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Menu About About College Countdown Parent Advisory Council Our Contributors Articles Affording College Using Your 529 College Admissions Student Life Academic Success Parenting Timeline College Prep Timeline For Junior Parents For Senior Parents Videos search By Patricia A. Roberts, J.D. In Academic Success Avoiding the Expense of Academic Delays Read Article By Mitchel A. Baum In Affording College ScholarShare 529 Beneficiaries Poised to Receive Over 100,000 Gifts of College This Year Read Article By Mitchel A. Baum In Affording College But How are YOU Feeling? Read Article By Patricia A. Roberts, J.D. In Parenting Three Reasons To Talk $$$ With Your Teen Read Article College Countdown – Insight for parents with high school juniors and seniors. Well, Hello there! My name is Patricia Roberts and I’ve spent over 20 years helping families prepare for the cost of higher education. I recently teamed up with ScholarShare 529 to host this website — College Countdown. I’m proud to offer the resources on this site to families with college-bound kids. It’s my joy to be a part of your journey. Welcome to College Countdown. Patricia Roberts, J.D. College Savings Advocate Watch Our Welcome Video Watch the Video College Countdown Timeline High School Junior Year Socrates’s statement, Know thyself,” holds true for this year of the college search. Fall Encourage Good Study Habits – Keep Grades Up Consider AP Classes, Dual Enrollment, SAT/ACT Prep Courses, College Ready Courses Schedule College Visits and Attend College Fairs Read More Research Careers and Colleges Read More Draft a List of Potential College Choices (Appeal, Affordability, Selectivity) Encourage Your Child to Connect with HS Guidance Counselor, College Admissions Counselor Spring Register SAT, ACT, AP Exam Read More Continue College Visits (Virtual Visits) – Appointments with FA, Admissions, Academic Advisors Research Financial Aid and Scholarship Deadlines Summer Start Writing Your College Essays Family Discussion about Money, 529 College Savings Read More Review Application Procedures for Top College Choices Read More Skills to Teach: Budget, Laundry, Cooking, Healthy Habits (sleep, study, etc.) Senior Year Susan Sontag’s statement, Do stuff. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead,” holds true for this year of the college search. Fall Avoid Senioritis Register and take SAT, ACT Read More Obtain FSA IDs for FAFSA Learn Which Colleges on Your List Require CSS Profile, FAFSA, Supplemental FA Forms Early Decision and Early Action Applications – Oct. 1, Nov. 1 Read More Submit College Applications Spring Research Financial Aid Options – Loans, Grants, Scholarships, etc. Read More Request Transcripts Complete Scholarship Applications Financial Aid Calculator Read More Graduation The Parent Advisory Council The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of ScholarShare 529 parents with children already using their 529 savings for college. That means they know a few things about college and are eager to share perspectives and insights with you as your teenager begins their college adventure. They have all signed up to be a resource for any of our members to talk to one-on-one. This is a group of parents who have been there, done that. Now, they’re ready to share insights, answer questions, and exchange stories with you. Meet the PACWelcome Our Story Parent Advisory Council Our Contributors Back to ScholarShare529 Articles Affording College Using Your 529 College Admissions Student Life Academic Success Parenting Timeline College Prep Timeline For Senior Parents For Junior Parents ©2024 College Countdown. All Rights Reserved. FGN-2961204PR-Y0624W Legal Disclosure Security Center To learn more about California's ScholarShare 529, its investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses please see the Plan Description at ScholarShare529.com. Read it carefully. Investments in the Plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss. TIAA-CREF IndividualInstitutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, is the distributor and underwriter for ScholarShare 529. The views and opinions expressed in the articles published here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ScholarShare 529 or TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. This website contains links to other websites. Neither TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., nor its affiliates, are responsible for the content found on any external website links contained herein. All social media platforms are managed by the State of California. Overview Checklist About Identity Theft Safeguarding Your Online Transactions Security Overview TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. serves as program manager for ScholarShare College Savings Plan (the Plan”). Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC provides recordkeeping and account processing services. Our cybersecurity response program is designed to help keep your financial information safe and is intended to comply with applicable federal and state laws. Online security is a shared responsibility between you, the account owner, and us, the service provider. Safeguarding your assets, your personal information, and privacy is one of our fundamental priorities. We utilize a variety of controls to detect and prevent unauthorized access to our network and sensitive information. OUR SECURITY PROMISE: We are committed to keeping your financial information secure. Please know that we’ll never call or email you to ask you for your login credentials. If you receive a suspicious message, don’t click on any of the links or respond with personal information. Please report suspicious activity by calling your plan’s customer service at 1-800-544-5248 . Safeguarding your own information: Account owner security checklist While we strive to keep your information and transactions safe, there are actions you can take to contribute to your own security. The following are some best practices to follow. Protect your account Do not use your Social Security number (SSN), in full or in part, for a password or PIN. Review your credit reports frequently (at least once a year). Verify the information listed about you is up to date and accurate and that it includes only those accounts and activities you’ve authorized. Work with the credit reporting agencies to have any inaccurate information removed. Store your Social Security card, other identification cards, checks and accounts statements in a safe and secure location. Do not carry your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate with you unless absolutely needed. Do not share your personal or financial information over the phone or in person unless the information is absolutely necessary and you can confirm that the individual and company are legitimate. Frequently monitor your financial accounts and report any suspected fraudulent transaction immediately. Retrieve and review your mail promptly. Shred financial documents no longer needed, pre-approved credit offers, receipts, and other documents that may contain financial and personal information. Protect your computers, cell phone and other mobile devices Install and set your anti-virus and anti-malware software to update automatically. Activate all operating system security features on your internet capable devices. Make sure your personal computer and home network are properly protected from malware by setting up your firewall. Check to see that the firewall has been properly installed – or enabled if it came bundled with your operating system. Make sure to keep your web browser software up-to-date by installing the most recent version. Keep the operating system for your computer or mobile device up-to-date. Never leave your computer, cell phone, or other mobile devices logged on and/or unattended in public. Password protect and lock your computers, cell phone, or other mobile...