To Stop Teen Drinking Parties, Fine The Parents

When it comes to teenage drinking, the typical venue is a party — where some teens play drinking games and binge. It may surprise you to learn that the majority of parents are aware that alcohol is flowing at these events.

On any given weekend, some teenagers receive three to four text messages about parties, says Bettina Friese, a public health researcher at the Prevention Research Center in Oakland, Calif.

Friese recently conducted a study on teen drinking. She interviewed 1,100 teenagers living in Northern California. Most did not host parties with alcohol. But of the 39 percent who did, 70 percent said their parents knew kids at the party were drinking. Twenty-four percent said their parents "probably" knew, leaving just a handful of parents in the dark.

The bottom line is you can't provide alcohol to minors, period.

- Officer Bernadette Compean, Ventura County police

Now some communities across the United States are trying to hold these parents accountable and fine them for allowing underage drinking in their homes.

When Friese interviewed parents about why they allowed alcohol, there were many excuses, she says — everything from concern about alienating their children to worries that imposing strict rules might encourage more dangerous rebellion.

Many parents felt drinking was inevitable, she says. One mother told Friese, "I'd rather they make their mistakes when they're at home than when they're away."

Many parents said they believed it was safer for their child (and even their child's friends) to drink at their house rather than someplace else, Friese says. The biggest concern among the parents was drunken driving; many said they had their child's friends stay the night to avoid driving. Many parents said they knew it was "wrong" to allow alcohol at teen parties. But, Friese says, they felt they had no choice.

SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS

15-Plus Drinks A Night: Teenagers Binge At Dangerous Heights

That may be changing. Nationwide, cities and communities are starting to crack down. So far, 28 states have some sort of social host law on the books. These laws hold adults responsible for any underage drinking that happens on their property.

The details of the law vary, community to community and state to state. One of the most stringent laws is in Ventura County in California, says Bernadette Compean, an alcohol beverage control officer with the Ventura Police Department.

"The bottom line is you can't provide alcohol to minors, period," she says, adding that Ventura is the only county in California where all of the cities have similar laws.

SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS

Can We Predict Which Teens Are Likely To Binge Drink? Maybe

The county's laws are crystal clear: If you're 21 or older and you host a party where alcohol is available to teenagers, you can be fined $1,000 on the spot. If parents aren't home, the teen who's hosting the party gets the ticket. And to make sure tickets don't get ignored, police promptly follow up with a letter to parents informing them about the party, the ticket and the $1,000 fine.

If police are called a second time in one year, the fine doubles to $2,000 plus the cost of city services — which can run into thousands of dollars more if the fire department or other emergency services are involved. Compean says most teens and parents get the message the first time. She hasn't been called back much for second offenses.

Since the law was passed six years ago, underage drinking has declined throughout the county, and teenagers report that it's become more difficult to obtain alcohol.

And it's not just in Ventura that such laws are changing behavior. Public health researcher M.J. Paschall, also with the Prevention Research Center, recently did astudy comparing cities in California that had social host laws with cities that did not.

"We found that cities with more stringent and enforceable social host laws had lower levels of drinking at parties among teenagers compared to cities with less stringent laws, or without any kind of social host law," Paschall says.

He plans future research to see if the laws also result in fewer alcohol-related accidents and injuries — especially from drunken driving.

7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA

If you need financial aid to help you pay for college, it’s important that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The good news? The FAFSA is simpler than ever! Did you know that, on average, it only takes 23 minutes complete? That equates to roughly one episode of your favorite TV program, so no excuses about not having the time. Record that TV show and watch it later.

Click here for an alternate version of the video with an accessible player.

