You'll love my new, exclusive . . .
Get Organized Now! BINGO! Organizing Printable!

It's a new, quick, easy, fun way to get organized. Each GON Bingo! card lists 24 easy organizing tasks you or your family can accomplish. Get five in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally and you get to select a reward from the rewards list. Kids love to play too!

To access and print it, visit:
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Happy organizing and enjoy some GON BINGO! organizing fun!

Maria Gracia

P.S. Please forward this newsletter to friends and family so they, too, can access this resource. Thank you for spreading the love!

A GON Reader Asked:

My son is a senior in High School. I believe your daughter is as well. How are you organizing her College Search? I am going crazy with notebooks, folders, Apps, checklists etc. please help. Thank you.

--Colleen Cleary, Centereach, NY

Maria Gracia Responded:

Hi Colleen,

Thanks for your note. Yes, my daughter is a rising senior...she will be a senior in high school this fall. Like you, we are heavily into the college search these days. Amanda and I visited a whole bunch of schools in Wisconsin (where we currently reside), in Illinois, and recently, six colleges on the east coast. It's a lot and can become very overwhelming. I probably should write a book on this subject, because there is definitely enough material and I'm very well-versed with this topic right now. Here are a few tips that may help.

1. Storage Box: We purchased a large storage box that holds hanging folders, specifically for this purpose. Each college has its own hanging folder, marked with a tab, so it can be easily seen...and the folders are alphabetized by school name. We write the school name AND the city/state of the school on the tab.

2. Weed out and file daily: Once your son's name is on 'college mailing lists,' as you likely already know, he's going to get a ton of colleges mailing him information. I have my daughter go through the mail each evening and she immediately recycles colleges that she knows she will not be applying to. Information for those she is interested in immediately goes into the appropriate folder in the box.

3. Promotional stuff: Your son has probably already received T-shirts, sunglasses, water bottles, stickers, and other promotional material. Be sure he's only keeping what he actually plans to wear/use. Donate the rest. Otherwise, that clutter is going to build.

4. Make ONE standard checklist of things your son is looking for in a college. Include specific academics, sports, clubs, school size, etc. that he is looking for. When he visits a college, he can bring that one checklist on a clipboard, write the college name on top, and check off whether that college offers what he's looking for or not. Be sure there is room for specific notes. We've noted professor to student ratios, how the 'meal swipes' work, if they have 'club golf,' etc. When he returns home after the visit (or perhaps he's also doing virtual visits), that one checklist should contain all of the information he needs about that particular school. You can keep the checklist in the appropriate college folder if you wish. For us, we've determined it's easier to have a folder specifically that holds all of the checklists. This way, my daughter can sort the checklists in 'school choice priority' order.

5. Helpful apps: Hopefully, he'll be able to use Common App to apply to most of the colleges he's interested in, rather than having to apply to each school individually. That will save time. My daughter is also applying for scholarships using an APP called Scholly.

6. A note about virtual visits: If there are certain schools of particular interest, don't rely on the virtual visit alone. We went on some virtual visits that seemed wonderful, but when we went to the campus in person, in some circumstances, it was a completely different experience. There is no way we could visit ALL of the campuses my daughter has on her list...because the costs would be prohibitive to do so. She will be blind-applying to certain schools that we can't get to right now, and we'll visit later if she is accepted and is still very interested in that particular school.

7. Our goals: My daughter has a LOT of schools on her 'possibility list.' She plans to apply to 15 to 20. Once she has a list of those that decide to accept her and those that will be affordable after aid and scholarships, the next part of this project will begin with the goal of choosing among, hopefully, three or four colleges...and then her final decision.

It's definitely a process for the student and the parents. Of course, I'm thinking this part, as challenging as it is, is going to be way easier for both you and me than sending our 'babies' off to college. Hugs!

Just a very quick shout out to let you know that my latest issue of Anything and Everything is now available. It's the AUGUST 2021 issue, 12-pages and all in full color. I know you're going to love it. Check it out:

https://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-ae.html

If you don't already receive it, it's a great time to get your hands on a full year of Anything and Everything because, when you do, we're giving away 10 Bonuses, AND ALL of the back issues...complimentary!

Here are the topics in the AUGUST Issue...

Making Your Home Feel More Welcoming
A whole bunch of ideas to give your home an inviting feel for you, your family, and your guests

Failure is One Step Closer to Success
What may feel catastrophic at first is actually necessary for growth

Credit Cards: Myths and Facts
The top 10 myths associated with credit cards...and the real story

Walk This Way
Make your everyday walks more fun and interesting with these additions

Considering a New Haircut?
When you're toying with the idea of getting a new hair cut, think it through a bit. Here are a dozen tips to help you decide what to do

California Harvest Bowls
Grain bowls are filling, delicious, have a ton of variety, and are healthy. I'm sure you'll love this one!

Summer's Finale
My three favorite quotes about August...summer's finale

If you don't already subscribe to my 'Anything and Everything' resource, you can learn about how to do so here:

https://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-ae.html

We have thousands of readers who LOVE it...and I'm certain you will too!

Maria

P.S. BONUS SPECIAL...Only Until 11:59 p.m. on JULY 30: When you sign up for your Anything and Everything Subscription, you will receive tons of bonuses, plus ALL the BACK ISSUES COMPLIMENTARY!

___ 1. Do today's task on my July Monthly Organizing Checklist. The July 29 TO DO focuses on your vehicle(s). Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my July Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Organize paper today for 15 minutes. Set aside 15 minutes to weed out and/or file papers in your home or office.

___ 3. Get through your reading pile faster. Here's a speed reading secret to help you get through your reading pile faster. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my Dirty Little Secret on this topic.

'Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.' (Vincent Van Gogh)

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Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2021 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

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-- Maria Gracia