Stressed out about life after high school? No problem! Here's a guide for the college-bound, with information on everything from picking the right school to what you need to do to get there.

FINANCIAL AID

Willene Holmes, director of financial aid for Augusta State University, offers this advice on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA:

- Use the Web site www.FAFSA.ed.gov, and not fafsa.com, which requires a processing fee. Make sure all your information is correct, and use a working e-mail address to ensure a receipt of confirmation from the processor.

- Don't fill out the FAFSA until your parents and you have completed 2007 federal income tax returns in hand. Don't use income estimates, which cause delays.

- If you have questions, call and ask the institutional financial aid office for assistance.

Gather these items before you sit down to fill out the application:

- Social Security number

- Driver's license (if you have one)

- 2007 W-2 forms and other records of money earned

- Your 2007 federal income tax return

-Your parents' 2007 federal income tax return (if you are a dependent student)

- Your 2007 untaxed income records

- Your current bank statements

- Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records

- Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

- The FAFSA On the Web Worksheet can be found at fafsa.ed.gov/before012.htm

FINDING A COLLEGE

Beginning the journey toward college begins with looking around and looking at yourself. Lauren Swearingen, graduation coach at Evans High School, said looking at your interests is important in selecting a college.

If you're interested in engineering, you should look at colleges that offer engineering as a major. If you're undecided, consider if you're stronger in science and math or English and language arts so you can evaluate colleges on the basis of their math or liberal arts offerings.

Beyond academics, you should also look at the environment you'll be learning in. Some teens thrive in a smaller setting and others want to go to a larger school.

Your financial situation should also be kept in mind. Attending a local college and living at home is a more cost-efficient option, and the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) grant and scholarship program can offer financial assistance to qualified applicants attending college in Georgia. The HOPE scholarship is a factor to be taken into consideration when choosing a college in or out of state.

LEARN MORE: Take quizzes at

nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

princetonreview.com/college

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php

PICKING A MAJOR

Sure, you've thought about going to college, but what about what you'll do once you get there?

Bill Dodd, associate vice president of academic affairs at Augusta State University, says interest and ability are the ideal combination.

You need to ask yourself what you are good at and what you like, he said.

Some students fall into the trap of choosing a career path based on the amount of money they think they'll make, but that's not the only thing you should take into consideration.

"If you have absolutely no aptitude for that, it's not going to work out," he said.

Students have core classes that may point them in the right direction early on, he said. The Career Center at Augusta State, for example, also provides students with interest surveys to help them determine a good fit.

"If you're not sure, don't be too eager to pick a major," Dr. Dodd said.

Students may be hesitant to pick a major because they cannot see how it translates into a career. The departments on about every campus have handouts that will tell you what careers can come from which majors, he said.

"Often, you'd be surprised," he said.

Start your search by working with your high school's guidance counselors or career centers, he said.

Another thing to keep in mind is that high school courses can help or hurt you in college. In the medical field, for example, some students have to take math classes in college that they could have taken in high school, he said.

"It's a fine line," he said. "We want to be careful we don't lock students into 'I'm going to be a doctor' in eighth grade."

He advises students to be aggressive toward the future, but open.

LEARN MORE: See www.gcic.peachnet.edu.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE BY THE YEARS

FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES:Ms. Swearingen, the graduation coach at Evans, said the most important thing high school freshmen and sophomores can do is pass all of their classes.

"They really do not realize how important a clear academic record is," she said.

Any classes failed should be made up as soon as possible, but definitely by the junior year. Some students are engaged in crisis management because they reach spring semester of their senior year without making up an earlier failed class.

For many students, walking with their friends and classmates across the stage at graduation is important, so getting students back on track is essential before that becomes an issue.

Getting involved in extracurricular activities, volunteer work and hobbies is important as well, as colleges look beyond academics.

"They need to continue to show a serious involvement," Ms. Swearingen said, not just joining every club senior year.

"Colleges will know you're just trying to pad your rÃsumÃ."

JUNIORS: This is the year to take the SAT or ACT tests.

It's also the year to begin the arduous process of looking for potential colleges to attend.

SENIORS: After taking senior pictures over the summer, the work begins on applications. Be aware that college application deadlines vary. Help yourself to keep track of the paperwork by getting organized.

"I advise students, and did my own children before they went to college, to keep a folder at home with all that information," Ms. Swearingen said.

You'll need transcripts and records of job experience and volunteer work, Advanced Placement course work, extracurricular-activity information, and any accomplishments or awards.

Senior year is also the time to apply for scholarships. You should start looking junior year, but senior year is generally the earliest you can apply.

An on-line tool to utilize is the Georgia Student Finance Commission's site for college information, gacollege411.org.

"All Georgia students need that if they're going to college at all," Ms. Swearingen said.

The site keeps track of financial aid, as well as providing useful college search and major tools.