Senior Checklist

After 12 years of education, you are finally here...your SENIOR YEAR!

It all comes down to 180 last days as a high school student at Louisa County High School. Deciding what you want to do next year and how you want to accomplish it can be stressful. Use this checklist as a resource to keep yourself on track over the course of what's sure to be a year you will never forget!

☐ Finalize your list of colleges that you plan to apply to. Make sure that you have schools that are considered target and safety schools on your list, in addition to any reach schools. ***

☐Meet with your school counselor. They will be very important to this process, and it’s important to keep them up to date with your plans.

☐ Finish any SAT or ACT testing that you have left to do. Depending on the schools you plan to apply to, you may need to finish testing earlier in the year to allow them time to receive your scores.

☐ Does your school require or (recommend) the SAT Subject tests? Check out their website to make sure.

☐Once you finalize your list of schools you plan to apply to, go to their website and find out their deadlines. Note any special scholarship deadlines and follow them! Don’t apply too late and miss out on free money!

☐ Consider each deadline for your colleges. Will you apply Early Decision (where you must attend that college if you are accepted) or do you prefer Early Action (where you simply apply earlier and find out your admission decision sometime before April 1st). There are also regular and rolling admission deadlines to be aware of.

☐Review each college’s website to see what application materials are required. Do you need to write a personal statement, include letters of recommendation from a teacher and/or counselor, or attach a resume? Each school has different requirements, so it’s very important to check with each college.

☐Ask you counselor and/or teachers to write you letters of recommendation or to complete any required forms. Be courteous and keep in mind that they are VERY busy—give them AT LEAST 2 weeks notice!

☐ Meet deadlines for each school’s application

☐ Check with each school’s financial aid website to see if the CSS Profile is required to receive a financial aid package. (The University of Virginia, The University of Richmond, The College of William and Mary, and Washington and Lee University are the 4 schools within Virginia that require it).

☐ After October 1st at 12:00am, you can submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can use 2015’s taxes to fill out your FAFSA. Make sure you are at www.fafsa.GOV not www.fafsa.COM. FAFSA.com will charge you money for a FREE service! If you need assistance, see you school counselor of college advisor.

☐ Meet all Priority Filing Deadlines for each school you applied (are applying) to. They will be different. It’s best to have your FAFSA filed BEFORE February 1st (usually the first deadlines) but the earlier the better.

☐ Check with your school to see if they require any additional financial aid forms. Many colleges WILL require additional forms.

☐ Once you start to hear back from colleges (through the mail, email, or online), begin weighing the pros and cons of each to help determine where you will attend next year. If it will help with your decision, visit schools again.

☐ You will receive your Student Aid Reports (SAR) from each college in mid-April. This is a breakdown of your financial aid package from the college. It will show you the amount of money that you will receive in grants, scholarships, and work study (all free money—will NOT need to be repaid) and loans (repayment is required). Use these financial aid packages to help decide what school you will be attending.

☐Contact the college you will be attending by May 1st and make sure to pay any deposits that are required (enrollment, housing, etc). Let any colleges that you will NOT be attending know so that they can offer your space to someone else.

☐You will continue to receive information in the mail/email from your chosen college. Sign up for housing and an Orientation session (usually held during the summer OR right before school starts).

☐ If you accepted any federal loans, make sure you complete your entrance loan counseling (information at https://studentloans.gov/) AND sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN). You cannot get a federal loan without completing these steps.

☐ Pay any outstanding bills on your student account. Tuition bills will typically be due in late July/early August.

☐ Move in to college!

***The Long Shot–the Reach School: Your grades and test scores put you in the bottom 25th percentile of students in that school. You should not apply to this school “just to see if you can get in”. Be sure to communicate to an admissions officer in writing that this school is the perfect fit for you.

***The Target School –Acceptance is Likely: Your grades and scores place you in the middle 50th percentile of the school’s students. You are a good match for the majority of students there, and this is one of your favorite colleges you have considered. It is a good idea to let the admissions staff know this is one of your top choices.

***The Safety School: Your credentials clearly place you in the top 10th percentile of the college’s applicant pool. However, you should never have an arrogant attitude with an admissions officer from this school by letting them know this is your “safety”. Remember that a safety school may offer you a competitive financial aid package or scholarship, or offer you admission to an honors program.