Senior Timeline for College Admissions

March-October (Junior/Senior Years):

• Complete college admissions tests (SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER). Register to take SAT subject area tests if required by the colleges you are considering. 

Summer:

• Complete college research and visit colleges.

• Narrow college choices to those to which you want to apply (5-10).

• Establish a resume which includes co-curricular activities, honors/awards, leadership, and community service hours. Provide this resume to your school counselor and others who may write your recommendations.

August-September:

• Register to retake admissions exams if necessary.

• Request appropriate letters of recommendation if they are required by the school to which you are applying. Give your recommenders at least 2 weeks’ notice (3 weeks preferably).

• Draft scholarship application essays. 

• Attend college fairs and speak to representatives of the colleges in which you are interested.

• Arrange fall college visits.

• Meet with your school counselor for your one-on-one Senior IGP Meeting.

• Not going to college? Meet with a military recruiter.

• Create FAFSA IDs for you and your parents.

October-November:

• Complete admissions applications by college deadlines (especially applications intended for early decision or scholarships).

• Research each school to see if an institutional financial aid form or the CSS Profile is required in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Complete and submit your FAFSA application as soon as possible. Do not wait to be accepted by colleges to complete financial aid forms! You may complete your FAFSA starting October 1st at fafsa.ed.gov. 

• If you are interested in the military, take the ASVAB.  This test is offered at DHS in November and February each year.

December-January:

• Enjoy winter break!

• Consider visiting any schools you’ve not seen yet.

• Continue to research and apply for private scholarships.

• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) which gives you an overview of the information you completed on your FAFSA.

February-March: 

• Students will begin to receive admissions decisions from colleges though they may arrive as late as April 1. 

March-April:

• Review college acceptance letters and financial award letters.

• If necessary, make an appointment with your school counselor or college adviser discuss final college decision.

• If you have not visited the schools you are considering, this is the last chance before you have to make a decision.

April-May:

• Decide which school you will attend and inform that school of your choice. You may be asked to submit a deposit at that time.

• Send your SAR to that school if they require it.

• Decline any other offers of admission in writing. 

May:

• Enjoy the rest of your senior year!

• Make housing plans.

• Be sure to request that your final transcript is sent to the college you will be attending (all seniors will be asked to complete a final transcript request form at graduation practice).

Frequently Asked Questions 

FAFSA

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  FAFSA is a financial aid application that every student should complete.  The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for need-based financial aid at college (work-study, Pell Grant, low-interest federal student loans, and institutional need-based financial aid).  The FAFSA is also used as one of the entry ways for applying for state programs.  There is no fee for completing this application (beware because some sites try to trick you into thinking they're the official site but charge a fee).  Our counseling staff will schedule FAFSA Nights and Apply to College events throughout the year.  If you have special circumstances that you need to discuss, please reach out for assistance.

When will I hear back from my colleges regarding acceptance/financial aid?

Some colleges will say directly that they will notify students regarding acceptance on a specific date. May 1st tends to be a common date. Others have "rolling" admissions, which means they will accept or deny a student as soon as they have received all materials and have had time to review the file to make a decision. The key is to be patient. Colleges are receiving thousands of applications and need to consider each one in turn.

How do I sign up for SAT or ACT?

To register for the SAT, you will need to create an account at www.collegeboard.org and follow the prompts for registration.  To register for the ACT, you will need to create an account at www.act.org and follow the prompts for registration. Student may be eligible for SAT and ACT fee waivers during high school. Please contact your counselor to find out more information.  Students who use fee waivers may also eligible for college application fee waivers.

What is my GPA?

Your GPA is listed on your official DCSD transcript on a 100 point scale and on the 10.0 scale.

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