• Ask teacher(s) for letters of recommendation you’ll need in the fall: Some teachers are asked to write a ton, so it’s good to make the ask early. They may write your letter this summer while your work and contributions to the classroom are fresh in their mind.

• Volunteer (with an organization that is in your field of interest, if possible), to help your community.

  • Houston area opportunities

  • Cypress Assistance Ministries

  • Cy-Hope

  • Cy-Fair Helping Hands

  • Camp Hope

  • Operation Gratitude

  • American Heart Association

  • Olive Branch Muslim Family Organization

  • All For Good

  • Idealist

  • Volunteer Match

  • Volunteer Houston

  • Houston Sports Authority

• How to Create a College List (with tracking spreadsheet): Keep making progress. Make sure you’re excited about all the schools on your list, not just the reaches. Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be is a great read.

• Tips for Planning a College Visit: Make a plan to visit a couple schools based on your college research, if you’re able. If getting to the campuses isn’t possible, learn as much as you can online via virtual information sessions.

• Get organized and kick off your application process: Research the admission requirements and deadlines for schools on your list, and create a spreadsheet to organize information.

• Free test prep:- If you’re planning to test in late summer into the fall, take advantage of these resources:

  • Official SAT Practice Tests (College Board)

  • Khan Academy (SAT Free Official SAT Practice Tests | College Board)

  • Official ACT Practice Tests

  • ACT Academy

  • How to Improve Your ACT Score by 2 Points in 20 Minutes

• SAT Study Group: Consider starting a study group to prepare for your upcoming exams. Even if you’re applying to test-optional schools, you might want a test score for scholarship eligibility.

• How to Write a College Essay: Wondering how to get started on your college essays this summer? This step by step guide and this video will walk you through the process.

• 8 Resources and Tips for Getting Scholarships and Financial Aid: These are a great set of tips and resources as you begin your scholarship search. Use this template to keep track of opportunities that might be a good fit.

• If you’ve excelled academically despite financial challenges, consider applying to QuestBridge or the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program, and check in with your counselor on the Posse Foundation nomination process.

• Create a spreadsheet of all usernames and passwords: Keep important login information here for college applications, applicant portals, and scholarships.

• Create a spreadsheet of requirements and deadlines - Keep track of application deadlines, number of required recommendation letters, scholarship deadlines, portfolio requirements, etc. all in one organized spot.

• Have you considered attend an all-women's or all-men's college or a Minority Serving Institution, such as an HBCU? Maybe now's the time to see if such an institution should be part of your college list.

• If you are selecting a highly-selective university, review this presentation to best prepare yourself for the application process.

• College applications are live - Start familiarizing yourself with the information you need to gather. Some of the most popular applications include The Common Application, Coalition Application, Apply Texas.

• Benefits and drawbacks of applying "early decision" or "early action"

  • Here's a chart that organizes this information too

• FAFSA + CSS PROFILE - These two forms are critical to your financial aid process. All schools require the FAFSA (or TASFA); the CSS PROFILE is only required by some schools and scholarships. Submission windows open on October 1st, but you can get your FSA ID for the FAFSA today.

• Connect with college admissions reps, either at your school, online or in your community. These sessions are important opportunities to let colleges know you’re considering attending their institution, which in some cases can help your chances.

• If you need to retest for the SAT or ACT test, sign up to do so now (and complete testing by October, if possible).

• Some colleges that use Raise.Me have early deadlines for finalizing your information on the site. Update or create your account now, and research the deadlines for colleges you're interested in.

• Remember you can check here for help with confusing college terms

• If you are enrolled in AP classes this year, register now for your AP tests.

• College Application Fee Waivers: Find out if you qualify for fee waivers and, if so, how to get them.

• Resource guide for low-income students or those experiencing homelessness: Learn more about college costs, financial aid, and available services.

• Supplemental essay responses: If you’re applying to schools that require additional essays beyond the main personal statement, this is a must-read.

• Interview with colleges that offer them: Depending on the school, you can either sign up on its website or respond to an invitation it sends via email.

• Research scholarships: Continue to research scholarship opportunities, making special note of requirements and deadlines.

• Supplemental essay responses: This is your go-to guide when applying to colleges that require more than a personal statement.

• Check your applicant portals and emails: Portals are the place where colleges keep applicant information and where you can update contact information, monitor application status, upload and track documents, and view the final admission decision. If you miss a request for more information or a document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so make it a habit to check regularly.

• The Great College Essay Test: Assess how ready your essays are to submit.

