12th Grade

College Planner

Welcome to your senior year! All of your prior hard work on exploring careers & colleges is going to pay off because you are set with all the information you need to complete the application and financial aid processes. In each section below are resources to help with each step of the process. Pay attention to application deadlines for the schools in your list. Also, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on October 1, and you should apply as early as possible. Click here for a printable list of tasks by month.

The Application Process

Application Checklist

College Entrance Exams

FAFSA / TASFA (opens Oct 1, limited; for all Dec. 1)

FAFSA Help 101

TAFSA Help 101

Financial Aid Support

Application Essay Support

The Application Process

It's time to fill out those applications!

Pay attention to application deadlines and pace yourself. The links below will help you with a checklist for the entire application process and the other will give you an overview of college entrance exams.

Additional links:

Explore the Xello College Planning Knowledge Hub

When you log into your Xello account, go to the College Planning Section where you’ll see a Knowledge Hub. Here you can learn more about FAFSA, grants, work-study, and loans, scholarships, Common App, transcripts and recommendation letters, personal essays, and preparing for the ACT or SAT.

You may also use Xello to keep track of all the steps for your applications so you know which schools you’ve sent your transcript, letters of recommendation, portfolio, essay, etc.

This link includes steps for students on how to track their applications in Xello

Application Checklist

College Possible

College Entrance Exams

College Possible

FAFSA / TASFA (opens Oct 1, limited; for all Dec. 1)

Completing the FAFSA or TASFA is a graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2022.

FAFSA can help students be considered for federal aid, while filing the TASFA allows students to be considered for state financial aid.

FAFSA / TASFA: What's the difference?

FAFSA is meant for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
TASFA is for non-citizens and certain international students who are classified as Texas residents.