(NAPSA)—In order to make the grade in college, incoming college freshmen will need to assume a numberof responsibilities, such as managing budgets, establishing good habits and understanding limits. “Tt’s never too early for parents to prepare their children for the next step after high school graduation,” said Sara Martinez Tucker, president and chief executiveofficer of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s leading organization focused on Hispanic higher education. “We work with thousands of students and their families, providing them with guidance, information and the tools to successfully manage the transition to college.” Here are sometips to help students make a straight-A transition to campuslife: Arssess the budget. Planning for college includes forecasting the costs—from tuition to housing to meals—as well as other expenses that tend to change over time. Create a budget and forecasting grid, keeping tally of daily spending to makethe grid more accurate. A+ccrue the money. Once you have been accepted to a university, determine financial aid eligibility. Criteria include having a financial need, a high school diploma and a valid Social Security number. One mustbe enrolled in an eligible degree program, be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen, and maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed/gov). Atpply for scholarships. Research and apply for grants and scholarships to subsidize your education. Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and scholarships are awarded oncriteria that include academics, leadership skills or athletics. For example, HSF asks that applicants be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens of Hispanic heritage. Grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back. A+ttend freshman orientation. This experience will provide an introduction to the campus, faculty and all aspects of the college environment. In most cases, stu- dents will meet their college advisors during orientation and receive help with early registration. Atssume good habits. Help students figure out a daily schedule and health regimen, such as taking a nap in the afternoons to revitalize from morning classes, eating the correct foods and exercising regularly to better handle the stress of the transition. Atim to get involved. Reinforce with incoming freshmen the need to know their college professors, and to feel confident about approaching them with questions. Suggest involvement with any numberof student organizations and functions, such as student government, intramuralathletics or associations such as HSF’s Scholar Chapters. This helps students establish a sense of community on their campuses and network amongpeers, a critical factor to academic achievement. For more information about HSF’s scholarship offerings, visit www.hsf.net. wenn ene e eee e eee e eee e eee e ee OTe eee Note to Editors: Although the information provided is evergreen, please note that May is National Scholarship Month.
