What To Do: High School Seniors

High School Seniors

General Advice: Stay Focused
Avoid coming down with a bad case of "senioritis," or slacker's disease. Some colleges can and do withdraw acceptance from seniors whose grades nosedive during their senior year. Avoid bad influences and situations. Don't let careless mistakes or laziness ruin all of your planning and hard work.

Steps You'll Need to Take: What to Do

Register for and take the appropriate tests: SAT®, ACT® and/or others        Apply to schools you have selected
Apply for financial assistance
Compare acceptance offers from schools
Send your high school transcripts to the school you choose

Senior Month-by-Month Checklist: When to Do It

This is a suggested schedule. If you are getting a late start, don't worry, get busy. You can still do it. Just do what you can when you can. Ask for help from your counselor or the admissions office of the school you want to attend.

September

Meet with your guidance counselor. Make sure you are on track to graduate. Check your transcript. Be sure you have the credits you need to get into the schools you want.

Contact those schools for admission applications, requirements, deadlines, fees and financial aid information.

Register for the October/November SAT, ACT and SAT Subject TestsT required by the schools you choose.

For early action or early decision, prepare and submit applications now.
Ask your teachers/mentors to begin writing recommendation letters.

October/November/December

Take your SAT and/or ACT tests as early as possible so you can re-take them if you need to. Have your scores sent to the schools on your final list.

For regular admission, applications are usually due by late December or early January. Start preparing your applications now.

If you applied for early action or early decision, contact those schools to make sure they received everything.

Schedule any necessary application interviews.

January
 
Complete and submit your federal aid application (FAFSA) as soon as possible. Submit any other financial aid applications your schools require. (Note: you don't have to be accepted yet to apply for aid.)

If you applied for regular decision, contact those schools to make sure they received everything.

February

Stay focused. Keep your grades up. Polish your study skills.

March

Use the Internet and your school and public libraries to research college majors that may interest you

April
 
Make any necessary corrections to your FAFSA and resubmit it.

Contact the financial aid offices at schools where you applied to make sure they have what they need.

You should hear back from the schools you applied to.

Compare financial aid and scholarship offers of schools that accept you.

Review offers with your family, counselors or other advisors for help to makeyour choice.

Find out what deposits your school requires to reserve your spot.

Send a formal letter of commitment to your school, along with any required deposit. Many schools require this to be submitted by May 1.

May

Take the AP® tests for any Advanced Placement courses you've taken.

If you are on any admissions waiting lists and still waiting to hear about an opening, let those schools know you're still interested.

June

Find out how much tuition and fees (and room and board, if you're staying in a dorm) are and when they are due.

If you're moving, start gathering the stuff you'll need.

Be sure that your high school sends your final transcript to your school.

July/August

Attend your school's summer orientation for incoming freshmen. They can really help make the transition easier.

Find out if you need to take any medical exams for health insurance coverage. If so, schedule them now.

 

 

 

Visit college@ed.gov today for more information.