Seniors

College List

• Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10. 

• Plan to visit as many of these colleges as possible.

• Sign up for college visits at Dominion with college admissions counselors through the School Events tab on SchooLinks (found in LCPSGo).

Get Organized

• Use SchooLinks College Application Manager for your to-do lists. Create a checklist and calendar to stay organized. 

• Dates and tasks to include: 

  • Tests you’ll take and their fees, dates, and registration deadlines 

  • College application due dates 

  • Required financial aid application forms and their deadlines (aid applications may be due before college applications) 

  • Other materials you’ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.) 

  • Your high school’s application processing deadlines

• Take note of college applications requirements and deadlines.

  • Use the College Application Organizer Worksheet

College Applications

• Complete the Common Application using SchooLinks in the Colleges tab.

• Note Teacher Recommendations in Common Application

• Submit Transcript Requests at least 4 weeks prior to college due dates.

• Send your SAT or ACT scores along with applications.

• Complete required and optional essays and personal statements. 

• Optional: Finalize portfolios, audition materials, interviews, or writing samples if required as part of the application

Entrance Exams

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take a college entrance exam as a junior or want to take one again.

Financial Aid 

• Review the financial aid application process and timeline required by the colleges

• Register for an FSA ID, Your parents/guardians must also register for an FSA ID (https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch) 

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is delayed until December (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-foraid/fafsa) 

• Information from the 2021 tax year will be used for the entering class of 2023 as they apply for financial aid for the 2023-2024 academic year 

• Check SchooLinks' School Events tab for Dominion HS Financial Aid Workshops. 

• Be aware that private colleges may require additional financial information from the CSS Profile (https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/) 

• Find In-state financial aid opportunities for undocumented, DREAMer, and DACA students by completing the VASA (www.ecmc.org/students/resource-guides.html) 

• Search and apply for scholarships.  SchooLinks lists scholarships on their Finances tab.  Learn about tips and resources, by making an appointment with Mrs. Rivera at the Career Center  

• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) once FAFSA has been processed and make any needed corrections 

After Application

• Check your email frequently for additional information colleges might request within their timeline

• Continue scholarship searches over winter break and continue to submit applications

Academics

• Keep up your grades—college admissions are conditional and can be rescinded if you do not continue academic excellence

• Check with the colleges where you have applied before considering dropping a senior year class; colleges expect you to complete all of the high school courses you listed as "in progress" on your admissions application

• Take your Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams

  • Indicate in My AP account the college, university, or scholarship program where you'd like your cumulative AP  Score Report to be sent.

College Decision

• Check your email or college admissions portal for admission decision notification

• Carefully review your financial aid offer for each college where you have been accepted and compare offers

• Finalize your financial aid; accept your financial aid offer or work with the college's financial aid office to adjust it

• If you’ll be attending a four-year college, notify and place a deposit at the college of your choice by National College Decision Day (May 1)

• Inform every college of your acceptance and/or decline of the offer of admission and/or financial aid by the university's published deadline.

• Optional: Division I or II Student-Athletes need to request their Final Amateurism Certification on their NCAA Eligibility Center or NAIA account.

College Admissions Follow-Up

• Sign into your college portal and review your task list and deadlines

• Check your email for correspondence and deadline reminders

• Request your final transcript through the Senior Survey

• Ask about college placement tests.

• Sign up for summer and/or fall orientation.

• Discuss housing and submit a housing deposit to make sure you have living arrangements