• Research campus housing plans, deadlines, fees and policies, so you don't miss the housing deadline.

• Complete and send out all applications no later than December 1st.

• Be sure to send any necessary materials, including:

  1. SAT or ACT scores, if required

  2. High school transcripts

  3. Fees or fee waivers

• If you applied Early Decision/Early Action, you might want to hold on submitting additional applications and sending off the CSS Profile to the rest of your list until the early news is in. Just make sure not to miss any deadlines.

• Write thank you notes: Share gratitude with your teachers for writing letters of recommendation for you.

• Check your applicant portals and emails: You must check your emails and portals daily throughout the winter months. If you miss a request for more information or an additional document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so check regularly.

• Check your applicant portals and emails: If you miss a request for more information or an additional document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so check regularly.

• What to do if you’re deferred or waitlisted: Review your application and determine whether you want to write a letter of continued interest. And if you’re confused about the purpose of a waitlist, read this blog post by an admission director.

• Apply for scholarships—Some seniors apply to more than 30 scholarships. Don't shy away from local options or ones that require essays. Since fewer students apply for these, you often have a better chance. Begin applying between junior and senior year and continue throughout the school year.

• Check your applicant portals and emails: You must check your emails and portals daily throughout the winter months. If you miss a request for more information or an additional document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so check regularly.

• Senioritis: This is not the time to slack off. Colleges will see your final transcript this summer, and they do have the right to rescind (i.e., take back) their offer of admission if your spring grades drop significantly (gulp).

• Admitted student events: If possible, attend in-person and virtual events for admitted students to get your questions answered and help inform your decision-making process.

• Scholarships: Search for possible fits based on your academic interests, gender, religion, and more.

• Check your applicant portals and emails: You must check your emails and portals daily throughout the winter months. If you miss a request for more information or an additional document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so check regularly.

• How to understand your financial-aid award letters: Make a spreadsheet to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools.

• Appealing financial aid: If you’ve been accepted to college but the financial aid package isn’t what you’d hoped, read through this guide and listen to this podcast as you plan your appeal.

• Things to consider if you don't get into your top choice college.

• Making your final college choice: Plan visits to colleges where you’re accepted (if needed) in order to make your final college choice.

• Send tax transcript for verification, if requested—Certain colleges may require verification of your financial information. Follow up your financial aid applications by sending the requesting college copies of your or your parents' tax transcripts.

• Continue applying for scholarships. Check in with your counselor to see whether there are any local scholarships you might have missed.

• Making your final college choice: It’s decision time. You need to enroll and submit a deposit by May 1st (or a few days after, depending on the school).

  1. If you are trying to decide between a community college and a university, review this video about 5 reasons to consider community college.

  2. Here's a guide on how to transfer from a community college to a university

  3. Additional tips for students who plan to transfer from community college to university.

• Confirm campus housing plans, deadlines, fees and policies.

• Review this video about 5 AP Study Tips to Pass the AP Exams

• Submit your enrollment deposit—The final date to submit a deposit and lock in your place for regular decision applications is typically May 1. If you're worried about the cost of the deposit, talk to the school about a fee-waiver.

• Keep searching for scholarships.

• Build a personal campus resources directory: Learn about the services available on your college campus, and keep track of them here. It will serve as an important guide as you settle in on campus in the fall.

• The Summer Before College: A Five-Step Guide (for Productivity or Fun): It’s your last summer before heading off to college. Make it count.

• Sign up for new student orientation

• Research any required placement testing, such as the TSI or the TAMU math placement exam.

Study tips in college (from MIT): You’ll soon be sitting in your first college class, so take the time to read up on some suggestions on time management, testing, and study skills.

• Additional tips for college success

• Get familiar with college lingo: College brings a ton of new vocabulary, so keep this glossary handy while you navigate registration, housing, and student services.

• If you will be living in a dorm, you should:

  1. Meet your roommate

  2. Shop for your dorm, but not too much

  3. Overview of dorm life

• Take stock of your existing credits

  1. Send Lone Star transcripts to your college, after final grades have been posted

  2. Be sure to send your AP scores to your college

• Attend new student orientation, and select classes that will work for your goals and your schedule.

• Determine what textbooks, apps, materials, and technology are required for your freshman year, and learn how to save on textbooks.

• Make sure you've nailed down some #adulting skills like

  1. laundry

  2. basic meals and things you can make in a microwave

  3. budgeting

  4. Overview of things you should be prepared for

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