Of course, you sent in your deposit already, right?

If you didn’t send in your deposit and the school deadline was the usual May 1st, the truth is, you may no longer be going to that school. If they don’t get your deposit, they will assume you changed your mind. They may already have offered your slot to someone on the waitlist. If you did mess up and miss the deadline, call the Admissions Office immediately and grovel.

One more question. You only sent a deposit to one school, right? If you were hoping that sending deposits to multiple schools would extend the time you have to actually make a final decision, you need to hope hard that none of the schools find out. Schools HATE it when you do that. Once again, you might be out and someone on the waitlist could be in.

We’ll assume that you were Johnny-on-the-Spot with your deposit. If that’s the case, let’s move on to the other things on your must-do list.

Sign up for housing. Housing is generally first come, first served. Make your requests as soon as possible. You don’t even want to know where you might end up living if you get the tail end of housing options. (Think Igor in the basement next to the boiler room.)

Get on the college’s freshman social media. Most schools have something especially for freshman students. Make some online friends that can translate to real-world friends in the fall. College isn’t nearly as intimidating if you already know some other students. But remember to watch what you say. If you’re off-color or making inappropriate remarks to or about other students, the school may well find out. They can jerk your acceptance in a heartbeat. Listen to the podcast below to hear about one Harvard freshman’s experience.

Send your final transcripts. They could help with student aid or other special programs. Having a high GPA when you enroll may translate to some extra perks at college. Some colleges let their students with high GPAs register for classes early, which is a huge advantage. There are plenty of stories about students that spent additional semesters or even years in college because they could never get into that one class that they needed to graduate.

Send thank you notes. Make sure that the people who helped you get into college know that they are appreciated. If you’re not comfortable writing a note, even a phone call or an email is welcome, as long as your thanks are sincere.

Make a budget. If you didn’t do this when you were choosing a college, do it now. Figure out how much it will cost you to live, above and beyond your tuition, room and board. If you don’t already have a bank account and a credit card, get them now. Spend the summer learning to use them and be responsible with them. Track your expenses now. Pay attention to the grocery bills. How much of what is purchased is for you? Shampoo, etc. Your parents can help. Get used to thinking about the differences between needs and wants. (Hint: The fact that you really, REALLY want something does not turn it into a need!)

Click below for Nerdwallet’s suggestions on budgeting platforms.

Which leads us to…

Get a job. We talked about this a bunch last month. But one critical factor I forgot to mention: DON’T BRING YOUR MOM TO YOUR INTERVIEW! Reddit is rife with stories from managers who wanted to interview a prospective employee, but the kid showed up with his mom who wanted to answer all the questions for him. Nothing will send your resume to the DNH (Do Not Hire) pile faster. One of the most important things hiring managers look for is someone who can work independently. Having your mom try and negotiate your salary for you at the interview is the kiss of death.

Click on the link below for other ways to set yourself up for success in the fall.

All Is Not Lost

You didn’t get in. All that work and no acceptances. It may feel that the world has crashed down around you. But that is not true. Not at all. Where do you go from here?

Appeal. The worst thing that can happen is that they will say “no”. But be aware that appealing hardly ever works. If it’s a competitive school that already rejects most of its applicants, it’s probably not worth your time. However, if you think you have a compelling reason for them to give you a second look, go ahead and try. That means finding out whether the school even accepts appeals, and then following their appeals process exactly. And don’t whine!

Apply somewhere else. Unless you literally applied to every college in the country, you have not exhausted the possibilities. Some colleges have rolling admissions, which means that they keep accepting applications until their freshman class is full.

Community college. Community college is always a viable opportunity for post-high school education. But if you were too busy having fun in high school and your grades reflect it, community college can save you. A community college can give you a good education in its own right, but it can also give you a leg up with a university. Look at the requirements at the college you wanted. What do they want their students to take freshman year? Usually, it’s basic English, math, history, maybe foreign language. Enroll in some of those at a community college and work hard. Show the college that you have turned over a new leaf and are prepared for the kind of work they will ask of you. Most community college credits will transfer to a university. Work with a counselor at the community college and the university to make sure you’re on the right path.

Boost your knowledge: Jump into a MOOC. MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses. Many are free or available at a low cost. Some result in a certificate. Sites like edX and Coursera offer programs from many different sources. Some schools, like Harvard, Stanford, and even Oxford offer access to a lot of their classes for free online. Some include the lecture notes, assignments and even exams. Even auditing a class in your chosen field is a boost to your resume.

Click below for more detailed information.

Get a job. I know I sound like a broken record…get a job, get a job, get a job. But seriously, get a job.

Take on a summer project: Another good use of your summer is to work on a project that will showcase your skills, either to schools or potential employers.

• If you’re interested in management, organize a rummage sale for charity. Manage the process from initiation through wrap-up.

• Computer science? Create an app or design a game. Make sure your code is clean and well-documented so the recipient can easily follow your logic.

• Communications? Create a podcast on a meaningful subject.

• Art? Work hard on your portfolio.

• Healthcare? Volunteer at a hospital

• Are you good with tech? Volunteer at a local senior center to help seniors with their iPhones or their TV setup.

Work hard to show prospective colleges and employers that you’re willing to do what it takes to go after what you want. An impressive body of work can sometimes carry more weight than good grades.

Upcoming

May 8th: Registration deadline for the June 13th ACT

May 22nd: Registration deadline for the June 6th SAT

May 26th: Deadline for late registration and changes for the June 6th SAT

May 29th: Deadline for late registration for the June 13th ACT

Scholarships

As usual, here is the link to a ton of scholarships with a deadline in May.

Are You a Fan of Clean Water?

Put your broom where your mouth is and apply for the Wavemakers Scholarship. The description is, “Join young changemakers like you who are making waves for cleaner communities and cleaner rivers, lakes, oceans, and other waterways. Let’s sweep our streets, educate our communities, and make waves to be eligible to earn a $1,500 scholarship.”