*Please don't submit college applications until getting the "ok" from your advisor. School counselors and teachers usually require you to submit transcripts and recommendation requests at least 2-3 weeks before they are due.*

If you are not sure you will attend college right after high school, talk to your advisor so you can develop a plan together.

Learn more about the colleges you're interested in

• Find out which colleges will be visiting your high school and meet with any that interest you.

  • • If colleges aren't visiting your school this year, go to the website of the college you're interested in. Go to their admissions or visit page and see if they have any virtual visits or chat sessions.

• Find out which colleges will offer "on the spot admissions" at your high school and learn what each college requires in order for you to do this. (On the spot admissions are when you find out if you are admitted "on the spot" when you meet with the admission counselor at your school.)

Finalize your college list, deadlines, and requirements

• Finalize your college list. To learn about searching for colleges and finding good fits, visit this page.

• If you think you want to apply Early Action (meaning you apply early and hear back early, a non-binding agreement), let your advisor know right away.

• Make a list of what your colleges require. Be sure to note if they require the CSS Profile (a financial aid application for institutional aid) or SAT Subject tests.

Register for tests

• Register for the SAT. Retaking increases your chances of getting a higher score, especially if you study using Khan Academy. SAT test dates are available here.

• Register for the ACT, if applicable. ACT test center search available here.

• Determine if you need to take the SAT Subject test for any of your schools.

  • • Register, if needed.

Pull together application materials and make recommendation requests

• Turn in brag/senior info sheet (and parent info sheet, if applicable) to school counseling office (this is what your counselor will use to write your recommendation; high schools have different processes for this, but requests are usually due at least 2-3 weeks before the college due date).

• Request teacher recommendations from two teachers. After you ask your teachers in person, formally request the letters through Naviance or whichever method your high school uses. (High schools have different processes for this, but they are usually due at least 2-3 weeks before the college due date; some schools may have a brag sheet specifically used by teachers).

• Turn in transcript request forms and/or email your counselor to request that transcripts get sent to your colleges (high schools have different processes for this, but they are usually due at least 2-3 weeks before the college due date).

Prepare your college application and essay

• Edit college essay and share draft with your advisor. Guidance on the college essay is available here.

• Complete the "Common App" tab of the Common Application. Additional resources about the Common App are available here.

• Begin work on the "Colleges" section of the Common Application.

• Create FSA IDs for both student and one parent (this will be how you sign the FAFSA) Learn more about financial aid here. If you have legal guardians, you will only need your own FSA ID to complete the FAFSA.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Finalize college essay.

• Take SAT, ACT, Accuplacer and/or SAT Subject tests, if applicable.

• Applying Early Action? Verify all materials are ready and review with your advisor.

  • • Send official SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject test scores to your colleges, if applicable.

• Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

• Send your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) to your advisor [found on the screen after you complete the FAFSA as well as on your SAR (Student Aid Report)].

• If there is an asterisk (*) next to your EFC, let your advisor know. You didn't do anything wrong, but there may be additional paperwork to complete. This process is called FAFSA verification.

• Complete CSS Profile, if applicable.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Applying Early Action? After receiving "the okay" from your advisor, submit applications.

  • • Request that transcripts be sent from school counseling office to colleges.

• Take SAT, ACT, Accuplacer and/or SAT Subject tests, if applicable.

• Applying Regular Decision? After receiving "the okay" from advisor, submit applications.

  • • Send official SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject test scores to your colleges, if applicable.

• Make corrections to the FAFSA if needed.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Verify that all admission materials have been received by your colleges.

• Make corrections to the FAFSA if needed.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Verify that all admission materials have been received by your colleges.

• Check mail/email for messages from the colleges you have applied to.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

  • • Log in to portal/student account.

    • Activate college email account and check it.

• Make corrections to the FAFSA if needed.

• Complete additional financial aid forms if needed (such as non-custodial parent form - for the parent with whom the student lives for less than 50% of the time).

• Apply to scholarships.

• Check mail/email for messages from the colleges you have applied to.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

  • • Log in to portal/student account.

    • Activate college email account and check it, if applicable.

• Make corrections to the FAFSA if needed.

• Share your financial aid awards with your advisor.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Check mail/email for messages from the colleges you have applied to.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

  • • Log in to portal/student account.

    • Activate college email account and check it, if applicable.

• Share your financial aid awards with your advisor.

• Discuss with your parents/guardians and advisor which financial aid to accept/decline, if applicable.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Check mail/email for messages from the colleges you have applied to.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

  • • Check to-do list on portal.

• Attend accepted student events, if applicable.

• Choose which college to attend (by College Decision Day, May 1)!

• • Send in enrollment forms by May 1 (and deposit, if applicable).

• If living on campus, complete housing documents and pay housing deposit (check college's priority deadline).

• Accept/decline financial aid.

• Apply to scholarships.

• Check mail/email for messages from your college.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

• Attend Upward Bound graduation celebration.

• Find out if there is a TRIO program at your college (Directory available here).

• Plan how to pay for non-billed expenses such as books (at least $500), travel, and personal items.

• Complete Entrance Counseling (to show that you understand the responsibilities related to your federal loans).

• Sign your Master Promissory Note/Loan Agreement (you will need your social security number and FSA ID).

• Use this checklist from FAME to stay on top of college items.

• Check mail/email for messages from your college.

  • • When you do receive messages, let your advisor know.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

• Check to see if there is any additional placement testing.

  • • Complete any required placement testing.

• Complete any final high school paperwork, such as a "post-graduation plan" form.

• Make sure your high school knows where you will be attending college and that they will send a final high school transcript.

• Find out when college orientation is.

• Find out when you will register for classes.

• Find out who your academic advisor is.

• Parent applies for federal PLUS Loan, if applicable (If the parent is denied, the student could be eligible for $4,000 more in Stafford Loan).

• Report outside scholarships to the financial aid office of the school you have enrolled in.

• Check mail/email for messages from your college.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

• Check to see if there is any additional required placement testing.

  • • Complete any required placement testing.

• Waive college's health insurance, if applicable.

• Send immunization records to your college.

• Make a plan to transfer dual enrollment and/or AP credits (dual enrollment transcripts and/or AP test scores from College Board typically required).

• Check if there is a special, optional orientation, such as an outdoor orientation.

  • • If yes, decide if you will attend.

      • If yes, find out if there is an additional fee.

        • If yes, find out if there is financial aid available.

          • If yes, apply for it!

• Plan how to travel to college.

• Schedule when you need to arrive on campus.

• Parent applies for federal PLUS Loan, if applicable (If the parent is denied, the student could be eligible for $4,000 more in Stafford Loan).

• Find out when fall semester bill is due.

• Plan to pay bills for fall and spring semesters.

• Pay fall semester bill.

• Check mail/email for messages from your college.

• Pay close attention to student portal information.

• Purchase books.

• Pack.

• Arrive on campus.

• Verify that your bill has been paid.

• If you have work study, look into how to apply for a work study job at your college.