College Planning
College Planning During Your Senior Year
September
September
- Continue to visit college campuses and try to meet with admissions officers
- Mark your calendar with upcoming key dates during senior year (admissions deadlines, college visit tours)
- Find out if any of your college choices make fall presentations including the College Night at Burlington County College
- Request recommendations from teachers, counselors, coaches – don’t wait until last minute
- Narrow your list of colleges and obtain any college applications. Create a Common Application profile if necessary.
- Begin working on your personal essay
- Register for the October SAT/SATII if necessary.
- Review your complete high school transcript to be sure information is accurate
- If you can’t afford application or test fees, check if you qualify for a fee waiver with your counselor
- Organize your applications and components of your portfolio
- Register for CSS Financial Aid PROFILE if necessary
October
- Continue attending college fairs to investigate further colleges
- Prepare information needed for applications
- Send in applications if you are applying Early Decision or Early Action
- Take the SAT I or ACT
- Confirm all college application deadlines
- Thank teachers for their recommendations
- Complete college essays and ask teachers to read your first draft
- Explore sources of financial aid. Begin Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with parent/guardian help if possible.
November
- Research available scholarships. Check Naviance "Scholarships" section.
- Early admission/Early decision applications are due
- Continue to meet with college reps
- Set up and prepare for college interviews
- Study!!! Don’t be a victim of senioritis
- Complete at least one college application by Thanksgiving – always make copies of everything before you mail anything out
December
- You should complete SAT I, SAT II and ACT testing by this month
- If accepted early decision, withdraw applications to all other colleges
- Have your test scores sent to all of the colleges to which you are applying
- Continue working on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Check with your prospective schools about additional financial aid forms
January
- Maintain a strong senior year. Colleges are sent midyear reports!
- Complete the FAFSA and send it
- Continue to research scholarship information
- Check to see if the colleges you applied to want a mid year report
February
- Check that colleges have received all materials
- Carefully read all information from colleges, including acceptance procedures, financial aid, housing, etc.
- If you have been wait-listed, the college will want to know what you have accomplished between the time you applied and learned of its decision
- About three-four weeks after submitting your FAFSA, you’ll receive the Student Aid Report (SAR). Review it for accuracy
- Continue to research scholarship opportunities
March/April
- If accepted by a college, notify your counselor and update Naviance.
- Register for AP exams
- Review financial aid packages
- Study for AP exams
- Continue to research scholarship opportunities
May
- Make final college selection and send deposit
- Take Advanced Placement exams as appropriate
- Inform colleges you will not be attending that you have declined their offer
- Continue to apply for scholarships
- Check deadlines for housing, financial aid, freshmen orientations, etc.
- Complete the Senior Information Sheet for Class Night
June
- Request a final transcript which will be sent to the college of your choice
- Look for information from your new college on summer orientation, skills testing, etc.
- Attend Class Night
- Send thank you notes to scholarship programs that have given you aid
- GRADUATION!!!
Financial Aid Resources
FAFSA Application (https://fafsa.ed.gov/)
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/default.aspx)
College Planning Resource (http://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/students/)