Critical Dates for The College Bound Senior High School Student

August
*Write important dates down so you do not miss any deadlines
*Meet with your guidance counselor to go over college plans and make sure your classes meet the standards of your college goals
*Sign up for the ACT or SAT

September
*Find out when the admission counselor to the college(s) or university(s) you selected is visiting your high school and meet with him/her.
*Ask teachers, high school counselors, employers and others for letters of recommendation for your college and scholarship applications. Be sure to give them at least a two week’s notice!
* Finalize your college application essay. Have a teacher look it over and give pointers and tips
*Make a list of scholarships in your community for which you wish to apply

October
*Finalize the list of colleges to which you wish to apply.
*Submit your applications for any scholarships you may be eligible for
*Re-take the ACT or SAT if you feel you can improve your score

November
*Finish submitting your college applications. Many guidance counselors kindly ask that you have all your applications submitted by Thanksgiving.
*Make a file on each school you applied to with a copy of your application, essay, and letters of recommendation you may have sent and all materials they have given you.

December
*Continue to apply for different scholarships and grants
*Enjoy a relaxing Winter Break—you’ve earned it!

January
*Complete your taxes as soon as possible

February
*Submit your completed FAFSA online if you haven't already. Valentine's Day (February 14) is a good target date to have your FAFSA completed!
*Schedule follow-up visits to your top three schools that have offered you admission. Make sure to schedule an appointment with each school's financial aid office. Consider an overnight visit to get a real feel for the school and student life.

March
*Compare your top three schools and prepare to make your final decision
*Apply for a summer job and save some of the money for college

April
*Decide what college you will be attending. Remember to consider all factors, including academic offerings, student experience and cost. Don't underestimate what feels like the best fit!
*Submit your enrollment fee as soon as you make your decision
*Notify the schools you will not be attending.

May
*Enjoy your last month of high school!!
*Sign up for a summer orientation
*Graduate!

June
*Make sure your high school has sent your final transcript to the school of your choice.
*Take your Math Placement Test before you attend Orientation
*Get a physical and fill out your important health documents as soon as possible.
*Attend Orientation.
*If needed, decide which loans you will need to take out
*Make sure you save some of your summer earnings for college.

Congratulations, you did it! Welcome to college!!

The Senior Year Calendar

Already looking forward to going to your dream school... or sending your child away to their dream school?  By now, you've probably already sent in early applications to a chosen few schools. It's early in the 2010-2011 school year but if the prospective college student is in senior year, it's already time to start planning what you're going to do in the new year:

January: If you have any applications to complete, get them done!

February: It's time to fill out your FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  If you are applying for any sort of student aid, get this done.  The student will need information from their parents, which customarily arrives this month.

Stay organized! The college application process is complex, with many parts. You need to make sure that colleges you've applied to have received all the relevant information.  If you aren't keeping a list or a spreadsheet of what needs to be sent and when, start now.

March: Acceptance letters start arriving from some schools.  If you're in, congratulations!

April: By now you may have to make a decision on what school to accept.  If so, use the time you have; this isn't a decision to be taken lightly.  Let every school that accepted you know what your decision is, even the ones you won't be going to.

May: By now you should be making financial arrangements with the school – a tuition deposit, residence, and the like.  Don't forget to look into transportation arrangements and moving.  The beginning of the school year is the biggest moving day of the year and you don't want to get stuck without transportation, or stuck with really expensive arrangements.

Oh, and concentrate on your grades!

June: College may still be a few months away, but now is the time to make moving arrangements if you're moving – getting a phone, finalizing living arrangements, and yes, even packing.  Some colleges will already be offering early registration into courses, so start that now!

College will be a long and fulfilling journey – it's worth getting ready for right away!