This is Issue #2 of our Top Tweets Tuesday Series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether your student is just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

The financial side of preparing for college is often the most stressful. Parents and students need to sit down early on in the college search process to ensure that everyone is on the same page about finances. Luckily, there are some great tools out there to help you figure out how much you will be expected to pay for college (read the article for the links and more info). One thing we want to stress on this topic: having this conversation very early is the best thing you can do for your family. If a student is interested in a college that is out of the budget, then they will know early on that they will need to work very hard to try to win scholarships to cover the cost. Or they will know that they need to consider some other schools that have a more realistic price tag. This conversation doesn’t need to be a dream crushing conversation. It’s purpose is to ensure that everyone in the family understands what is expected of them as they prepare for college. Read the full article below:

These 8 steps to crafting your best college essay will walk you through a simple process to help you get started and ensure your essay is the best it can be. The videos build on the great tips they provide. We love the brainstorming exercise idea: start by listing 3 positive adjectives you would use to describe yourself. Read all 8 tips at the link below:

If you have a student who will be starting college next fall, be sure to double-check your state and school financial aid deadlines. With the FAFSA becoming available on October 1st this year (instead of the typical January release), some schools have changed their priority deadlines for financial aid. October 1st is not the deadline; that is determined by the college or university. However, it is important to keep in mind that aid is awarded based on when you file your FAFSA. Essentially, it is first-come, first-served. Read the full article to ensure you understand these changes:

For those of you who have a summer internship, make the most of it before summer is over! How can you do this? In a nutshell: keep up the good work, take initiative, do a little reflection, and ask for a letter of recommendation. Read the full article for details:

First-generation college students (and their parents) may face some unique challenges related to planning for college. This article does a great job of bringing this issue to light and offering some concrete and valuable tips for navigating the process. Read the full article to find out what you can do to help your future first-generation college student:

Don’t forget to take college fit into account during your college search. It’s not all about location, size and cost. Students, and parents, need to consider the fit between the school and the student’s personality. Consider the academics, bureaucracy and general environment of the school. Read the full article for tips on assessing college fit:

The simplicity of this tweet is a great reminder: applying for scholarships should be treated like a job. Every hour that you spend during high school preparing for college, every time you write an essay, every tedious scholarship search you do has the potential to result in money for your education.

See you next Tuesday!