Junior-Senior Year College Checklist

JUNIOR YEAR

April/May

       Take ACT/SAT test

       Discuss college financing with your parents

       Look for scholarships at www.scholorships.com

       Talk to friends in college and ask advice (especially ones at colleges you are interested in)

 

Summer

       Create a list of schools you are interested in attending

       Visit colleges

       Study for ACT

       Get summer job to save for college

       Look for scholarships at www.scholorships.com

SENIOR YEAR

August

q       Discuss college financing and planning with parents again

q       Review your career plans and narrow down college list (3-5 schools)

q       Visit some college campuses.

q       Request catalogs and admissions information for your list of colleges.

q       Register for the ACT/SAT again

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholorships.com

 

September

q       Talk to college representatives and attend college days

q       Make a list of deadlines for tests, admissions, and scholarships

q       Ask teacher, counselors, and employers for letter of recommendation (not all colleges require this)

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholarships.com

 

October

q       Take ACT/SAT one last time

q       Work on admissions applications and essays

q       Visit your top choice schools

q       Attend all college fairs and financial aid nights

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholarships.com

 

November

q       Begin collecting financial aid forms

q       Begin filling out college applications (make notes on when they are due)

o       All major state universities may be done on the common application on the web: www.applytexas.org. Watch for due dates though!

q       Look for scholarships www.scholarships.com

 

December

q       Fill our FAFSA form (don’t submit before Jan.1)

q       Look for scholarships www.scholorships.com

q       Parents: Keep last pay stub for the year for FAFSA forms

 

January

q       Submit FAFSA as soon as possible after Jan. 1

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholorships.com

 

February

q       Send transcripts to colleges you are applying for (you will have to send another after you graduate)

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholarships.com

 

March

q       Check on status of Financial aid applications

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholoarships.com

 

April

q       Watch mail for acceptance letters

q       Make a college choice from the schools that you were accepted and return any necessary deposits and housing applications.

q       Notify colleges that you didn’t chose that you will not be attending.

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholorships.com

 

May

q       Double check to make sure you have all necessary paperwork into colleges

q       Request your counselor send in final transcript after graduation.

q       Look for scholarships at www.scholarships.com

 

June

       Look at college catalog at recommended classes for your major

       Talk with guidance counselor about classes to take

 

July/August

       Register and attend a college orientation session

       Contact financial aid office

       Finalize college budget

       Confirm housing arragements and meal options

       Contact roommate (discuss who will bring what)

       Consider taking out renters’ insurance

       Open bank account at bank near campus

       Check cell phone plan and roaming areas near college

       Pack for college: planning list at www.collegeanswer.com/checklist