Committed to a college: 4 things students should do next

As students celebrate their college commitments Friday, local admission counselors said there are still many steps that incoming freshmen need to complete before setting foot on campus later this year.

Students and their parents can expect to fill out a lot of paperwork, including housing applications, roommate interest forms and meal selection plans, they said. Immunization and health records will also need to be submitted.

The counselors recommend families check their email and university portals regularly for updates.

Here are four more tips for navigating this next phase in the college process:

Review your financial aid package

Mark A. Cortez, executive director of admissions at Stony Brook University, said it’s important for students to check their financial aid packages to determine if any changes have been made or if they are eligible for more aid.

“After commitment, there are additional opportunities that we want them to be applying for,” Cortez said. "That would change maybe some planning that they need to do around the payment process that will happen in the next few months.”

Sarah M. Turon, Hofstra’s director of student recruitment and success pathway, said if families have any questions about their packages, they should set up an appointment with their campus financial office so they know what to expect when receiving their first bill.

Prepare for orientation and academic advising

Turon said signing up for orientation should be one of a student’s first moves after committing to college.

“That’s going to be their most exciting part of their summer … and something that’s going to give them a great introduction to whichever university they chose,” Turon said.

Cortez said students should prepare for academic advising by requesting and submitting transcripts for their AP exam scores and college credits.

“The importance of us receiving those is so we can help to prepare and build an appropriate schedule for them for the fall,” Cortez said.

Start connecting

For students who plan to live on campus, Turon advised them to reach out to their roommates and start building relationships before moving into the dorm.

“It might seem small, but it creates this excitement of like, this is our shared space and we’re going to make it our own,” Turon said.

She said incoming freshmen should also start following university social media accounts.

Have fun!

Amid the paperwork and packing, Cortez said one of the best things students can do now is enjoy the final moments of their high school careers.

“It’s important for students to take a step back and enjoy the last part of their senior year, including all of the traditional elements … their senior prom, their graduation ceremonies and parties,” he said. “It’s important for them to take a step back, catch their breath and really enjoy the last part of their senior year.”