Financial Aid Planning Timeline

College Freshman Year
All college freshman year planning steps are shown.
Financial Aid Planning steps are highlighted.

Keep thinking about your skills, values and interests, and how they can connect to careers. Learn About YourselfExplore Careers 
Keep your eyes open for internship and job shadowing opportunities arranged by your school.  
Participating in campus clubs and organizations is a great way to get some experience and meet people.
Look for activities that fit with careers that interest you. 		 
Keep your resume up to date.
Be sure to note any awards or scholarships you earn, and extra courses or workshops you participate in. 		Resume Builder 
Continue to research scholarships and other awards that fit with your qualifications. Scholarship Finder 
If you're interested in a certain major, visit your professors during office hours.
You want to develop relationships with people in your field. 		Explore Careers 
Talk to your academic advisor to make sure you're taking the right courses for your goals.
If you have a career in mind, research the academic qualifications thoroughly.		  
Arrange informational interviews with people in careers that interest you.  
Interested in a part-time job for some extra income and work experience?
Be sure to consider your academic schedule before you commit. 		 
Not sure exactly what you want to study in college?
Visit your campus career center for some assessments that can help.		 Explore Programs and Majors 
Attend any career fairs offered at your school.  
Try out courses in areas you'd like to explore a little further.
First year is a good time to test out survey classes — classes that give an overview of a certain area of study. 		 
Think about the best way to spend your summer.
There are lots of options to explore: summer jobs, study programs, internship programs.		  



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