Returning to college doesn’t have to take forever. In fact, the entire process can be completed in a month or less.
Order College Transcripts
For any credits from previous education to count, students must request transcripts from their prior schools. These transcripts will give a record of the student’s classes taken, grades received and credits earned. In turn, the new schools will use this information to determine the student’s standing and remaining courses required.
Some schools have online request links, some use fax, some accept telephone requests. Costs range from free to $6/transcript on average. From the date requested, most schools won’t need more than a week to fill the order. Students can check with their admissions office at their new school.
Students who have changed their name since attending previously will need to ensure that the prior school has full information. Double check spelling as well. Minor details can cause major delays and missed opportunities.
Apply for FAFSA
While there are resources for privately sponsored college scholarships, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is like one-stop-shopping for financial aid for college. From a single application, students can qualify for five different grants (including Pell grant and others), federal student loans (including Stafford, Plus and Perkins loans), and work study programs.
Students don’t need to wait until acceptance to start the financial aid applications. The earlier the student applies the better chance she’ll get the better opportunities for work study and additional monies that may run out later.
If the student is applying to several schools, she needs to make sure the FAFSA information is sent to each one.
Apply for Admission
There is no limit to the number of colleges a prospective student may apply to. The student needs to consider the time involved with applications (some may take several hours), the cost of applying (anywhere from $30 to over $100) and the feasibility of attending any given college choice. Response times may vary, so the student's final choice of schools may not be decided until the last letter is received. Students need to watch the deadlines and make sure the process doesn't carry on too long.
Request SAT/ACT Scores
Most transfer students won’t need the college entrance exam scores. Students should contact the schools of their choices to be sure. In the event that they are needed, SAT and ACT scores may be requested online.
Gather Shot Records
College students are required to show proof of current inoculations. At bare minimum are mumps, measles and rubella (a.k.a. MMR). For many older returning students, those shots are part of ancient history. Records may be difficult to find. There are a few choices here:
Request the records from the family physician. In the event that the student hasn’t moved too often, the records may be easily found. If too much time has passed, those records may be in a storage facility and the clinic might charge an hourly rate to search for them.
Get a titer. This test shows the presence of antibodies that prove previous exposure to the disease either by inoculation or by contracting the disease. The titer is generally less expensive than redoing the shots. Many university Student Health Departments offer inoculations and titers at much reduced rates.
Get the shots again. Not generally considered the most fun, at least it’s an option. Students concerned about possible health risks should consult their physician.
There is one other step that can be taken if the student wishes to maximize the chance for financial aid, but this one needs to be done early!
Apply for Private or College-based Scholarships and Grants
Many schools and private organizations sponsor small to moderate grants and scholarships based on career interests, talents, academics, or financial need. Some offer fellowships for graduate students in amounts of tens of thousands of dollars. There are several websites that will take the student’s profile and then produce a list of different options to investigate. These can take a great deal of time for essays, letters of recommendation, contest participation, etc. Prospective students should begin looking into these options well ahead of applying to college to make sure deadlines and requirements are met.
These steps for admission are best started as soon as the student decides she wants to return to school. If all goes well and records are easily found, admission and financial aid can be completed in a couple of weeks. Still, waiting until the last minute to apply can mean missed opportunities for some forms of financial aid and possibly a tougher time getting into the desired classes.
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