College+Preparation

Seniors Free scholarship search tool Free college search tool Financial aid benefits of military careers Preparing for College []
 * September **
 * Contact your school counselor — your counselor plays a big role in helping you get into college. Meet to talk about your college plans and review your transcript.
 * Finalize your list of colleges. Be sure you list "safety" colleges, as well as “probable” and "reach" colleges. Review college applications and informational materials. Organize materials into separate files by college.
 * If you plan to apply through an early decision or early action program, get started on your applications right away. Deadlines for early applications tend to be in November.
 * Begin working on your college essays. Think of topics that focus on your experiences and make you stand out from the crowd.
 * Learn More: **
 * [|Early Decision and Early Action]
 * [|College Application Checklist]
 * [|Choosing an Essay Topic]
 * October **
 * Ask your counselor, teachers or employers for letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to meet your deadlines and be sure to provide them with stamped and addressed envelopes.
 * If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.
 * Learn More: **
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|Letters of Recommendation]
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">November **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Submit early decision and early action applications on time.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Work hard at completing your college essays. Proofread them rigorously for mistakes.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Follow up to ensure that letters of recommendation are sent on time to meet your deadlines.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Send applications as early as possible for colleges with rolling deadlines (that is, admission decisions are made as applications are received).
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learn More: **
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|Three Steps to a Great College Essay]
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|Essay Writing Tips]
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[[file:writing a college application essay1.ppt]]
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">December **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Try to wrap up college applications before winter break. Make copies of each application before you send it.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Contact the financial aid office at the colleges on your list to see what financial aid forms they require.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">January **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Have your counselor send your first-semester grades to colleges that require a midyear grade report.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">February **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Contact your colleges and confirm that all necessary application materials have been received.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Continue to perform well in school and don't get senioritis; colleges want to see strong second-semester grades.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Register for AP Exams you want to take in May.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learn More: **
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|What to Do About Senioritis]
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">March **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Read carefully any admission decisions that arrive this month; some may require action on your part.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learn More: **
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|College Decision-Making Guide]
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">April **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Read carefully any admission decisions and <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">compare the financial aid award letters <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;"> that arrive this month; some may require action on your part.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form and deposit check to the college you select before the May 1 enrollment deadline (for most colleges).
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Notify each of the colleges that accepted you but that you will not attend of your decision, so that your spot can be freed up for another student.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">If you’re on a waiting list, contact the admission office and let them know of your continued interest in the college; update them on your spring semester grades and activities.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learn More: **
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|College Decision-Making Guide]
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|No Acceptance Letters: Now What?]
 * <span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">[|What to Do if You're Wait-Listed]
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">May **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">If you take any AP Exams, make sure your AP score report is sent to your college.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Study hard for final exams. Most admission offers are contingent on your final grades.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Thank your counselor, teachers, employers and anyone else who wrote letters of recommendation for you or otherwise helped with your college applications.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">June **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Have your counselor send your final transcript to your chosen college.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">If you plan on competing in Division I or Division II college sports, have your counselor send your final transcript to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.
 * <span style="color: #ba7a00; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Summer **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Make travel plans; book early for the best prices.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Shop for items you need for college.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Make sure to sign up for first-year orientation.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Plan your first-semester courses. Choose subjects that interest you and may become your college major.
 * Information taken from