To speed up the FAFSA process, get prepared early. Here is what you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA:

1. Your Federal Student Aid PIN* — In order to sign your FAFSA electronically, you’ll need a Federal Student Aid PIN. You can help to prevent processing delays by getting a PIN before you begin the FAFSA. Find out how to get a PIN and what to do if you forgot your PIN. It only takes a minute.
2. Your social security number* — If you don’t know it, it can be found on your social security card. If you don’t have access to that, it may be on your birth certificate or permanent resident card. If you don’t have one of those, or don’t know where it is, ask your parent or legal guardian. If you’re a dependent student, you’ll need their help with portions of the FAFSA anyway. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you’ll also need your Alien Registration Number.
3. Your driver’s license number — If you don’t have a driver’s license, then don’t worry about this step.
4. Your tax records* — Use income records for the tax year prior to the academic year for which you are applying: so if you are filling out the 2015–16 FAFSA, you will need 2014 tax information. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you can always estimate the amounts using your 2013 tax return, just make sure to update your FAFSA once you file your 2014 taxes. If you have filed your taxes already, you may be able to automatically import your tax information into the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
5. Records of your untaxed income* — This includes a whole bunch of variables that may or may not apply to you, like child support received, interest income and veterans non-education benefits.
6. Records of all your assets (money)* — This includes savings and checking account balances, as well as investments like stocks and bonds and real estate.
7. List of the school(s) you are interested in attending — The schools you list on your FAFSA will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically. They will use your FAFSA information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive. You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA. If you’re applying to more than 10 schools, you can add more later. Be sure to list any school you’re considering, even if you’re not sure yet.

*If you’re a dependent student, you will need this information for your parent(s) as well.

Still have questions?

We’re here to help. Connect with us: StudentAid.gov/social.

Nicole Callahan is a new media analyst at the Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.

OnCollege: Once the sting of rejection fades, put all your energy into other applications

For many high school seniors, the last week has brought much excitement as decisions from several colleges have been released. But for countless others, these decisions have brought heartache, anger, frustration and doubt. This article is directly for those students.

I know rejection hurts. There are no words that will make the sting disappear any faster than you are ready for it to. Whether it was from your dream school or a safety school, seeing the words "We are sorry" simply brings no solace. The fact that too many qualified applicants applied this year means nothing to you. The idea that this was such a difficult decision for the admissions officers might feel like empty words. And all of that is OK.

But you do have a choice to make -- let this rejection sit with you and simply brood or take life by the reins and accept this as one of many obstacles in your life that you will overcome.

You must remember that college does not make the person. The place where you get your degree has less to do with your happiness and future success than you think it does. What you make of your college experience, how you take advantage of every opportunity, and the characteristics and skills you develop throughout your life are significantly more important factors. This does not mean give up college; rather it means don't give up on yourself because of one college's decision.

So as soon as you are ready to let go of this rejection, you must put all of your energy into your other applications. Very likely the decision had nothing to do with your application specifically, but you should still thoroughly review remaining applications to make sure they truly represent the best you. If you need to make adjustments, spend the time. It will be worth it.

Re-evaluate but don't re-create your college list. Perhaps you want to throw on a few more safety or target schools or narrow down the list of remaining schools. You don't have to start from scratch. Assuming that you built your list with practicality in mind from the beginning, your college list should still be intact. Ask your counselor for help if you just need some objective feedback.

And don't do anything rash like calling the admissions office to let it know how big of a mistake it made, bad-mouthing other students who were admitted, blaming others for the denial, or really anything that would show your character in a bad light. Sure, you have every right to be upset, but you still have to stay classy. Some schools, very few, are willing to give feedback to students about their applications. Call and ask for that feedback if the school is willing, but don't argue against it. Use that information for other applications.

Mostly, keep your head up high. This one decision does not and should not diminish your accomplishments and hard work. The admissions officers are being truthful when they say how difficult it is to make these decisions. And often, while the system does not seem as meritocratic as it promises to be, there are factors out of your control. So although you did everything right it just wasn't a good fit this year. That, unfortunately, is a part of life. So you did not get into this one school -- so what? This just means that you are going to take a different path than you expected. Perhaps this new path will bring you adventures you could never have imagined and opportunities that seemed beyond reach.

