Congratulations, seniors! You have worked hard and finally come to the finish line. It only gets more exciting from here, so buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride! You are almost there!
What are your next steps?
- Finish strong! Strive to finish the year with your best work. We all know that the past weeks have been a challenge, and online school is wearing on many people. Despite the challenges brought upon by COVID-19, honor the hard work you put into the year by finishing the last few days or weeks as the best student you can be.
- Check in with your college – often. Situations at many universities are very fluid as administrators are trying to anticipate what the fall will bring. No doubt you are getting updates via the student portal or by email, but be sure to stay on top of changing information. This may include updates for housing, orientation, registration, etc.
- Schedule your new student orientation. Many colleges may be making arrangements to move orientations to an online format for this summer – or delaying orientation until just before the fall semester. Whatever the circumstance, you don’t want to miss it. Orientation usually includes valuable advising information and will often be where you register for classes.
- Schedule placement tests. Some colleges require you to take Math and/or other placement tests. Find out the requirements and be sure to get them completed. Sometimes your SAT, ACT, or AP scores will suffice, and you will not need to take an additional test. If you have questions about placement test requirements, contact your college.
- Say, “Thank you”. Show your gratitude to your counselor, teachers, coaches, and others who have helped you. Give special thanks and appreciation to your parents and family for support.
- Make summer meaningful. Plan to work, improve your study skills, learn something new, or spend time (whether online or in person) with friends and family this summer. Save any money you earn for when you start college in the fall.
- Get a physical. You may need vaccine boosters or a physical exam from the doctor before beginning the fall semester. Check with your college to understand their health and vaccination requirements.
- Submit a health insurance waiver. If you are already enrolled in a health insurance plan, fill out and submit the health insurance waiver. This will waive your participation in the student health insurance plan and save you some money.
Take Action
Now is a good time to start planning your first year in college. All of your action items (as outlined above) can be accomplished by a simple step: Get comfortable using your college portal! Log in often and browse all types of student services offered. Check out important tabs such as Financial Aid, Student Life, Housing, Health, etc… to stay up-to-date and be informed about what’s happening around campus. Make it a habit to check your college email daily. From now on, that email will be the primary channel of communication your college will be using to get in touch with you. If you have any questions, send an email to the person in charge. Make sure to send any emails from your college email address so that they can identify who you are and get back to you in a timely manner.
At EdMission Possible, we help our students transition to college life with ease. If you have any questions during this important time of your life, call or e-mail us today.
Happy transitioning!
Warmly,
Burcak Deniz Cakir
Founder and President | EdMission Possible
Phone: +1(732)640-5550
E-mail: bdcakir@EdMissionPossible.com
Burcak Deniz Cakir has a B.A. in Foreign Language Education, an M.A. in English Language Teaching, and an M.B.A., all of which have laid the solid foundation for her professional experiences as an educator. She has completed the College Counseling Program at UCLA, which is known to be the most prestigious certificate program in the profession. She has previously taught English as a Foreign/Second Language (EFL/ESL) in Turkey and in the U.S. at Virginia Tech, Harcum College, Rutgers University (Newark and New Brunswick Campuses), and Pace University. Having taught EFL/ESL at the college level for over 20 years, Burcak can communicate effectively with college-age students from different countries. She is bilingual in Turkish and English. Her extensive experience with international students from many countries including but not limited to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and China has given her the opportunity to understand their unique problems that domestic students may not be facing throughout the college admissions process, such as but not limited to extra testing requirements (TOEFL, IELTS), the translation of high school transcripts and recommendation letters, different financial forms and statements required, visa issues, being homesick, culture shock, etc.
Burcak is an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and a Voting Member of the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC). She currently lives in Edison, New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and her four-legged son. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her family, reading (lots!) about college admissions and college essays, watching her favorite movies, getting lost in design magazines, and decorating her house.
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