A Holiday Break Checklist to Help Your Student Stay on Track for College
Holiday break offers something families rarely get during the school year: unrushed time together. It creates a natural pause that helps students reset and refocus, and it gives parents a chance to support them as they prepare for the transition to college.
Here is a simple guide that any college bound student can follow during the holidays. Each action helps reduces spring stress and connects your family to helpful resources at Minnesota State Moorhead, a top ranked regional university in Minnesota.
Encourage Your Student to Start or Finish Their Application
Many students plan to apply, then run out of time during busy weeks. Break is the perfect window to sit down, review materials, and submit forms at a comfortable pace. If Moorhead is a potential fit, our application is quick and clear, which helps students feel accomplished right away.
Help Them Complete the FAFSA
Filing the FAFSA early benefits every student and family. It provides clarity about financial aid and allows more time to evaluate options. Families considering Moorhead should use our school code 002367. Early FAFSA completion often leads to stronger planning and greater peace of mind.
Support Them in Completing Scholarship Applications
Scholarships reward effort and ambition. Many colleges, including Moorhead, offer abundant opportunities for students to earn meaningful support. Encourage your student to gather materials now so they can access awards that strengthen their path forward. Moorhead offers a single form application that applies your student to more than 300 scholarships with one submission.
Plan a Campus Visit Together
Campus visits are often when the college decision begins to feel real. Walking through academic buildings, eating in the dining hall, and meeting current students helps families understand the environment their student will step into. At Moorhead, we offer visits throughout the year, including personalized tours that work well for families fitting travel around holiday schedules.
Mark Dates for Admitted Student Events
Once your student is admitted, look for events designed to help them feel at home on campus. Many universities offer sessions that introduce families to advisors, faculty, and student support offices. At Moorhead, Admitted Student Days allow your student to explore programs and resources while giving parents insight into how Dragons are prepared to become future ready leaders.
Spend Time Reflecting Together
Holiday conversations often reveal what students truly want from their college experience. Talk with your student about their aspirations, the strengths they want to build, and the kind of community that will help them thrive. Moorhead focuses on developing elite communicators, deep thinkers, and impactful leaders, and those strengths grow best when goals are well understood.
A thoughtful plan over break lowers stress later and opens the new year with clarity and confidence. With each step, your student moves closer to a future filled with possibility and guided by purpose.