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📋 Freshman + Parents Checklist
0 of 18 steps confirmed
📚 Higher Edu Pro
Freshman + Parents Success Checklist
Complete each step in order. Click YES on each Decision Check to save progress and unlock the next step.
📋
Student + Parent Profile
🎯 Career Choices (Top 3)
❗ Profile Complete?
Has the student profile and career choices been filled in completely?
✅ Profile saved! Define Your Why is now unlocked.
✦
Define Your Why (Required)
👉 Quick Guides & Resources
Student understands why they want to go to college or training
Parent understands the student's goals
Student and parent reviewed Quick Guides to understand the process
❗ DO NOT CONTINUE if goals are unclear.
❗ Decision Check
Are both student and parent clear on the WHY and aligned on goals?
✅ WHY confirmed! Step 1 is now unlocked.
1
Step 1: Build the Foundation (Student + Parent)
👉 Resources
Student reviewed the platform and key resources
Parent reviewed the parent role and expectations
Student and parent signed up for reminders
Family understands this process requires planning, deadlines, and regular check-ins
Family Alignment Check
We talked about school expectations
We talked about financial expectations
We agreed to review progress regularly
❗ Decision Check
Are student and parent aligned before moving forward?
✅ Foundation confirmed! Step 2 unlocked.
2
Step 2: Career Exploration
👉 Resources
Explored at least 3 career options
Compared salary, education requirements, and lifestyle fit
Parent discussed realistic outcomes with student
Top Career Matches
❗ Decision Check
Does this career path make sense academically and financially?
✅ Career exploration confirmed! Step 3 unlocked.
3
Step 3: Validate the Job Market
👉 Resources
Searched real job postings for chosen career
Reviewed required education, certifications, and experience
Checked entry-level salary expectations
Student understands what employers are looking for
❗ Decision Check
Will this path lead to real employment opportunities?
✅ Job market validated! Step 4 unlocked.
4
Step 4: Compare Education Paths + Organize School Details
👉 Resources
🎯 UTC is not just for comparing schools. UTC helps compare value, cost, outcomes, organize contacts, track deadlines, and prepare for Solicitation. Complete UTC BEFORE moving to Step 5.
📋 UTC School / Program Tracker
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
✅ UTC Step-by-Step
Compared at least 3 schools or programs
Compared degree vs certificate vs trade options (Optional)
Recorded school name, phone number, URL, deadline, and cost
Narrowed choices to top options
Student and parent discussed best-fit schools
Contact each school listed in your three choices
❗ Decision Check
Do we now have the school details needed for Solicitation?
✅ Education paths compared! Step 5 unlocked.
5
Step 5: Solicitation (Only After UTC + School Selection)
👉 Resources
⚠️ Solicitation only works AFTER: schools compared in UTC, top choices selected, school details transferred, deadlines and costs organized. If you skip UTC first, your templates will not be effective.
📧 Solicitation Step-by-Step
Transferred selected school details from UTC
Used templates only after narrowing school choices
Generated outreach messages for support
Prepared messages for desired or accepted institutions
Used school-specific details to strengthen requests
📧 Who to Contact
Admissions office
Financial aid office
Family members
Employers
Community organizations
Churches / nonprofits
Mentors / supporters
Other scholarship or support networks
❗ Decision Check
Have we selected schools and transferred details before using Solicitation?
✅ Solicitation complete! Step 6 unlocked.
6
Step 6: Reduce Cost (CLEP + Student Resources)
👉 Resources
Reviewed Student Resources page
Identified tools to reduce cost and improve success
Explored CLEP exams
Checked whether selected schools accept CLEP
Identified subjects the student may test out of
Built a plan to reduce time and cost
❗ Decision Check
Are we actively reducing cost wherever possible?
✅ Cost reduction plan confirmed! Step 7 unlocked.
7
Step 7: Cost of Living + Location Planning
👉 Resources
ℹ️ In most cases, students required to live on campus have all charges handled by financial aid. This step applies more for students NOT living on campus, or those relocating for a new career.
Researched housing, food, transportation, and living costs
Compared locations for each school option
Estimated monthly expenses
Discussed whether student will live at home, on campus, or off campus
❗ Decision Check
Can we realistically afford this location and school choice?
✅ Cost of living reviewed! Step 8 unlocked.
8
Step 8: Deadlines (Do Not Miss)
👉 Resources
Reviewed school deadlines (Contact school directly)
Reviewed early vs regular application timing (Contact school directly)
Marked FAFSA deadlines
Marked scholarship deadlines
Created family timeline for all action items
Important Deadlines
❗ Decision Check
Do student and parent know all key deadlines?
✅ Deadlines confirmed! Step 9 unlocked.
9
Step 9: Stack Funding
👉 Resources
Completed FAFSA
Applied for state grants
Reviewed school aid options
Applied for scholarships
Built a scholarship plan
❗ Decision Check
Are we minimizing out-of-pocket cost?
✅ Funding plan confirmed! Step 10 unlocked.
10
Step 10: Track Scholarships + Stay Organized
👉 Resources
Student is applying consistently — Downloaded Scholarship Tracker & using it
Parent is helping track deadlines
Scholarship tracker is updated regularly
Essays and applications are reviewed before submission
❗ Decision Check
Are we organized and consistent with scholarship applications?
✅ Scholarship tracking confirmed! Step 11 unlocked.
11
Step 11: Financial Literacy + Credit
👉 Resources
Student understands how money and credit work
Parent reviewed financial literacy resources with student
Family understands the long-term impact of borrowing
Student understands credit score basics
❗ Decision Check
Is the student financially informed before borrowing?
✅ Financial literacy confirmed! Step 12 unlocked.
12
Step 12: Build a College Budget
👉 Resources
Estimated tuition and school costs
Estimated housing and living costs
Compared income, aid, and family contribution
Built realistic monthly budget
❗ Decision Check
Is this school choice financially sustainable?
✅ Budget confirmed! Step 13 unlocked.
13
Step 13: Save Money as a Student
👉 Resources
Found cheaper textbooks
Reviewed student discounts
Found lower-cost technology and essentials
Used student resources to lower cost and improve success
Saving & Investing for the Future — saving at least $50/month, watch compound interest work!
❗ Decision Check
Are we using all available savings tools?
✅ Savings plan confirmed! Step 14 unlocked.
14
Step 14: Career Preparation
👉 Resources
Built or started resume
Reviewed resume resources
Created LinkedIn profile
Explored internships, jobs, and experience opportunities
Connected school choice to future career opportunities
❗ Decision Check
Is the student preparing for employment before graduation?
✅ Career prep confirmed! Step 15 unlocked.
15
Step 15: Track Progress
👉 Resources
Reviewing progress weekly
Updating school choices and deadlines
Staying accountable as a family
Taking action consistently
Tracking credits completed — Meet Academic Advisor every semester/Qtr
Parent + Student Agreement
❗ Decision Check
Are we staying on track and reviewing progress regularly?
✅ Progress tracking confirmed! Final section unlocked.
🎓
Final Confirmation
We selected schools before using Solicitation
We transferred school information correctly
We reduced total education cost where possible
We built a financial plan
We are staying organized and on track
We are preparing for long-term success
🎓 Complete Checklist
Confirm you have completed all steps and are ready to finalize your checklist.
🎓 Checklist complete! Your full PDF has been saved and submitted.