All Year
- Continually Check your Naviance account. Here, you will be able to access a list of all the scholarships we have on file, find out when college reps are going to be visiting our school, get the dates for upcoming events, find great links to career websites and much more!
- Visit college campuses every chance you get!
- Search for scholarships. There’s lots of free money you can get your hands on if you just put in a little effort!
September
- Meet with your school counselor to ensure that you are on track to graduate in the spring and fulfill college admission requirements
- Ask for recommendation letters from teachers, counselors or others (the Common Application REQUIRES that you have one letter of recommendation from a School Counselor).
- If you are applying early decision/early action, begin working on your applications!
- Meet with college admissions reps who come to visit the school.
- Attend college fairs
- Review your applications, transcript, activities resume and college essays with your parents and School Counselor to ensure they are accurate and complete.
- If you have not completed the required tests or if you are not happy with your scores, register for the upcoming SAT’s and ACT’s.
- Have official test scores sent to the colleges you are applying to.
- Complete your resume and ask two teachers for a letter of recommendation in person (Common Application requires one letter be from a School Counselor)
October
- Complete the FAFSA to apply for Financial Aid
- Columbus Day Weekend is a great time to visit college campuses. There are many planned programs for prospective freshmen on this weekend.
- KNOW YOUR DEADLINES and keep working on applications
- Attend financial aid night
- Solidify your list of colleges you want to apply to!
- October 1: FAFSA becomes available. Seniors should fill this out to apply for financial aid.
- October 1: CSS Profile becomes available. Seniors should complete the form for additional financial opportunities.
- Mid-October – Early November: Typical Early Action Deadline
- October/November: Deadlines for early decision/early action application usually fall in these months.
November
- November 1: Typically Early Decision Deadline
- November 12: Deadline to send four free score reports for the November 3 SAT
- Start your Financial Aid process. Both you and your parents need to obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov so you can fill out the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- Check to see if the colleges to which you are applying require any other financial aid forms.
December
- Complete any last-minute applications – although many college application deadlines may be earlier, the last day to submit applications in guidance is December 11.
- Keep looking/applying for scholarships – get your college paid for!
- December 10: Deadline to send four free score reports for the December 1 SAT
January
- Keep working in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout your senior year
- Local Scholarships available to complete in School Counseling Department! You can also check Naviance for local scholarship listings!
February
- If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks after submitting the FAFSA. Review the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any items on the SAR and return it to the FAFSA processor (if a college transmitted your data directly, notify the college of any change).
- Complete scholarship applications. You may be eligible for more scholarships than you think, so apply for as many as you can!
March
- Stay focused and keep studying – only a couple more months to go!
April
- Review your college acceptances and financial aid awards. If you are positive that you will not enroll at one or more of the colleges that accepted you please notify these colleges that you have selected another college. If you know which college you will attend, send your tuition deposit and follow all other instructions.
May
- May 1: Deadline to notify your school of choice of your commitment and submit a financial deposit. **You cannot submit a deposit to more than one school**
- Take Advanced Placement exams, if appropriate and request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will be attending.
- Complete your Senior Survey! Indicate where to send your final official transcript.
June
- Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you will be receiving.
- Know when the payment for tuition, room and board, meal plans, etc., is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a possible payment plan that will allow for you to pay in installments.
Congratulations!
You have completed a difficult task, now it’s time to look forward to graduation!