JUNIOR YEAR

ADMISSIONS

MONTH

FINANCIAL AID

• Request information from colleges
• SAT
• Spring Break - visit colleges

March

• Research scholarship opportunities
• Discuss college finances with your parents
• Arrange to meet a college financial aid representative

• ACT
• Attend college fairs/visit colleges & talk with representatives at your school
• Athletes - get NCAA guide
• Athletes - sign up with NCAA Clearinghouse

April

• Look for summer job opportunities
• Search for scholarship sources (including Web searches)

• SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subjects Tests.
• Summer plans - work, volunteer, class

May

• ACT/SAT Reasoning  test or SAT Subject Tests
• Create resume
• Begin preparing essays & scholarship applications

June/August

• Save summer earnings for college
• Continue to search for scholarship opportunities

SENIOR YEAR

Admissions

Month

Financial Aid

• Talk with counselor/parents
• Visit college representatives at your school/visit colleges
• Request college information (including financial aid/housing)
• Begin to file admission/regular decision applications
• Keep copies of applications & forms sent to colleges
• Write essays/line up recommendations (if needed)
• Send test scores & transcripts to colleges
• Keep checklist - MEET DEADLINES

September

• Request financial aid applications from colleges
• Register for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE if necessary (see your guidance counselor)
• Continue to talk to parents about paying for college
• Pursue paying for college information sources

• Finish early decision applications
• ACT

October

• Continue to search for scholarship/aid sources
• Continue to talk to parents about paying for college

• SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests

November

• ACT
• Receive Early Action/Early Decision I decisions
• Finish regular decision/rolling admission applications 

December

• Get FAFSA form - from counselor, college or online

• Send mid-year reports, if necessary
• Rank schools where you've applied by preference

January

• FAFSA available online
• Get all financial documents in order (keep copies)
• Complete FAFSA (keep copies*) before February I, if possible

• Keep grades up - it maters

February/March

• Review SAR (Student Aid Report) carefully
• Review financial aid packages

• Visit schools where accepted, if needed
• Make final decision - mail deposit to ONE school
• Notify, in writing, all schools of your choice
• If wait-listed, contact admissions office if still interested

April

• Compare aid/scholarship packages
• Contact financial aid office if you have any special financial aid circumstances
• Make sure you meet all financial aid requirements
• Notify colleges of any private scholarship awards 

• Request final transcript be sent to college
• Follow procedure for college housing and orientation

May/June

• Analyze projected first-year college budget
• Check banking options in college town