College and Financial Aid Checklist

The following year-by-year college planning checklist has been adapted by the Guidance Department for NHS parents from

The Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions

by Sidonia Dalby and Sally Rubenstone. To order this book online from the Broadside Bookshop, click here.

"Keeping on top of college-related deadlines, dates, and things-to-do is one of the toughest parts of the admission process. The list below can help you see the big picture, but (as you've probably learned the hard way, at least once) calendars work best when you check them in advance to see what's ahead, not after the fact, to realize what you've missed.

Before you begin, consider some of these general points:

• Encourage independent reading and writing throughout your child?s school career.
• If your child has a special passion or talent (e.g., music, math, fly fishing, hula dancing), try to arrange enrichment opportunities via classes, camps, or private mentoring.
•  Don't become obsessed with the college admission process, and don't forget your life--spouse, other children, job, friends, etc.--beyond it.
• You may fret too much about decisions and nag too much about deadlines, but it's not possible to tell your child 'I love you' too often."