Good Luck with this new and exciting chapter! :)

Definitely check out our CHS Alumni Ambassadors to connect with students to hear about their transition process!

A reference guide for college bound seniors and their parents/guardians on the transition to college.
Now that the college application frenzy is over, it is time to start thinking about preparing for college.

You will receive a lot of paperwork and e-mails from your intended college so be sure to check your snail mail and e-mail often. Look out for the following paperwork and record the dates when you returned forms to the college:

Enrollment Deposit: May 1 is typically the deadline for students across the nation to send their commitment to the college or university that they will attend the following academic year. Find out if you submit this deposit through postal mail or online.

New Student Orientation: Be sure to send back all necessary registration forms - usually new student orientation happens in the Spring or Summer months. Placement testing may also happen at this event so know before you go.

Advanced Placement Scores: If you are planning to submit your AP scores to receive college credit, identify the procedure and timeline for submitting scores.

Tuition Bill: Be sure to check your postal mail and e-mail, including the new college e-mail you may have been assigned, to find your tuition bill. Pay attention to the due date.

Health & Medical: Do you need a physical? Gather your health records, including immunization & vaccination records. Make all necessary doctor appointments. For athletes, check on specific healthcare requirements.

Housing/roommates: Look for dormitory preference forms and a housing/roommate questionnaire. Be sure to send in the housing deposit by the deadline, if not earlier. Housing is often released in the order the deposits are returned, so do not delay! Later in the summer you will receive your room/roommate assignment and move-in day information.

Students with Disabilities: If you want to receive special services at your intended college, contact the Special Services or Disability Services department to find out what documentation is required. Some may request Results of psychological evaluation (WAIS or WISC) recent within 3 years, to include a diagnosis, subtest scores, narrative/history, recommendations for accommodations, Educational evaluation that provides current levels of achievement in math, reading and written expression and your most recent IEP/504 plan if available.

Hotel Reservations: If you haven’t already reserved a hotel room for move-in day, parents weekend, and yes, even graduation, start to look into it. Reservations can book up fast!

Miscellaneous Mail: Once you deposit to the college, you will start to receive plenty of college-related advertisements. Often times student clubs, fraternities and sororities send recruitment materials. Local vendors may send dorm room essential catalogs, care package catalogs, bank and credit card offers - some of these may not interest you at all. Be sure to shred any banking/credit card information.

Most campuses offer students numerous resources, but resources are only helpful if students take advatage of them. We encourage you to locate and use all of the support that your college has to offer.

Academic Advisors: View as a mentor assigned to you. Advisors will help you:

• Develop schedule, add/drop process, change majors

• Organize classes to fulfill major

• Stay on track for graduation requirements

• Meet with advisor every semester

o Be on time, show up prepared and ask questions!

Academic Learning Centers/Tutoring and Writing Centers: Centers are dedicated to providing academic support to undergraduate students through workshops/courses, tutoring programs, and academic counseling. The overall goal of these centers is the success and retention of students and is typically accomplished by:

• Private tutoring – peer tutors for students in need of individualized help, sometimes a fee is involved.

• Academic review or drop-in sessions in various subjects for students in need of help, typically a free service

• Proofreading – typically free, trained writing tutors will review student papers both as a drop-in service or sometimes through online submission.

• Seminars/Workshops – critical academic information is presented such as study skills, note taking, research, etc.

Bursar/Student Accounts: Processes and collects tuition, housing and health insurance fees, issues refunds and distributes financial aid.

Financial Aid Office: Advisors who work with students to evaluate needs & help find resources to fund your education.

Career Services Office: Career offices are not just for seniors. Today’s campus career office can help students find campus jobs, determine appropriate majors, secure internships, formulate resumes, and practice interview skills. Connecting with a Career office early will give you an extra advantage.

Health Center: Get to know where the health center is, the center hours, the policies for making appointments, services available, and the process for emergency help if the center is not open 24 hours.

Library Reference Desk: Most college and university libraries have willing assistants whose sole job is to help students find the resources that they need for their projects. These reference librarians have made a career of tracking down resources and are excited to help students find what they need.