Prep for College Calendar - Senior Year
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Apply to colleges. Make decisions. Finish high school with   pride in yourself and your accomplishments.
Make sure you have all applications required for   college admission and financial aid. Write, phone, or use the Internet to request missing information.
September
Check on application and financial aid deadlines for   the schools to which you plan to apply. They may vary and it is essential to   meet all deadlines!
Meet with your guidance counselor to be sure your   list includes colleges appropriate to your academic and personal record.   Review your transcript and co-curricular records with your school counselor   to ensure their accuracy.
Register for the October/November SAT I and/or SAT   II: Subject Test, or September/October ACT.
If the colleges require recommendations, ask the   appropriate people to write on your behalf. At least three weeks before the   due date, ask your counselor and teachers, employers, or coaches to write   letters of recommendation. Provide recommendation forms, any special   instructions and a stamped, addressed business envelope to the people writing   your recommendation. Be thoughtful! Write thank-you notes to those who write   recommendations and keep them informed of your decisions.
Plan visits to colleges and set up interviews (if you   didn't get to them during the summer or if you want to return to a campus for   a second time). Read bulletin boards and the college newspaper. Talk with   current students and professors.
Attend a regional college fair to investigate further   those colleges to which you will probably apply. Go to College Fairs on   NACAC's Web site (www.nacac.com) to view the schedule for NACAC's National   College Fairs and the Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs.
Mail applications in time to reach the colleges by   the deadlines. Check with your guidance counselor to make sure your   transcript and test scores have been/will be sent to the colleges to which   you are applying.
October
If applying for early decision or early action, send   in your application now. Also prepare applications for back-up schools.   Remember, if you are accepted under the early decision option, you are   expected to enroll at that college and to withdraw all other applications. Submit financial aid information if requested from early decision/action   candidates.
Register for the December/January SAT I and/or SAT   II: Subject Tests, or December ACT if you have not completed the required   tests or if you are not happy with your previous test scores and think you can do better.
Have official test scores sent by the testing agency   to colleges on your list.
Take the SAT I or SAT II if appropriate. Don't forget   to have test scores sent to colleges on your list.
November
Be sure your first quarter grades are good.
Continue completing applications to colleges. Make   copies of all applications before mailing the applications.
If you need financial aid, obtain a FAFSA (Free   Application for Federal Student Aid) from your guidance office. Check to see   if the colleges to which you are applying require any other financial aid   form. Register for the CSS Profile if required and obtain the college's own   financial aid forms, if available. November (continued)
Keep all records, test score reports and copies of   applications for admission and financial aid. Do not throw anything away   until at least the end of your first year in college. Having detailed records   will save you time and effort should anything be lost or should you decide to   apply in the future to other colleges and scholarship programs.
�Have official test scores sent to colleges on your   list if you have not done so.
December
Consult your school counselor again to review your   final list of colleges. Be sure you have all bases covered. It is a good idea   to make copies of everything before you drop those envelopes in the mail. If   for some reason your application gets lost, you will have a back-up copy. File   your last college application.
If you applied for early decision, you should have an   answer by now. If you are accepted, follow the instructions for admitted   students. If the decision is deferred until spring or you are denied, submit   applications now to other colleges.
January
�Keep working in your classes! Grades and courses   continue to count throughout the senior year.
Request that your counselor send the transcript of   your first semester grades to the colleges to which you applied.
Parents and students, complete your income tax forms   as soon as possible. You will need those figures to fill out the FAFSA.   Complete and return your FAFSA as quickly as possible after January 1. Check   to make sure your colleges or state does not require any other financial aid   forms. If they do, consult your guidance counselor or contact the college's   financial aid office.
�Remember to monitor your applications to be sure that   all materials are sent and received on time and that they are complete. Stay   on top of things and don't procrastinate; you can ruin your chances for   admission by missing a deadline.
February
If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your   Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks after submitting the FAFSA. Review   the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any   items on the SAR and return it to the FAFSA processor (if a college   transmitted your data directly, notify the college of any change).
If more than four weeks have passed after sending in   your FAFSA and you have not received an acknowledgment, contact the Federal   Student Aid Information Center at (319) 337-5665. To identify you, they will   need your name, social security number, address, and date of birth exactly as   it was written on your FAFSA.
Complete scholarship applications. You may be   eligible for more scholarships than you think, so apply for as many as you   can.
Enjoy your final year in high school, but don't catch   senioritis!
March Stay focused and keep studying-only a couple more   months to go!
�Do not take rolling admission applications for   granted. (Some colleges do not have application deadlines; they admit   students on a continuous basis.) These schools may reach their maximum class   size quickly-the earlier you apply, the more availability there may be.
April
Review your college acceptances and financial aid   awards. Be sure to compare financial aid packages in your decision-making   process. If you are positive you will not enroll at one or more of the   colleges which accepted you, please notify those colleges that you have   selected another college. Keeping colleges abreast of your plans might enable   those colleges to admit someone else. If you know which college you will   attend, send your tuition deposit and follow all other instructions for   admitted students. You must decide which offer of admission to accept by May   1 (postmark date).
�By May 1, decide on the one college that you will   attend. By May 1, send in your tuition deposit to the college you will   attend. Notify the other colleges that accepted you that you have selected   another college.
May
BE PROUD-you have completed a difficult task.
If your first-choice college places you on their   waiting list, do not lose all hope. Some students are admitted off the   waiting list. Talk with your counselor, and contact the college to let them   know you are still very interested. Keep the college updated on your   activities.
Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate   and request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend.
Request that your counselor send your final   transcript to the college you will attend. Notify the college of any private   scholarships or grants you will be receiving.
June
Know when the payment for tuition, room and board,   meal plans, etc., is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a   possible payment plan that will allow for you to pay in installments.
Congratulations, you've made it through high school!   Enjoy your graduation and look forward to college.
Look for information in the mail from the college   about housing, roommate(s), orientation, course selection, etc. Respond promptly to all requests from the college. August-September
July
Ease the transition into college. Accept the fact   that you'll be in charge of your academic and personal life. What you do,   when you do it and how things get done will be up to you. You'll have new  responsibilities and challenges. Think about budgeting your time and   establishing priorities. Take charge of the changes that lie ahead and   eliminate or minimize pressures. Go forth with confidence and enthusiasm,   willingness to adapt and determination to succeed academically and   personally.
Pack for college. Don't forget to include things that   remind you of friends and family. Be prepared for the new opportunities and   challenges. Have a great freshman year!
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