Student Aid Report
You should receive a report on the results of your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in about 3–5 days if you filed your FAFSA online (or in about 2–4 weeks if you mailed your FAFSA). This report, called the Student Aid Report (SAR), details your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your college education.
The schools listed on your FAFSA (up to six) will receive an electronic copy of your SAR. Each school's Financial Aid Office will use the data in your SAR to determine your aid package, including your eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, and work-study awards.
When you receive your SAR, check it carefully for accuracy. Compare the information on your SAR and on your FAFSA. Does it match? If not, correct any mistakes online at Corrections on the Web. You can use Corrections on the Web to correct all items except your Social Security Number (SSN). If your SSN is wrong, you must complete a new FAFSA using your correct SSN.
How to Avoid Senioritis
Once you're accepted to college, it's tempting to let your schoolwork slide. Senioritis may set in as you spend your final months trying to balance school, extracurricular activities, a social life, scholarship searches, college applications, and maybe even a part-time job.
But don't give in; the senior slump can ruin your college plans. Every year, colleges rescind admission offers or change aid packages of students who gave in and allowed their grades to fall.
We've compiled some tips to help you avoid senioritis:
- Plan ahead—Use the collegeCalendar at aesSuccess.org to keep track of deadlines, tests dates, extracurricular activities, college visits, etc. collegeCalendar allows you to filter events by priority, add events and deadlines to your personal online calendar, and send email and text message reminders about important deadlines.
- Don't obsess about college admission—Some students get so caught up in the college admission process that they forget the here and now. It's important that you continue to study and strive for good grades and remain active in your extracurricular activities.
- Talk about your feelings—Talk to your friends, your parents, your school counselor, and other adults whom you respect. Senior year can be bittersweet; the entire year consists of "lasts"—the last football game, the last prom, the last school play. But senior year is also exciting; you can't wait to graduate, start college, and begin experiencing a long list of "firsts."
- Don't forget to relax and have fun—You've worked hard, and you deserve to enjoy your senior year!
The Extracurricular Advantage
One thing that colleges consider when deciding on whether to admit a potential student is his or her involvement in extracurricular activities.
Colleges want to admit students who show that they can master subject material while also managing a commitment to extracurricular activities. Schools want a "well-rounded" student—one who shows interest or passion for an activity or who gets involved in their local community through volunteer activities.
Join in some extracurricular activities at school:
- Participate in athletics.
- Join a club.
- Play in the band.
- Sing in the choir.
- Work on the school newspaper.
- Sign up for yearbook committee.
Or get involved in activities outside of school:
- Volunteer through religious organizations and community groups.
- Collect food for the local food bank or homeless shelter.
- Donate time and effort to clean up a local highway or park.
- Work with inner-city kids to plant a garden and spruce up their neighborhood.
- Tutor students who are having difficulty with subjects like math or reading.
The possibilities are almost endless. Identify something that is meaningful to you and then get involved in projects that match your interests. Not only will you get some personal pleasure out of it, but you will be able to include your efforts on college applications or use your experiences as a topic for your essay.
Career Highlight: Clinical Laboratory Technologist
If you're interested in working in the medical field but don't want to work in direct patient care, a career as a clinical laboratory technologist may be right for you.
Clinical laboratory technologists perform complex chemical, biologic, hematologic, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriologic tests. For example, they microscopically examine blood and other body fluids and take cultures and tissue samples to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms. Technologists analyze these samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol. Clinical laboratory technologists evaluate test results, develop and modify procedures, and establish and monitor programs to ensure the accuracy of tests.
Clinical laboratory technologists should have good problem-solving and analytical skills. Close attention to detail is essential. It also helps if you enjoy working with a team.
A bachelor's degree in medical technology or one of the life sciences is required for an entry-level position. Degree programs in medical technology include courses in chemistry, biology, microbiology, mathematics, and statistics, as well as specialized courses devoted to the knowledge and skills used in the laboratory. Many programs also require courses in management, business, and computer applications.
Salaries for clinical medical technologists range from $36,180 to $74,680.
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