To those students who are feeling down right now, this sting will subside and in its place will be the excitement of something unexpected. You can still have an amazing college experience, you just have to be open to it. And when spring rolls around and you have some acceptances in hand, you might even be thankful for this one rejection.

Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the Bay Area to achieve their educational goals. Email her at purvi@insight-education.net.

Community college programs can lead to big payoffs

When it comes to higher education, we've all heard the talking points: More people than ever are pursuing four-year degrees — despite skyrocketing tuition costs — because they don't have many other choices if they want to be competitive in the workforce.

But new research suggests that some community college degrees, which are much less expensive, can significantly increase a student's potential income.

Analyzing seven years of post-graduation data from more than 20,000 students who attended Washington state's 34 community and technical colleges, researchers from Columbia University and the Career Ladders Project in Oakland, Calif., found that programs that take more than a year to complete lead to better employment odds and higher wages — sometimes even more so than a bachelor's degree.

There has been scarce research on community colleges, says Mina Dadgar, one of the study's lead authors and director of research at the Career Ladders Project, leading to the assumption that the schools are less valuable than they really are. The fact that many associate degrees, particularly in humanities, are meant only to get students in the door at four-year colleges and thus aren't useful by standard measures also undermines community colleges' reputations.

In more practical fields, though — including health care, technology and skilled labor — students with community college credentials can make their way into the workforce and immediately start earning salaries above $50,000 according to theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"This is an affordable investment," Dadgar says. "For many students, community colleges are a way to earn a family-supporting wage, but we don't really think of them that way."

Women in particular benefit from the programs, receiving as much as 15 percent higher wages than women who dropped out of four-year colleges.

But students do need to invest some time to get those returns. Short-term certificates, which take less than a year to pursue, don't lead to significant economic return, the study found — unless they're combined with deliberate foresight about what comes next.

"The challenge is, many credentials are not well thought through," says James Stone, director of the National Research Center for Career & Technical Education. "They're dead ends."

Both Stone, who had no affiliation with the study, and Dadgar stressed two main points: First, policymakers need to start making it so that short-term certificates can build off one another. And second, high school counselors — who, they say, for the most part promote only the four-year track — need to use these data to present community college as a legitimate option for students.

"We still have this belief that the four-year college is the only pathway," Stone says. "This is the perfect time to promote these opportunities."

(The study, which was published by the American Educational Research Association, was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a prominent donor to NPR.)

Copyright 2014 Ozy.com. To see more, visit http://www.ozy.com/.

Preparing for the 2015 FAFSA

When high school seniors have completed their college applications it is time to sit back and relax, right? Not necessarily! If financial assistance will be important in attending college, there is more work to be done. Any monies coming from federal sources, like loans, Pell Grants and federal work study, require students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even for parents to take out a federal PLUS loan, the FAFSA must be completed. Most colleges require the FAFSA be filed before they will offer any institutional need-based aid as well. Every January 1st a new FAFSA is available for incoming and current college students. Each year the federal government makes changes, some years very few, other years more substantial, to the form. However even though we can expect a few changes to the 2015 form, the basics remain the same.

So while waiting for the form to go live, there is preparation that families can do to get a jump start on the FAFSA process. For many families they will be filling out the FAFSA for the first time and it can sound daunting. The federal Student Aid website does a great job of explaining the FAFSA and its process in online videos and with posted resources. Students and at least one parent will need to register for a Federal Student Aid PIN. While FAFSA filers can register for a PIN at the time of filing, it can take up to three days to authenticate so it makes the process easier to get the PIN in advance. This year the process will change to filers creating username and password logins, but not until April 25, so students and parents should still register for their PIN in order to complete the FAFSA.

Both the student and at least one parent will need to provide information for the form unless the student is considered independent. The FAFSA and StudentAid.gov website both provide the questions that will help a student figure out if they are considered an independent student or not.

