Senior Year College Checklist
Phew. You survived junior year. The stress, the APs, the SATs, the ACTs, hours on end of studying—you did it all. So now’s the time to relax, you’re done! High school is basically over, right?
Almost. There are a few important things you need to do to ensure that the college application process (and your second semester) are a breeze.
- Register to take your final SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT. Soon it will be too late!
- Have your official test scores sent to colleges. This must be done through the College Board; you cannot print them out and mail them yourself.
- Visit college campuses. Talk to admissions and Financial Aid representatives. Make sure you sign in when visiting colleges. You get brownie points!
- Attend college presentations and fairs. This is a great opportunity to meet admission reps.
- Research your college choices on the Internet and narrow your college list.
- Keep a calendar of important deadlines (early decision, early action, financial aid, housing, etc).
- Request college applications. Many colleges have their applications available over the summer so get cracking!
- Send completed college applications BEFORE the deadline. (Goal: be done by Thanksgiving!) Get rolling admission applications in EARLY.
- Request transcripts for colleges you are applying to.
- Fill out either on-line or by mail the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible beginning in January of senior year.
- Apply for scholarships and evaluate all scholarship opportunities and financial aid awards.
- Keep copies of ALL the forms you submit.
Your senior year will be over before you know it. By getting a head start on this checklist you will save time, make applying to colleges less stressful, and guarantee that you will still have time for fun.