WHAT IS COLLEGE?
College is any education beyond high school that leads to financial stability. It can be a four-year degree, a two-year degree, a certificate in career and technical education, or beyond.
Plan for College
- Track your progress and timeline for your college journey in writing.
- Learn and memorize your social security number.
- Create a professional email address. (Do not use your high school email).
- Set up a professional voicemail greeting and delete old messages.
- Start documenting your extracurricular activities, community service, work experience, and academic achievements for your high school resume.
- Prepare for the ACT®.
- Visit our ACT® Prep page to access workshops and resources.
Prepare for College
- Find the college or university that is the right fit for you.
- Explore the various types of colleges.
- Research the cost of attendance at the colleges you’re interested in.
- Identify potential career paths and majors associated with them.
- Take the O*NET Interest Profiler through My Next Move to find your career interests and major.
- Take the ACT®.
- Make a list of three to five top colleges or universities that interest you.
- Apply for admission to colleges on your list during senior year.
- Use the Net Price Calculator found on your top college’s website to find the estimated cost of attendance to prepare to apply for aid.
Pay for College
- Federal Aid
- Create an FSA ID for the student during senior year of high school and parent(s) if parent does not already have one at least three days in advance of completing the FAFSA.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1 each year.
- State Aid
- Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) after October 1 each year.
- Institutional Aid
- Identify the various scholarships at your top institutions and take note of the different deadlines.
- Outside Aid
- Visit the Get2College Scholarship Search Tool to find a comprehensive list of national, statewide, and local private scholarships.
- Learn more about each of the four types of financial aid available in Mississippi on our website!
Finalize the Process
- Have you maximized your potential with your ACT® score?
- Visit our ACT® Prep page on our website to access workshops and resources to help increase your score.
- You may be eligible for fee waivers to take the ACT® again. See your high school counselor for more.
- Rank the college(s) you have been accepted to including the total cost, and financial aid or scholarships offered.
- If you plan to live on campus, complete your institution’s housing application and submit a deposit by the deadline.
- Complete your institution’s required immunizations and submit documentation.
- Request your final high school transcript be sent to your institution.
- If dual enrollment courses have been taken, request your transcript to be sent to your top college(s).
- Register for orientation and familiarize yourself with the other enrollment needs and student services.
- Accept your financial aid award package.