The next step in preparation is gathering documents. Filers will need their social security card, driver’s license, alien registration number for non-US citizens, federal income tax records, wage statements, records of certain types of untaxed income, records of current value of certain assets and the name of one or more schools to receive application data. For more information on the documents needed, check out the Student Aid website.

After students and parents have registered for a FSA PIN and gathered the required documents the next step is to check the college and universities deadlines for filing the FAFSA. Missing a financial aid deadline can have severe consequences in being awarded financial aid. Families can’t start the FAFSA until January 1st and most colleges have deadlines in early February or March for FAFSA submission. Many families worry that they need to have their taxes filed before filing the FAFSA, which is not true. It does make it easier to complete the FAFSA as it now can link directly to IRS tax filing information, but families can still use wage estimates and submit the FAFSA. Once taxes are complete then you can go back into the FAFSA and make the necessary updates.

Bottom line for the FAFSA is prepare and file EARLY for best results!

7 Myths About the FAFSA and Applying for Financial Aid

I’m currently a junior in college, which means the 2014-15 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM) will be the last time I complete the FAFSA. However, my sister is going to be starting college in the fall and will be filling out the FAFSA for the first time. Luckily for her, she’ll have me to help her along the way.

Looking back to the first time I completed the FAFSA, I remember some misconceptions that I had about filling it out —and some of my friends had the same ones. Turns out these myths weren’t true. The FAFSA really is an easy-to-complete, online application that will help you plan for and finance your education.

I wanted to share some of these common myths about the FAFSA and applying for financial aid with you. You can also check out Federal Student Aid’s video that addresses these common myths!

1. I won’t qualify for financial aid because my parents (or I) make too much money.Actually, there isn’t an income cutoff to qualify for financial aid. Your eligibility for financial aid is based on a number of factors and not just your or your parents’ income. Plus, many states and schools use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for their aid. Fill out the application and find out what you can get!
2. I don’t have good grades, so I won’t be eligible for financial aid.Completing the FAFSA isn’t the same as applying to college. Most federal student aid programs don’t take your grades into consideration when you apply. Just remember, once you’re in college, you do need to maintain satisfactory academic progress  in order to continue receiving federal aid.
3. I’m too old to qualify for financial aid.Federal student aid programs don’t take your age into consideration.
4. The application is too hard to fill out!Since it’s available online, the FAFSA is easier than ever to complete. The form uses “skip logic,” so you are only asked the questions that are relevant to you. If you’ve filed your taxes, then you can transfer your tax return data into your FAFSA automatically. And as you go through the application, there will be guided assistance in the margins to help you answer each question. Plus, the FAFSA website has a Help page that addresses most frequently asked questions.
5.   I have to wait until I (my parents) file taxes.Since some colleges have FAFSA deadlines that are before the tax filing deadline, it’s important to complete the FAFSA early. You can use estimates on your FAFSA by basing them off of last year’s taxes. After you file your taxes, you can log back into the FAFSA and input your updated tax information.
6. I support myself, so I don’t have to include parent info.This is not necessarily true. Even if you support yourself and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. You can determine your dependency status by answering these questions. If you are independent, you don’t need to include your parents’ information on your FAFSA. If you are dependent, you need to provide your parents’ information.
7. I completed the FAFSA my freshman year, so I don’t have to complete it again.As I said, this will be my fourth time completing the FAFSA. You should complete the FAFSA each year you plan to attend college or career school.

7 Common FAFSA Mistakes

1.      Not Completing the FAFSA

I hear all kinds of reasons: “The FAFSA is too hard,” “It takes to long to complete,” I never qualify anyway, so why does it matter.” It does matter. By not completing the FAFSA you are missing out on the opportunity to qualify for what could be thousands of dollars to help you pay for college. The FAFSA takes most people 23 minutes to complete, and there is help provided throughout the application. Oh, and contrary to popular belief, there isno income cut-off when it comes to federal student aid

2.      Not Being Prepared

The online FAFSA has gotten a lot easier over the last few years. We’ve added skip logic, so you only see questions that are applicable to you. There is also an option to import your tax information from the IRS directly into the FAFSA application. But, the key to making the FAFSA simple is being prepared. You’ll save yourself a lot of time by gatheringeverything you need to complete the FAFSA before you start the application

3.      Not Reading Carefully

You’re on winter break and probably enjoying a vacation from reading for a couple weeks. I get it. But when it comes to completing the FAFSA, you want to read each question carefully. Too many students see delays in their financial aid for simple mistakes that could have been easily avoided.

