Senior year is often an extremely busy time, with schoolwork, activities, and special events. Be sure to stay on track with the college admissions process. Get organized, be aware of deadlines, and don’t procrastinate.
Continue to visit schools.
Fall is a great time to look at the schools on your college lists because classes are in session and you are better able to meet and talk with students and professors. You may even be able to sit in on a class or two.
Finalize your college list.
Use the information you’ve gathered from college visits, interviews, websites, and your own research to decide which schools you will apply to. It’s okay to apply to colleges that you think will be more difficult to get into. But it’s also important to put a few safety schools (where you’re sure you’ll get in) on your list. Talk to counselors, teachers, and parents about your final choices.
Stay on track with your grades and extracurricular activities.
Colleges will look at what you’ve done in your senior year, so stay focused on doing well in your classes and maintain a commitment to extracurricular activities. Keep this focus all year long.
Re-take standardized tests as needed.
Register for and take the ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Tests as necessary. Be sure you have requested that your test scores be sent to the colleges of your choice.
Keep track of deadlines.
You’ll be filling out lots of forms this year, so it’s important to know what form is due when. Make a calendar showing the application deadlines for admission, financial aid, and scholarships.
Ask for letters of recommendation.
Recommendations from teachers, coaches, pastors, and other significant adults are an important part of the college application process. If you use the Common App or SUNY app, you will be given the opportunity to enter their information in those apps. Your teacher (or other adult) will be sent an email link where they will submit the letter of recommendation on your behalf. Be sure to ask your teacher (or other adult) first, and give them enough time to submit the recommendation before any deadlines. Discuss your goals and ambitions with your teachers so they’ll be more prepared to write about you. You can also give them a copy of the Brag Sheet.
Meet with your School Counselor.
Your counselor can help you stay on track with admissions requirements. Make sure he/she knows which colleges you want transcripts, score reports, and letters sent to. Give your counselor any necessary forms much earlier than the actual deadlines so they’ll have time to send the forms in.
Complete applications.
Finish the application forms for the schools you’re interested in. Be sure to proofread before you them. Make sure you and your school’s guidance office have sent all necessary materials, including test scores, recommendations, transcripts, and application essays. You should plan to get all this done before winter break, so you won’t be rushing to make deadlines.
Submit financial aid forms.
Fill out the FAFSA, and if necessary, the PROFILE. These forms will be completed online at FAFSA.gov. You should never pay to complete a FAFSA form and you should only complete the PROFILE if your college instructs you to do so. No matter what your family’s income level is, the FAFSA is your main priority for financial aid purposes because it will determine how much you’re expected to pay. Don’t send the forms until after October 1, because they can’t be processed before then. This form uses your family’s tax returns from two years ago.
Continue your scholarship search.
Apply for scholarships whose deadlines are approaching and keep searching for more scholarship and grant opportunities. Using online scholarship search tools is a great way to find potential aid. Ask colleges about what scholarships you may qualify for. The downtime after applications have been sent is a great time to focus on financial aid.
Act on the results of early decision applications.
If you applied early decision, you’ll soon find out if you were accepted. If you get in, you have to withdraw your applications from other schools. If not, keep your other applications out there and focus on those colleges.
Follow up on your applications.
Verify with your counselor that all forms are in order and have been sent out to colleges. Check with the schools to make sure they have received all your information, including test scores, transcripts, and recommendations.
Send mid-year grade reports.
Ask your counselor to send your mid-year grade reports to the colleges that you applied to. Remember that the schools will continue to keep track of your grades, so it’s important to keep working hard throughout your senior year.
Watch your mail for notification from colleges.
If you applied under the regular application process, you should receive an admissions decision by March or April. Notifications of financial aid awards should arrive by the end of April.
Check out your options if you’re put on a waitlist.
Being put on a waitlist is not a rejection. Keep watching your mail; you should receive a decision by May. In the meantime, keep your options open in case you don’t get in. Check out schools that have late or rolling application deadlines.
Compare financial aid packages.
Make sure to consider each financial aid award carefully. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the financial aid office of the college to get more information. Financial aid is a key factor in deciding where you will attend.
Make your final college decision. Notify all schools of your intent by May 1.
If you’re not sure which offer to accept, make one more campus visit to the schools you’re considering. Make sure to send your deposit to your chosen school and let your school counselor know of your decision so your final transcript can be sent to the college in June.
Follow up on financial aid information.
Make sure you have received a FAFSA acknowledgement. If you applied for a Pell Grant, you will receive a Student Aid Report statement. Review this notice, make a copy for your records, and send the original to the college you plan to attend. If necessary, apply for loans.
Complete enrollment paperwork for the college you will attend.
Once you accept an offer, you should receive information from the college about course scheduling, orientation sessions, housing arrangements, and other necessary forms. Be sure to complete all required paperwork by the appropriate deadlines.
Be sure to send your AP scores and any Dual Enrollment Transcripts to your college
After doing all the work in your AP and Dual Enrollment classes, be sure to request AP scores from college board and transcripts from any dual enrollment classes to be sent to your college of choice for college credit.
Source: https://www.petersons.com/blog/12th-grade-college-planning-timeline/
This is the home stretch, but the college process may feel like a full-time job. Click on the article below for more information:
https://www.petersons.com/blog/12th-grade-help-your-child-prepare-for-college/
CCA recommends you apply for college by December 1 (regardless of the college deadlines). This puts you in the best position for financial aid and scholarships.
WAYS TO APPLY: Common Application (www.commonapp.org), SUNY application (https://www.suny.edu/applysuny/), or individual application (found on the colleges website under the admissions tab).
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS: If yo use the common app, the school counselor submits a recommendation automatically. Each of your teachers will also be happy to do a letter for you. Remember to politely ask them and to do that soon so they have enough time to complete letters and give them the link and deadline for when recommendations need to be completed.
Financial Aid and FAFSA- The FAFSA can be completed on/after October 1. You will need to go to www.FAFSA.gov and create a user ID. BOTH you AND your parents will need to create your own ID and fill out your own section of the form. You will complete this form every year of college. If you do not complete this form, you will not receive a financial aid package from the college. Everyone should complete the form regardless of your financial situation.
Once you send in your college applications and FAFSA form, remember to apply for scholarships. Some scholarships have deadlines in October or November, so start looking early. See the scholarship page for helpful links.
By May 1st, you must tell each college that accepted you, whether you accept or reject their offer of admission for college.
Who will be in my friend group? Being part of continued ministry opportunities, as well as meeting Christian friends is a priority we have here at CCA for our students when they graduate.
Every Student Sent (ESS) is an online platform that allows students to connect with others who are interested in the same college or campus ministry. ESS has partnered with many Christian organizations across the country and created a platform where students can connect, online, before they commit to a college campus. When you are looking at colleges, you can search for that particular college online. ESS will show any ministries on that college campus for you to be part of. Many times you can connect with students on campus, as well as ministry leaders, so that you can begin forming relationships before you step foot on the college campus.
In addition, ESS is adding material that will be helpful to you as you get ready for college. The Thrive Courses teaches students how to live a Christian life amidst the culture surrounding them. Various resources in planning for college are available, such as College Assistance Plus, SAT and ACT test prep, career planning and minimizing college debt.
College Assistance Plus is an coaching organization designed to help you and your family navigate the college process. Here you will go in-depth into career exploration, have a coach navigate you through each step of the college process, as well as work with your financial situation to minimize debt. Many of our CCA families have used College Assistance Plus; See Mrs. Baldwin for references and a discount offered to CCA families.
Paul Celuch spoke at CCA. Watch the seminar here: Reducing College Debt