Post High School Planning Timeline
Senior Year
Summer
· Prioritize college choices
· Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest.
· Determine deadlines for colleges and scholarships. Apply for those scholarships whose deadlines are in the fall. You may be too busy once school starts.
· Continue to visit colleges that you may not have been able to in the spring.
· Create/update resume
· Register to take or retake the ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
· Make sure senior course selections meet high school graduation requirements and college expectations
Senior Year
Fall - August through December
· Take or retake the ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
· Organize and record relevant dates on a calendar so you can plan your year more efficiently.
· Make copies of your admissions and financial aid forms. Practice filling them out before doing the final one.
· Meet with visiting admissions representatives from the schools that interest you. Attend college fairs
· Make arrangements to meet with your school counselor to go over the college application checklist form.
· Identify at least two of the following to write solid recommendation for you: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal, or an employer. Send them an invitation to view your Career Portfolio.
· Submit your college admissions applications. Watch for deadlines!
· Start applying for scholarships. Watch for deadlines!
· Keep records of everything you submit.
· If seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from the schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments.
Spring - January through May
· Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The FAFSA is available from your guidance counselor, from your college's financial aid office, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
· Call the school of your choice and confirm that they have received your admissions applications materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.
· The information you receive back after the FAFSA is processed is the Student Aid Report (SAR). If any portion of the information on the SAR is incorrect, correct it and resubmit it to the processing center.
· Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. Some of these forms may be available online, including the FAFSA and some admission applications.
· Notify the school(s) in writing by the proper deadline as to whether you are accepting or declining admission.
· Take AP Subject Tests, as needed
· Request midyear transcript to be sent to the school of your choice, as needed by colleges/universities
· Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school.
· Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application.
· Request final transcripts to be sent to the college of your choice.
· Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.
· Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid.
· Prioritize college choices
· Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest.
· Determine deadlines for colleges and scholarships. Apply for those scholarships whose deadlines are in the fall. You may be too busy once school starts.
· Continue to visit colleges that you may not have been able to in the spring.
· Create/update resume
· Register to take or retake the ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
· Make sure senior course selections meet high school graduation requirements and college expectations
Senior Year
Fall - August through December
· Take or retake the ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
· Organize and record relevant dates on a calendar so you can plan your year more efficiently.
· Make copies of your admissions and financial aid forms. Practice filling them out before doing the final one.
· Meet with visiting admissions representatives from the schools that interest you. Attend college fairs
· Make arrangements to meet with your school counselor to go over the college application checklist form.
· Identify at least two of the following to write solid recommendation for you: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal, or an employer. Send them an invitation to view your Career Portfolio.
· Submit your college admissions applications. Watch for deadlines!
· Start applying for scholarships. Watch for deadlines!
· Keep records of everything you submit.
· If seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from the schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments.
Spring - January through May
· Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The FAFSA is available from your guidance counselor, from your college's financial aid office, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
· Call the school of your choice and confirm that they have received your admissions applications materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.
· The information you receive back after the FAFSA is processed is the Student Aid Report (SAR). If any portion of the information on the SAR is incorrect, correct it and resubmit it to the processing center.
· Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. Some of these forms may be available online, including the FAFSA and some admission applications.
· Notify the school(s) in writing by the proper deadline as to whether you are accepting or declining admission.
· Take AP Subject Tests, as needed
· Request midyear transcript to be sent to the school of your choice, as needed by colleges/universities
· Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school.
· Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application.
· Request final transcripts to be sent to the college of your choice.
· Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.
· Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid.