphia office. The 2014 program will run from Monday, June 9 through Friday, August 1 and interns will receive a stipend of $2,800.

Qualifications

FIRE is looking for intelligent and energetic undergraduates (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who are interested in FIRE’s mission and work. Ideal candidates are responsible, focused, and organized, and have an interest in civil liberties. All interns are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills. The ability to work under pressure and a sense of humor are also important.

For information on FIRE’s Legal Internship for rising second- and third-year law students, click here.

Responsibilities

FIRE interns:

  • Work closely with our Campus Outreach, Defense, Education, Development, and Media programs to assist with research and administrative projects. Interns complete research projects and help staff members with writing, case work, fundraising, public relations, and administrative duties.
  • Attend and assist with the annual student summer conference. The FIRE interns will also lead an hour-long session for conference attendees.
  • Write about FIRE cases and issues for our blog, The Torch.
  • Develop strategies for ensuring open discourse once they return to campus.
  • Learn the foundational arguments for protecting core rights in our free society through reading and discussion in weekly seminars with FIRE’s staff and other experts on civil liberties.

A Checklist for the College-bound H.S. Junior

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Dear College Made Simple Reader,

With all you need to do before your first day of college, beginning the college selection process during your junior year is no longer considered “early.”

In fact, the most success we see are from those families that begin this process in the beginning of their Sophomore year. That said, a lot of families wait and don’t get started in this process until their junior year… and that’s why we’ve put together this checklist for college-bound high school juniors.

– Scott

The checklist is broken down in three major categories:

Testing for College, Researching Colleges, and Paying for College.

Testing for College

The major to-dos on this list are taking your PSAT, ACT and SAT tests during your junior year. With all of these, your guidance counselor can inform you of times and dates of tests, how to register, and costs to take the test.

If you’re taking the PSAT…

  • Sign up to take the PSAT by September of your junior year.
  • By the end of October, you should have already taken it.
  • By December, review your PSAT scores with your guidance counselor and parents.

ACTs are next. They are held every December, February, April, June, September and October. It’s recommended you:

  • Sign up to take ACT exam by November.
  • Take the December or February ACT during your junior year.

SATs are held in only four months of the year – In 2013 they were held in January, March, May and June.

  • By the end of February, you should be registered to take a SAT exam and already studying for it.
  • Take your first SAT by May or June.

Researching Colleges

Choosing the right college begins with gathering information about schools and programs. One of the most important tips I can give you is to stay organized.

Use separate folders for different schools. Label them. Try to organize their contents as identically as possible so you can compare information more easily. Some other recommendations:

  • Attend a college fair by October or November at the latest.
  • Also by November, you should have scheduled a few campus visits. A campus tour is the best way to get a feel for what a school is like.
  • By January or February, you want to narrow down what you are looking for in your ideal college. Among things to consider: Tuition costs, proximity to home, large or small school, public or private, community college, academic curriculum, student-teacher ratio, and urban or rural location.
  • By the end of March, your list of schools should be trimmed down considerably (think 5 to 10).
  • By April, begin working on college applications and admission essays.
  • By the end of summer, you should have visited most colleges you are seriously considering attending.

Paying for College

There is over $150 billion available each year from the Federal Government, states, colleges, universities, as well as private foundations and organizations. Getting your “fair share” is often just a matter of knowing how to get it.

Here is a checklist and timeline for most important things to do to financially prepare for college during your junior year.

  • In September, you need to have a family talk about paying for college. Among things to discuss: Is the student going to contribute? … and if so, what are they willing to help with? Are they expecting to take on loans? Are you expecting to take on loans?
  • By the end of November, your student should have searched for and identified some scholarships they intend to apply for. It’s important to do this early because scholarships have different deadlines – some as early as the summer after your junior year.
  • During Christmas break, learn about student loan options and eligibility requirements for student loans.
  • Also during Christmas break, learn about the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This is one of the most critical forms you will complete as you prepare for college. Being familiar with it before applying will make applying much, much easier.
  • By March, as you narrow down your list of desired schools to at most 10, estimate how much it will cost to attend each. Expand your search for scholarships to include local organizations in your community, organizations related to your desired fields of study, scholarships available only to students (or future students) of schools you desire to attend.
  • By April, contact each school’s financial aid office to see what kind of payment options they have – monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semesterly.
  • Also in April, as you work on college applications and essays, begin filling out scholarship applications. It is never a bad thing to be the first one in the door.

To your college funding & admissions success,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC