SUMMER
Senior year is a busy year! During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. This year is filled with admission applications, scholarship essays, financial aid information and the need to meet deadlines. Throughout your senior year, continue to build your resume by achieving academic success, as well as participating in extracurricular activities. Most colleges are interested in well-rounded students.
August
September
· Make sure you are sticking to your deadlines.
· Determine if the schools that interest you have online admission applications. If not, request them by mail now.
· Create separate google doc folders for each of the schools that interest you and keep the materials organized.
· Continue writing drafts of your college essays.
· Start completing early admission college applications.
· Meet with school representatives that visit our high school or contact them by email. It's important to build rapport.
· Apply to scholarships!! Look for them. There are many that I may not be aware of. You will thank yourself later, I promise.
· Look for workshops or events your desired university may be having.
· Register for SAT/ACT if you have not already done so. (hopefully you already took care of this)
Take ACT and/or SAT (ideally both).
· Talk to counselor about your graduation status (credits) and any college needs.
· Attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
Follow up on any letters of recommendation you may have requested.
Have counselors, teachers, staff, family and/or mentors review your personal statement. Make sure to give them the prompt.
October
· Take the SAT and/or ACT (ideally both).
· Finalize your admissions essay.
· The application window for UC/CSU opens on October 1.
The FAFSA application opens on October 1. Sign up for a PIN, to complete your FAFSA online. (Also let your parents know that they will need a PIN.)
· If you haven't already done so, attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
· Visit your top school choices. If possible, schedule a tour. This will help you learn more about the school.
· Complete applications for every scholarship for which you may be eligible and set deadlines for yourself.
· Meet with Ms. Rocio for any questions you have.
· Contact the schools' financial aid offices to determine which forms they require. Some schools may require special forms besides FAFSA.
· Finalize portfolios, work samples, or other evidence of talent if required for admission.
· Apply to Scholarships!
Follow up on any letters of recommendation you may have requested.
Look at early decision for a community college. It's important to have a backup. You just never know.
November
· Complete admissions applications by their deadlines. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!
· Attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
· Request financial aid forms and applications. Double check the deadlines for submission.
· Follow up on any letters of recommendation.
· Stay focused on maintaining and increasing your GPA. Remember that the university can revoke your acceptance based on low GPA.
· Apply to Scholarships.
Ensure that the universities you have applied to have received your SAT and/or ACT scores.
December
· Finalize admission applications.
· Urge your parents to file their taxes as soon as possible after January 1. This will ease the financial aid process.
· Research other means to pay for college… including grants and scholarships.
· Watch for early admissions notices (they tend to arrive in December or January).
· Apply to Scholarships.
Maintain your grades. Universities can revoke your acceptance based on senior year grades.
January
· As soon as possible after January 1 and when tax forms are complete (they don't have to be filed until April 15; you can use estimates), complete your FAFSA online) Keep copies of all documents, including your PIN, in a file.
· Continue to apply for scholarships.
· Continue to work on your GPA.
· Apply to Scholarships.
· Community College application window opens.
Continue to keep track of deadlines.
February
· Be mindful of deadlines. Always submit information on time.
· Research Advanced Placement (AP) testing dates and plan accordingly.
· Watch for the e-mail notice indicating your Student Aid Report (SAR) is ready.
· Review your SAR for errors and make any corrections as indicated.
· Apply to Scholarships.
· Be sure that you have submitted the FAFSA.
· Rank your top school choices.
Acceptances will begin to arrive next month.
March
· Check with the financial aid offices to ensure your paperwork is complete. Submit tax forms if they request them.
· Narrow your school choices and make campus visits.
· Be on the lookout for acceptance letters.
· Start looking for summer jobs or possible internships.
· Apply to scholarships.
Make sure your AP payment has been made.
April
· Compare financial aid award letters.
Acceptance letters may still be coming in this month.
· Send your letter of intent.
· Check with the school you've chosen about returning financial aid award letters.
· Notify the schools you have chosen NOT to attend.
· Plan for registration, orientation, and housing, and mark your calendar with important dates.
May
· Make sure you have accepted a university and declared you are attending there.
Be aware of any summer orientation sessions that you must attend at the school in which you will enroll, and make plans accordingly.
· Finalize your summer job plans, and make a plan for saving a portion of your summer earnings.
· Follow up with your high school to ensure Ms. Rocio forwards your final school transcripts to the college.
· Apply to scholarships.
June
· Follow up with the financial aid office to ensure all paperwork is complete.
· Take College Placement exams if needed by your university (math and English; if applicable)
· Enjoy your last days as a high school student
· Congratulations, you did it!!!!!
July
· Save money from your summer job (If applicable).
· Send “thank you notes” to everyone who helped you plan and prepare for college.
· Make copies of your financial aid forms, health forms, etc for your files to aid in resolving future issues.
· Register for the Fall semester. Do it as soon as possible.
· Prepare for the new adventures that await you on campus!
Congratulations! It's time to get ready to start college.
Advice for parents
Yes, there are things you can do to help your senior prepare for continuing their education after high school.
· It is important to attend financial aid presentations and career day functions WITH your student.
· Check their grades on ECHO as often as possible and continue to support them and cheer them on. Ask them often "what are you working on and what scholarships have you applied for?"
· Sit down with your student and prepare a list of what he/she is looking for in a college and then help him/her sort through the information they receive from the different institutions to decide which ones offer what's on the list.
· Complete applications with the student.
· In November, register for a PIN with FAFSA you can assist your student with financial aid forms in January.
· In January or February, you will need to help your student complete the FAFSA. Your PIN will help speed up the process. It is ideal that you complete your taxes in January, by the very latest, February.
· In March, the award notices will start coming in. Look at the financing carefully and make comparisons!
· Go on trips with your student to as many of his or her top school choices. A visit to the campus is invaluable to making a decision.
· There may be stressful times during senior year, remind them how hard they have worked and help maintain the level of stress down.
· Hug them, send them on their way to a new adventure.
- Take a summer class at the local community college-Get a head start on college and save $ (they are free)
- Read at least 20-30 minutes per day. Reading comprehension will be essential in college
- Prepare for the SAT/ACT by reviewing your Spring scores and looking at areas of improvement
- Visit Colleges that interest you-even if that means virtual tours
- Complete Samueli's 6 week internship (save the money if you have a paid internship)
- Continue serving your community-Community service is essential
- Improve your writing skills and begin writing your personal statements
- Look at what SAT Subject tests you need to take (look at university website)
- Create a list of 5-10 colleges to apply to-remember our discussion of dream/reach/safety
- Learn about early decision programs and key dates for senior year
- Explore the websites of the colleges that interest you to learn about admissions requirements.
Senior year is a busy year! During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. This year is filled with admission applications, scholarship essays, financial aid information and the need to meet deadlines. Throughout your senior year, continue to build your resume by achieving academic success, as well as participating in extracurricular activities. Most colleges are interested in well-rounded students.
August
- Pick up your fee waivers (if applicable) for the SAT/ACT mid/late August. Make sure you register for the earliest one possible; preferably September or October.
- Application opens for UC's. Fill in the skeleton!
- Register for the SAT (deadline is the end of the month!)
- Register for the ACT (deadline is August 5th-Fee waivers will not be available until end of August)
- Request letters of recommendation ,if needed.
- You can start filling out the skeleton for the common app.....Make sure you create your account by this month.
- Mark a calendar with deadlines (early action/early decision, submission deadlines, financial aid/scholarships) etc.
September
· Make sure you are sticking to your deadlines.
· Determine if the schools that interest you have online admission applications. If not, request them by mail now.
· Create separate google doc folders for each of the schools that interest you and keep the materials organized.
· Continue writing drafts of your college essays.
· Start completing early admission college applications.
· Meet with school representatives that visit our high school or contact them by email. It's important to build rapport.
· Apply to scholarships!! Look for them. There are many that I may not be aware of. You will thank yourself later, I promise.
· Look for workshops or events your desired university may be having.
· Register for SAT/ACT if you have not already done so. (hopefully you already took care of this)
Take ACT and/or SAT (ideally both).
· Talk to counselor about your graduation status (credits) and any college needs.
· Attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
Follow up on any letters of recommendation you may have requested.
Have counselors, teachers, staff, family and/or mentors review your personal statement. Make sure to give them the prompt.
October
· Take the SAT and/or ACT (ideally both).
· Finalize your admissions essay.
· The application window for UC/CSU opens on October 1.
The FAFSA application opens on October 1. Sign up for a PIN, to complete your FAFSA online. (Also let your parents know that they will need a PIN.)
· If you haven't already done so, attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
· Visit your top school choices. If possible, schedule a tour. This will help you learn more about the school.
· Complete applications for every scholarship for which you may be eligible and set deadlines for yourself.
· Meet with Ms. Rocio for any questions you have.
· Contact the schools' financial aid offices to determine which forms they require. Some schools may require special forms besides FAFSA.
· Finalize portfolios, work samples, or other evidence of talent if required for admission.
· Apply to Scholarships!
Follow up on any letters of recommendation you may have requested.
Look at early decision for a community college. It's important to have a backup. You just never know.
November
· Complete admissions applications by their deadlines. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!
· Attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
· Request financial aid forms and applications. Double check the deadlines for submission.
· Follow up on any letters of recommendation.
· Stay focused on maintaining and increasing your GPA. Remember that the university can revoke your acceptance based on low GPA.
· Apply to Scholarships.
Ensure that the universities you have applied to have received your SAT and/or ACT scores.
December
· Finalize admission applications.
· Urge your parents to file their taxes as soon as possible after January 1. This will ease the financial aid process.
· Research other means to pay for college… including grants and scholarships.
· Watch for early admissions notices (they tend to arrive in December or January).
· Apply to Scholarships.
Maintain your grades. Universities can revoke your acceptance based on senior year grades.
January
· As soon as possible after January 1 and when tax forms are complete (they don't have to be filed until April 15; you can use estimates), complete your FAFSA online) Keep copies of all documents, including your PIN, in a file.
· Continue to apply for scholarships.
· Continue to work on your GPA.
· Apply to Scholarships.
· Community College application window opens.
Continue to keep track of deadlines.
February
· Be mindful of deadlines. Always submit information on time.
· Research Advanced Placement (AP) testing dates and plan accordingly.
· Watch for the e-mail notice indicating your Student Aid Report (SAR) is ready.
· Review your SAR for errors and make any corrections as indicated.
· Apply to Scholarships.
· Be sure that you have submitted the FAFSA.
· Rank your top school choices.
Acceptances will begin to arrive next month.
March
· Check with the financial aid offices to ensure your paperwork is complete. Submit tax forms if they request them.
· Narrow your school choices and make campus visits.
· Be on the lookout for acceptance letters.
· Start looking for summer jobs or possible internships.
· Apply to scholarships.
Make sure your AP payment has been made.
April
· Compare financial aid award letters.
Acceptance letters may still be coming in this month.
· Send your letter of intent.
· Check with the school you've chosen about returning financial aid award letters.
· Notify the schools you have chosen NOT to attend.
· Plan for registration, orientation, and housing, and mark your calendar with important dates.
May
· Make sure you have accepted a university and declared you are attending there.
Be aware of any summer orientation sessions that you must attend at the school in which you will enroll, and make plans accordingly.
· Finalize your summer job plans, and make a plan for saving a portion of your summer earnings.
· Follow up with your high school to ensure Ms. Rocio forwards your final school transcripts to the college.
· Apply to scholarships.
June
· Follow up with the financial aid office to ensure all paperwork is complete.
· Take College Placement exams if needed by your university (math and English; if applicable)
· Enjoy your last days as a high school student
· Congratulations, you did it!!!!!
July
· Save money from your summer job (If applicable).
· Send “thank you notes” to everyone who helped you plan and prepare for college.
· Make copies of your financial aid forms, health forms, etc for your files to aid in resolving future issues.
· Register for the Fall semester. Do it as soon as possible.
· Prepare for the new adventures that await you on campus!
Congratulations! It's time to get ready to start college.
Advice for parents
Yes, there are things you can do to help your senior prepare for continuing their education after high school.
· It is important to attend financial aid presentations and career day functions WITH your student.
· Check their grades on ECHO as often as possible and continue to support them and cheer them on. Ask them often "what are you working on and what scholarships have you applied for?"
· Sit down with your student and prepare a list of what he/she is looking for in a college and then help him/her sort through the information they receive from the different institutions to decide which ones offer what's on the list.
· Complete applications with the student.
· In November, register for a PIN with FAFSA you can assist your student with financial aid forms in January.
· In January or February, you will need to help your student complete the FAFSA. Your PIN will help speed up the process. It is ideal that you complete your taxes in January, by the very latest, February.
· In March, the award notices will start coming in. Look at the financing carefully and make comparisons!
· Go on trips with your student to as many of his or her top school choices. A visit to the campus is invaluable to making a decision.
· There may be stressful times during senior year, remind them how hard they have worked and help maintain the level of stress down.
· Hug them, send them on their way to a new adventure.