Don’t rush through these questions:

• Your Number of Family Members (Household size): The FAFSA has a specific definition of how you or your parents’ household size should be determined. Read the instructions carefully. Many students incorrectly report this number.
• Amount of Your Income Tax: Income tax is not the same as income. It is the amount of tax that you (and if married, your spouse) paid on your income earned from work. Your income tax amount should not be the same as your adjusted gross income (AGI). Where you find the amount of your income tax depends on which IRS form you filed.
• Legal Guardianship: One question on the FAFSA asks: “As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?” Many students incorrectly answer “yes” here. For this question, the definition of legal guardianship does not include your parents, even if they were appointed by a court to be your guardian. You are also not considered a legal guardian of yourself.

4.      Inputting Incorrect Information

The FAFSA is an official government form. You must enter your information as it appears on official government documents like your birth certificate and social security card. Examples:

• Entering the Wrong Name (Yes, I’m serious): You wouldn’t believe how many people have issues with their FAFSA because they entered an incorrect name on the application. It doesn’t matter if you’re Madonna, or Drake, or whatever Snoop Lion is calling himself these days. You must enter your full name as it appears on official government documents. No nicknames.
• Entering the Wrong Social Security Number (SSN): When we process FAFSAs, we cross check your social security number with the Social Security Administration. To avoid delays in processing your application, triple check that you have entered the correct SSN. If you meet our basic eligibility criteria, but you or your parents don’t have a SSN, follow these instructions.

5.      Not Reporting Parent Information

Even if you fully support yourself, pay your own bills, file your own taxes, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes, and therefore, you’ll need to provide your parent(s) information on your FAFSA. Dependency guidelines for the FAFSA are determined by Congress and are different from those of the IRS. Find out whether or not you need to provide parent information by answering these questions.

6.      Not Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

For many, the most difficult part about filling out the FAFSA is entering in the financial information. But now, thanks to a partnership with the IRS, students and parents who are eligible can automatically transfer the necessary tax info into the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This year, the tool will launch on February 2, 2014. In most cases, your information will be available from the IRS two weeks after you file. It’s also one of the best ways to prevent errors on your FAFSA and avoid any processing delays.

Note: If you used income estimates to file your FAFSA early, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your FAFSA two weeks after you file your 2013 taxes.

7.      Not Signing the FAFSA

So many students answer every single question that is asked, but fail to actually sign the FAFSA with their PIN and submit it. This happens for many reasons, maybe they forgot their PIN, or their parent isn’t with them to sign with the parent PIN, so the FAFSA is left unsubmitted. Don’t let this happen to you. If you don’t have or don’t know your PIN, apply for one. If you would like confirmation that your FAFSA has been submitted, you cancheck your status immediately after you submit your FAFSA online.

Nicole Callahan is a new media analyst at the Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.

Parents: Tips To Help Your Child Complete the FAFSA

If you’re a parent of a college bound child, the financial aid process can seem a bit overwhelming.  Who’s considered the parent? Who do you include in household size?  How do assets and tax filing fit into the process? Does this have to be done every year?  Here are some common questions that parents have when helping their children prepare for and pay for college or career school:

Why does my child need to provide my information on the FAFSA?

While we provide over $150 billion in financial aid each year, the federal student aid programs are based on the assumption that it is primarily your and your child’s responsibility to pay for college.  If your child was born after January 1, 1991 then most likely he or she is considered a dependent student and you’ll need to include your information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM).

