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You’ll find stories about planning, preparing and paying for college for students of all ages, as well as general education news that you can use. Check out the latest edition to see what it’s like.

Planning for College

Getting In Part 1

Admissions

Regardless of where you are in the educational process, you should always:

  • Pay attention to deadlines.
  • Work on your study, time management and money management skills.
  • Sign up for Your KHEAA College Connection, an electronic newsletter.
  • Like KHEAA on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about admissions and financial aid.
  • Take advantage of free college access products and services on the Internet.

Adult Checklist

One of the most helpful things you can do to ease the process of returning to school is to set up a checklist of what you need to remember. You might want to include these items:

  • Figure out exactly where you are in terms of your education. Do you have a high school diploma or a GED, or do you need to finish those first? If you already have some college credits, how much can you count toward your program? You might want to take some free courses online or at an adult education center to get the rust off some skills.
  • Be specific about your goals. If you want to get an associate’s degree in two years, check the program requirements and draw up a schedule that will let you complete the required classes in that length of time.
  • Be realistic about your goals. If you have to support a family while going to school, you may have to take classes part-time. If you just don’t get math, engineering may not be the field for you.
  • Write down and share your goals. Writing them down and sticking those on the refrigerator will remind you of what you’re aiming for and what you have to do. Sharing them with others who support you can help you through the hard times.
  • Create a MyKHEAA account. That will let you set up an ILP and give you access to personal interest and career development tools.
  • Pick the right college for you. Colleges offer different programs, plus different options within those programs. Make sure the colleges you’re considering offer what you need. Check to make sure not only the school but the program is accredited.
  • Find out what the college requires. Do you need to take a specific test, such as the ACT? What applications are required? Does the program you’re interested in have prerequisites?
  • Keep in touch with advisors. Many schools have admissions counselors trained to help adult students. They can help you navigate an often confusing process.
  • Apply for financial aid. Make sure you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you can. Use Affording Higher Education and Scholarship Search to find other sources of free aid. The less you have to pay out of your pocket and borrow, the better off you’ll be.