College-Bound Students - Organization is a MUST!

College-bound students MUST be organized when it comes to applications, forms and documents they will write and receive. There are hundreds of documents (both electronic and paper) students and parents will mail and receive over the next months of the college application and financial aid processes. Filing systems are essential for easy storage and retrieval of important documents throughout the academic year.

MyCollegeCalendar.org describes the files and folders needed for easy filing and retrieval of electronic and paper documents, as well as e-mails:

The filing system for ELECTRONIC documents should include folders for:
1. Each college to which a student is applying.
2. Scholarships and grants.
3. General / Miscellaneous information.

The filing system for E-MAILS should include separate folders for:
1. Each college to which a student is applying.
2. Financial aid (scholarships, grants, and loans)
3. Miscellaneous information.

The filing system for PAPER documents is something families can make themselves for under $20. This filing system should include a simple file box with hanging files and manila folders. There should be 1 hanging file for general information with folders for (1) scholarships, (2) FAFSA documents, (3) transcript copies, (4) résumé copies, (5) letters of recommendation, (6) SAT/ACT tests, etc. In addition, there should be a hanging file for each college a student is applying to with each of those college hanging files containing folders for (1) application information, (2) financial aid, (3) correspondence, (4) campus visits, etc.

Being organized during the college application and financial aid processes will help families manage this stressful year and, perhaps, keep some of their sanity.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.