Make an appointment with your counselor to discuss your postsecondary plans. Become familiar with the application procedure.
Compile/fine-tune your college lists to include reach, middle & safety schools.
Meet with college representatives.
Students applying for Early Decision should approach teachers for recommendations as soon as possible. Remember many colleges/universities waive fees if you apply early.
Set up your Federal Student Aid ID at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
Use Naviance Family Connection to research colleges.
Register for the SAT and/or ACT. www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org
Use your option to send your scores to 4 colleges for free
FAFSA is available on October 1 https://studentaid.gov/
Check out www.commonapp.org to see which colleges accept the common application.
Meet with college representatives.
Many colleges use data from the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to provide nonfederal financial aid. Begin applying online at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Finish a draft of your essay.
Ask teachers for recommendations. Have a resume to give teachers to help them out.
Early Decision and Early Action deadlines – they usually fall on November 1 or 15.
Start filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
For more information, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
Visit your counselor
Register for the SAT and/or ACT. www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org
Use your option to send your scores to 4 colleges for free
Meet with college representatives.
Check with your counselor, teachers, or coaches, to ensure that letters of recommendation are sent on time.
Complete applications for colleges with “rolling” deadlines as soon as possible.
Continue to attend meetings with college representatives.
Begin to seek out scholarship information.
Visit your counselor
Try to wrap up applications before winter break.
FAFSA Applications should be filed by January.
Send standardized test scores to your colleges through www.collegeboard.org
Early Decision and Early Action letters start arriving this month. Check with individual schools to confirm dates. Good luck!
Complete CSS Profile if you haven’t already done so and is needed.
Seek out scholarship information and apply as appropriate.
Students admitted by Early Decision must withdraw applications to other schools.
Deferred students consider sending in additional supplementary materials.
Seek out scholarship information on Naviance Family Connection and apply as appropriate.
If you have not applied or have a post-high school plan, see your school counselor.
Continue the scholarship search. Check out fastweb.com and finaid.org for ideas.
Use February/March break to visit colleges.
Visit your counselor.
Some colleges have FAFSA deadlines as early as March 1.
Continue the scholarship search.
Begin comparing your financial aid award letters. The FAME Cost & Financial Aid Comparison form is helpful.
Regular Decision admissions letters begin to arrive.
Discuss the financial aid package provided by each school with your family.
If you haven’t received financial aid packages by early April contact Admissions.
Attend admitted students’ weekends at college campuses.
Use April break for any additional campus visits.
If you are on a waitlist, set up a meeting with your counselor to discuss options.
Send in the acceptance notice to your chosen school. Make sure to send in your deposit.
Decline offers of admission from remaining colleges.
File your FAFSA by or before May 1st to be considered for the Maine State Grant Program.
May 1: Deadline for notifying colleges of your decision.
AP Exams are administered.
Send your AP Grade Report to colleges https://apscore.collegeboard.org/scores/score-reporting.
Send thank-you notes to your teachers, coaches, and anyone else who helped you along the way.
Fill out housing-preference, and any other needed forms to enroll. BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!
Wait-listed students can expect more information about their status after May 1.
Complete Graduation Survey on Family Connection.
Update your post-high school plan in Naviance Family Connection.
If you plan to compete in Division I or Division II college sports, have your transcript sent to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.
More information is available at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
June 11: Graduation. Congratulations!