Who’s considered a parent when completing the FAFSA?

If you need to report parent information, here are some guidelines to help you:

• If your legal parents (your biological and/or adoptive parents) are married to each other, answer the questions about both of them, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex.
• If your legal parents are not married to each other and live together, answer the questions about both of them, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex.
• If your parent is widowed or was never married, answer the questions about that parent.
• If your parents are divorced or separated, follow these guidelines.

More information on who’s considered the parent can be found here:http://1.usa.gov/1fdcCy2

Who’s considered part of the household?

When completing your child’s FAFSA, you should include parents, any dependent student(s) and any other child who lives at home and receives more than half of theirsupport from you in the household size.  Also include any people who are not your children but who live with you and for whom you provide more than half of their support.

Do I need to wait until I file my income taxes?

In some states there are deadlines for additional monies so you’ll want to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st.  You do not need to wait until you file your federal tax return.  If you haven’t done your taxes by the time you complete the FAFSA, you can estimate amounts based on the previous year if nothing has drastically changed.  After you file your taxes, you’ll need to log back in to the FAFSA and correct any estimated information.  If you’ve already filed your taxes, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically pull in your tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA.

Do I need to do this every year?

Yes, you and your child need to complete the FAFSA each year in order for your child to be considered for federal student aid.  The good news is that each subsequent year you can use the Renewal Application option so you only have to update information that has changed from the previous year!

What else do I need to know before I begin?

You’ll need to get a PIN and have all the necessary documents before you begin.  Here’s a handy checklist: http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out

Susan Thares is Digital Engagement Lead at the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid.

10 Steps to Make Your Junior Year Count

From: http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/2014/steps-make-junior-year-count/

Your junior year is a pivotal point in your college experience: You’ve officially surpassed the halfway mark to achieving a college diploma and taken on the role of an upperclassman. Now is the time to take your experience one step further.

After two years of adjusting to college, your junior year is about digging in to your college experience and seriously weighing your post-graduation options.

NerdScholar asked the experts to offer their best advice for college juniors. Whether you’re a transfer or traditional four-year student, make this year count by staying on track to graduate with these 10 steps.

In the first few months…

1. Reflect on your college experience so far.

Let your experiences from your first two years inform your next two. Think about what you’ve enjoyed up to this point and continue down that path. If that means sticking with a club you’ve been involved in, find ways to take your experience there to the next level.

The beginning of junior year also marks a huge transition for transfer students, those who’ve just come from another two- or four-year college.

“I would highly recommend they spend time thinking about what they felt was lacking at their previous institution, if that was their reason for transferring, and seek out ways to find that connection or resource at their new institution,” says Leslie Page, the assistant director of orientation services in the center for student progress at Youngstown State University in Ohio. “Hopefully if they find what they felt they were missing elsewhere, they will already be happier or more comfortable at the new institution.”

2. Engage in your major.

“Students need to engage deeply in the curriculum of their college and major, says Richard Handler, director of the University of Virginia’s global development studies program and a professor of anthropology. “They need to learn ways of understanding and analyzing the world that employers will respect. Often employers are less interested in narrowly defined ‘skills’ than in the ability to tackle a problem, conceptually, from a variety of perspectives,” he says.

Dive into your major by getting to know your professors, tackling extra research assignments or joining clubs within your major. Aim for a high grade point average, especially if you’re considering graduate school.

3. Study abroad.

If you didn’t plan to study abroad in your first semester, seriously consider applying for the next one. Studying abroad in your third year is an especially good time because you’ve adjusted to the demands of college and can still enjoy ample time on campus after your travels.

“Any international travel experience you can have will expose you to new cultures, languages, methods, customs, traditions,” says Brian Duggan, the assistant class dean of first-year programs at Babson College in Massachusetts. “In our global economy,” he says, “these experiences will provide you with a valuable perspective that will last long after you graduate from college.”

