Doug Hewitt - Get Into College in 3 Months or Less

Youve decided to go to college but it was a last-minute decision. Time is running out. Not only was it a late decision, but people have told you that there are deadlines that you absolutely cannot miss. But what deadlines? Where do you turn next? There may be dozens of thoughts racing through your mind:

Where do I start?

How do I apply for financial aid?

Can I afford to go to college?

What are my options? Do I have any options at all?

How do I find out what I need to do?

This book is here to answer these questions and more. Were going to walk you (quickly) through the process of applying to get into college and of being awarded financial aid. Well show you where to look for answers that apply to your specific situation. In other words, were going to help you get into college and help you to find the funding sources you need.

Why 3 months or less?

Were going to stress the or less part of the title. We understand you may not have 3 months. Dont worry. Well get you through the process as quickly as possible. Remember, though, we can tell you what you need to do, but its up to you to get it done.

A Quick Note on College

We are well aware that you may not be attending a 4-year college. You could be looking at a community college for a 2-year degree. You may have decided that a technical institute will provide you with the job training you need. When we say were here to help you get into college quickly and pay for it, we mean that were going to help you get into whichever institute of higher education you choose and pay for it! But institute of higher education is such a bulky phrase that were just going to say college as a catch-all word for whichever educational institute youre looking at.

And were not being snobbish at all. We have children that are going on to Ph.D. work and others who are working toward 2-year certificates. The end of each will be employment and (hopefully) a child working happily in a field of choice. It doesnt matter which educational institute youre going for. The trick is to actually go for it, get in, get the money to pay for it, and then reap the rewards of graduation.

Those rewards include a better chance of gaining employment in a field you enjoy, getting a steady paycheck, and having some sense of job security.

OK, But...

So, youre late to the game, and you come across this book that claims to be able to help you get what you need, but why in the world is this book any different from the other books lining the proverbial wall (or the shelf at Barnes & Noble)?

Glad you asked!

Weve helped people like you, including our children, get into college and find those last-minute scholarships and other funding sources. We consider ourselves enablers, in the most positive sense of the word. We will enable you to take those first few steps to achieve your dreams. Well help you get into the program that gives you the training and the education youve set your sights on.

Not sure where youre aiming? Have a general, albeit urgent, desire to get into a degree program?

Not to worry! Well also give you some tips and pointers, based on own extensive experience, to help you narrow down your career objective, your major, the type of technical school you want to attend, or the kinds of training that will help you to achieve your goals.

What We Expect of You

Now, we can lay down bricks, one after another, and paint them gold so that you can walk all the way to Oz. But will that get you there? Absolutely not! Its imperative that you understand we can make the job easier for you. We can light the path. We can pave the way (to Oz), but we cant get you there. That job belongs to you. You have to put in the time to accomplish your objectives.

But dont worry. Even though youre running up against tight deadlines, were going to walk you briskly through our techniques for helping you to get the job done.

Fair enough?

It seems like a fair trade. A little bit of time, a little sweat, and some elbow grease from you, and well help ensure your efforts achieve the most potent results. In other words, if you walk down that golden road of bricks, well make sure you find your way to the Emerald City.

How to Use This Book

We could tell you that every single word in this book is of the utmost importance to you. But we wont. We know better. Everyones situation is different, and there may be material in some sections of this book that is more important and some that is less significant. Use the Table of Contents to help you locate what you need.

The Resources section can be valuable to everyone, though. Take a look and browse through some of the websites that weve identified. There are websites to help you find funding and to help you through the FAFSA application process. Other websites help guide you into making smart educational decisions. There are websites organized state by state, too, and these may be of particular value because state funding for college students changes so frequently.

We also think that nearly all of our readers can benefit from the 3-Month Planning Calendar we include in Chapter 3. If you have more than 3 months, consider it a checklist for the things you need to do and a guide to when you need to do them. If you have less than 3 months, do everything weve listed in Month 1 first, then move to Month 2s tasks. Remember that the tasks within each month (or even within the whole calendar) do not have to be completed in a specific order. If someone is willing to write you a letter of recommendation next week, for example, let him or her do so then you have it for later!

Throughout the book, well put in sidebars called Cramming Quick Tips. These are tips that well sprinkle here and there when we feel there is a piece of information that is especially relevant to a particular subject. Why cramming? If you know anyone whos attended college courses, there is a ritual called cramming for exams. Its last-minute studying, cramming the knowledge into memory. In a similar way, were helping you cram yourself into college (in 3 months or less).