Thanksgiving and Christmas seems like a long time from Summer, but time can pass quickly.  I say this because this post is about making your college tuition payments easier which begin during the summer.  You have applied early and the early timeline can be the most beneficial for working through financials.  Each university has its own timeline for notifying accepted students about scholarships and need-based aid.  Here are a few pointers/ suggestions on how to use your time wisely.
1. Become familiar with each university's financial aid and scholarship timeline. If merit scholarships do not require additional applications, when will you be notified.  If you have to submit separate applications/ additional materials for certain scholarships, when are the deadlines and the selection process.  Keep up with portfolio, audition, or interview requirements if applicable. Finally, when will the scholarship committees and/or financial services notify recipients. 
2. Do not put all of your eggs in one financial basket...even if you are waiting on a substantial scholarship. Though it will add to the amount of details to monitor, look for private/outside scholarships throughout your application and decision process.  Most universities will not penalize you for being awarded scholarships from private organizations that are not affiliated with the University.  So while you are waiting to learn if you are awarded scholarships from your potential colleges, look for additional funding.  Secondly, most private scholarships can be applied to your college of choice. There are numerous websites that organize scholarship listing a variety of ways: major, gender, area of interest, specific population, an so on.
3. Check you email regularly. There are so many types of communications that will arrive from your potential universities, but do not  tune them all out.  As time passes and you work through the accepted student process, email will be most used by the different offices within the University.  Scholarship notifications can easily get lost in the masses of emails.  Make it a regular practice to at least skip emails from your universities for information about approaching deadlines, notification dates, or follow-up details.
Whenever you are in doubt, contact the college. As I mentioned before, the admissions representative for your area should be the first person to call.  They should be able to either answer your question, gather needed information, or connect you with the correct person. 

Part of a series of posts on next steps after receiving an Early Action acceptance to college.