Know that you don’t have to decide between studying abroad and gaining valuable work experience. Many study abroad programs will help you find an internship in your host city. Arrange an internship while you’re studying or, better yet, consider extending your trip and taking on a job after you program ends, says Lisa Gavigan, the director of career services at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Not only will you gain the experience employers want to see, you’ll also learn more about your city’s culture than you might’ve otherwise.

By halfway through the year…

4. Interact with alumni in your field.

“Build your network before you need it,” says Meredith Tornabene, the assistant director of career counseling at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies in New York. Alumni are typically willing to lend a helping hand to students of their alma mater. Make connections while you’re still in school and get a feel for what life in your dream job might be like. “Definitely utilize any resource that can put you in touch with alumni who work in a career you’re considering since they were in your exact shoes at some point and are a goldmine of advice,” Tornabene says.

5. Develop a professional online presence.

It goes without saying nowadays that your online presence plays a large role in defining your personal brand—namely, how you represent yourself as a professional. Enhance your online presence well before you enter the professional world. “A solid LinkedIn profile can give a college junior a competitive edge for any career opportunity, says Eric Melniczek, a career adviser at High Point University in North Carolina. He recommends using social media to develop your emerging personal brand, which will serve you well long after college is in the rearview mirror.

Blogging is an easy way to gain exposure. “Consider publishing something about your career interest either on a personal blog, Tumblr, or just a post on LinkedIn,” Tornabene says. “Even a ‘Top 5 Things I Learned At My Internship’ post can speak volumes about your writing ability and readiness to join the workforce.”

6. Craft your story to share with employers.

“Your resume looks like the resume of a lot of other college junior [and] seniors,” Duggan says. “Your story makes you stand out.” Be prepared to talk about yourself and market your experiences when meeting potential employers during interviews or at career fairs. Duggan says to refine your story by explaining what you’ve done and how you were affected by that experience.

7. Get internships.

Whether it’s a paid or unpaid internship position, the experience will look great on a resume and will help you nail down your interests. Better yet, “do several [internships] to experience what particular careers choices might be like if [you] were to choose [them],” says Dr. Dianna Dale, vice president of student affairs and dean of students at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York.

“If you’re struggling to get your first internship,” says Tornabene, “then think about how you can find a similar role on campus, whether it’s in an office or through a position in a student organization. That experience might convince an employer you’re ready for the next step.”

8. Go to a career fair.

“Attend job or internship fairs and career development workshops,” recommends Kelly N. Harris, the director of career services at Eureka College in Illinois. Career fairs are a great place to interact with recruiters at elite companies and employers. By attending fairs your junior year, you’ll be free to make connections and learn about companies long before your job search really starts. Plus, getting the lay of the land now will help you maximize your experience at any career fairs the following year.

[Be sure to read 9 Career Fair Tips to Get You Hired.]

By the end of the year…

9. Make a plan for senior year.

Solidifying your post-graduate plans is important, but it isn’t the whole picture. College is short, and your final year will come and go quicker than you expect, so make sure you’re embracing every step of the process.

“Reflect on how to maximize the opportunities that are afforded to you on your college campus so that you leave with no regrets,” says Dr. Leanna Fenneberg, assistant vice president of student development at Saint Louis University. Always wanted to take that art course or volunteer for a program on campus? Take advantage of this time to try new things.

For transfer students nearing the end of their first year on campus, Page recommends reflecting on how it compares to your experiences at your former school.

“If a student still feels like something is missing from their experience,” she says, “they really need to connect with someone on campus to ask questions about where to find what they are missing.”

10. Consider graduate school.

As you near the end of your third year, start thinking about what you’ll do after you graduate. If you’re entertaining the idea of graduate school, now’s the time to research application requirements and deadlines, Fenneberg says. Consider which schools you should apply to and what about them inspires you, she says.

Because many graduate school applications are due in the fall, register for any entrances exams and prepare your application materials, including letters of recommendation, before your senior year arrives.