TIMELINE

Summer Before and Start of Senior Year (June – August)

• Hathaway Curriculum Audit: Audit your transcript against the Hathaway Success Curriculum. Target specific GPA and ACT benchmarks for the four merit tiers: Honors (3.5 GPA / 25 ACT), Performance (3.0 / 21), Opportunity (2.5 / 19), or Provisional Opportunity (2.5 / 17). 

• School List & WUE Mapping: Build a list combining in-state options (University of Wyoming, Casper College, LCCC, Sheridan College, Gillette College, CWC, NWC, etc.), regional out-of-state universities offering the WUE tuition rate (150% of resident tuition across CO, MT, SD, UT, NE, ID), and/or out-of-state universities that are of interest to you.

• Testing Prep: Register for late-summer or early-fall ACT/SAT test dates if you need higher scores to unlock a higher Hathaway tier or institutional awards. If you are interested in retaking the ACT for  a higher score, schedule a retake. FYI - Senior fall ACT retake (paid by the school) is Oct. 27th at BHS. 

• The Common App is a free support tool and system used to apply to some schools out of Wyoming. If you need help organizing the college process, it is a quality resource.

Fall: September – November 

• Open applications for UW, Sheridan College, Gillette College, BHSU, and MSU Billings; begin FAFSA (Oct. 1) prep. 

• Application Submissions: Complete admissions applications for UW, regional WUE schools, and community colleges. Apply early to ensure access to institutional scholarships and possibly secure priority on-campus housing options.

• Letters & Brag Sheets: Request recommendation letters from teachers and counselors, highlighting local involvement (4-H, FFA, athletics, community service, or part-time work).

• Financial Aid Setup: Create student and parent FSA IDs to prepare for the FAFSA (opens Oct. 1), which is required to qualify for need-based Hathaway additions. How to engage financial aid? BHS hosts a financial aid night for parents and students to learn about some of your options.

Winter: December – February

• December 1 Priority Date: Ensure all application materials are submitted to UW by December 1 for automatic consideration for top institutional scholarships (including the Trustees' Scholars Award).

• WyoScholarships & Local Portals: Fill out the WyoScholarships application for UW, alongside individual scholarship portals for community colleges.

• Wyoming Community Awards: Apply for local and regional awards, including the Wyoming Community Foundation, conservation district grants, and local energy or agricultural scholarships.

• Select housing options at Sheridan, Gillette, or UW; review financial aid award packages side-by-side.

Early Spring: March – April

• Provisional Hathaway Filing: Confirm your counselor submits your provisional Hathaway application and current transcript to your target Wyoming institution.

• Financial Package Comparison: Compare net costs line-by-line: factor in Hathaway funding for in-state options versus WUE tuition rates for out-of-state regional schools.

• Campus Visits & Housing: Attend UW Discovery Days or community college admitted-student events, and submit campus housing deposits.

Late Spring & Graduation: May – June

• May – Graduation

• Confirm enrollment at four-year universities

• Final Transcript Release: Ensure your counseling department sends your official final transcript directly to your college.

• Orientation Onboarding: Complete enrollment steps, register for summer orientation (such as UW Cowboy Orientation), and prepare for fall move-in.