Truth: Far too many students fall into the mindset that they have to get jobs that look good on a college application. The truth is you'll be better off if you follow your passion and focus on the things that matter most to you.

Use your summer to determine what it is you want for your future. If you decide to take a class or work a specific job, do so because it interests you, not only because it looks good to the admissions department at a particular school. Having solid job experience is important, but it's even more important to do something that is exciting and fulfilling to you.

Many of you are probably also concerned about paying for college and a summer job may help pay the bills. While it is true every penny can help, you can get started on financing college in other ways, such as by applying for scholarships or financial aid the summer before your last year of high school.

Other things to do the summer before your senior year:

• Request financial aid information and start asking for college applications. Check out the CollegeBoard's Financial Aid EasyPlanner for help.
• Begin searching for scholarships on online databases, such as Scholarship Monkey and Fastweb.
• Talk to your friends who went to college this past year and find out what they are doing to help pay for college. Ask around to see which schools have good financial aid programs.
• Make a note of questions that arise throughout the summer, so that you’re prepared for the next meeting with your school counselor come fall.
• Read blogs, like MyCollegeOptions or FAFSA Online, which offer tips on how to pay for college.
• Instead of getting a job that's a "resume-builder", try that random and intriguing gig that's always interested you. For inspiration, check out some of the weird summer occupations some celebrities have had, such as lion-taming or chicken-plucking.

If you are an avid My College Options^® reader, you've heard us mention the FAFSA application process over and over again. There's a good reason for that: Beyond academic and extracurricular accomplishments,college financial aid centers around the FAFSA application.

Because we are committed to getting you through the college admissions process, we are going to do a weekly guide with every reason we can think of to get you through the financial aid process. Remember, getting accepted is great, but enrolling and being able to afford to attend is even better!

FAFSA Rule One: Get your family to file their 2008 taxes now!

You can't complete the FAFSA until you have last year's income tax returns in hand. Remember, FAFSA is "first come; first serve"- so your next click needs to be the FAFSA website

According to a recent article entitled "Don't Be Afraid of FAFSA",competition for government and college-funded financial aid is expected to rise given the recent economic downturn. Your future college and the federal government use the information in the Student Aid Report (generated by your completed FAFSA application) to determine how much your family is able to contribute and how much aid that they can provide to help bridge the financial gap.

So here is my advice for the week:

   1. Print off the FAFSA required document checklist: 

   2.Run, don't walk! Take the checklist to your parents or family member who supports you financially and set a date for when you are going to work through the application process using their W-2 or other taxable income documents, tax returns and other required information. 

   3. Stress the importance of time: Other students are filling out their FAFSAs even as you read and you need to know what your "Expected Family Contribution" is going to be for college your first year!

Have questions regarding the FAFSA?  Post a comment or send us an email!

Whenever I heard the word "scholarship" when I was younger, I thought it meant that you were getting a full ride to college with everything paid for. Only later did I find out that most scholarships given by colleges and universities cover only some of the costs, and that most students who win scholarships from their schools still need to obtain additional money through loans, their families, or supplemental scholarships.  

An article on Citizen.com reports that many current high school students think the same way I did. They expect their award letter -- the letter that details the financial aid package a school is offering to an applicant -- to offer much more money than it actually will, according to several guidance counselors. The interviewed guidance counselors say many students are surprised when they learn that the schools they applied to will only cover a portion of the expenses instead of most or all of them. Here's a reality check: full rides are possible, but rare.  

What can you do to prepare in case your award letter is for much less than you were expecting?  

Apply for private grants and scholarships. Hundreds of companies and foundations offer awards in varying amounts, and there's no limit to how many you can apply for. Most scholarships require an essay, but some others require more extreme measures, such as creating a prom outfit out of duct tape. Even if a scholarship is only for $500, apply; every little bit helps.
• Be sure to fill out your FAFSA. This form will help determine if you qualify for college money from the government, and it can't hurt to fill it out, even if you aren't sure that you'll need it. This will be an excellent backup if you get less scholarship or grant money from your college than you were expecting.
• Start researching your loan options. If you were hoping to get in on scholarship or grant money and hadn't yet considered getting government or private loans, it's time to begin your research. It's better to explore your financial aid options now, so if you realize you do need more college money, you are not rushed into making an uneducated decision.

With all the talk of an unprecedented economic crisis, you may have fears that finding student loans will be impossible. In tough times, people panic, but it helps to know the facts. First, take a deep breath; financial aid is still available to students. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) says the current credit crisis is mainly affecting lending in the real estate market, not in education. According to the NASFAA:

• Pell Grants, federal work study programs, educational tax benefits, and other vital parts of student financial aid are generally not suffering.
• Federal loans should still be as accessible as they were before. Even students who don't qualify for federal loans can still receive Stafford Loans.
• Only a small number of students – perhaps 5 percent or less – will have trouble obtaining private or alternative loans for education. (And remember, private loans are only to be used as a last resort. Before taking one out, consider Federal Perkins and PLUS Loans, which are excellent alternatives.)

Do you need good credit to get student loans from the government? No way! The government knows that you are young and likely haven't yet had the chance to build up credit. You can still receive federal education loans regardless of whether you have good or bad credit.

So remember, despite a troubled economy, there is still money to be had for students who need financial aid for a college education.

Don't cheat yourself with self-defeating financial aid myths! According to Sallie Mae, the number of people attending college in a family is a determining factor in awarding financial aid. So even if your brother or sister didn't get any aid, they may have tipped the family budget balance in your favor.

The only way to know for sure is to fill out the FAFSA. It's free and so is the government aid you may be qualified to receive. Just make sure you don't get suckered into paying someone else to file for you. FAFSA is always free- no "professional" has special access to government dough, so don't let "financial aid consultants" take yours!