Fall

• Continue Making Campus Visits: If you have not yet visited (online) the top colleges you're considering, make arrangements for the virtual tours offered at the specific school. Or you can click here.

• Mark Your Calendar To Keep Track Of Deadlines: Stay organized by marking your calendar in advance with important dates like financial-aid seminars, early- and regular-decision application deadlines, test dates, and scholarship deadlines.

• Meet With Your School Counselor: Make sure the class schedule you have set up for your senior year continues to put you in a good college position. Discuss the colleges you are considering and any transcripts, score reports, or letters you need to send. 

• Make A Final List Of Your Top College Choices: Decide on 5 to 10 prospective college choices. It is good to include schools that may be challenging to get into. Just make sure to include schools you can get into easily too. Make sure to get the applications and financial-aid forms from each of them. Do not forget about the fees associated with each application.

• Consider Applying Early: Submitting Early Decision to a college allows you to find out if you have been accepted to a school earlier than regular admission notifications. Just take into account that these applications are due earlier. Check for all deadlines at the respective college website.

• Complete Your College Essays: Have a teacher, a counselor, or parent proofread your essay for mistakes and provide feedback.

• Take The ACT/SAT: Register and take the ACT, SAT, or any other tests you might need to apply to the schools. Whatever test it is, make sure to request that your results get sent to the schools of your choice.

• Get Your Letters Of Recommendation: If you haven't requested them already, you should use this time to start approaching teachers, mentors, and counselors for recommendation letters. If you did this before, this is a good time to follow up with those you've made requests.

• Finish And Submit All Of Your College Applications: Mail-in (only if required) or submit your application online. Follow up with your school counselor to make sure they have sent. Submit everything that is required, such as transcripts and test scores. Do everything before the beginning of winter.

• Look Into Financial Aid: You should talk with your parents or guardian about what they can afford and start learning more about financial aid opportunities for which you qualify. Click here to check our scholarship database and our financial aid section.

• Follow Up On Scholarship Opportunities: Finish and submit any scholarship submissions you are working on. Also, check with the schools you're applying to and find out if they have any special scholarships for which you may qualify. 

Winter

• Contact Colleges To Make Sure They Received Your Application: You can check the status online in many cases. If it is not possible online, then you may call or email the admissions office.

• If Applicable - File Your Financial Aid Documents: If you would like to receive any federal financial aid, fill out your FAFSA if applicable and submit it as soon as possible. 

• Submit Midyear Grade Reports: Some colleges request that you send your senior-year, first-semester grades as part of the application process. Have your counselor send these out to the schools that require them.

• Evaluate Early Decision Or Early Action Responses: If you have been accepted Early Decision, and you choose to stay in that school, you will need to withdraw your applications from all other schools where you no longer want to attend. If you have been accepted Early Action, you can either choose to accept now or wait to receive responses from the other schools you applied. Read more.

Spring

• Review Your Student Aid Report: If you submitted a FAFSA, you would receive your Student Aid Report or SA about one month after you filed (three to five days if you filed online). This document tells you how much your family is expected to pay for your education. Review the documents for errors and discuss the contribution amount listed with your parents.

• Check For Admission Decisions In The Mail And Online: Admission letters should start arriving between March and April, followed by financial-aid award letters. Make sure you thoroughly read each decision document, as sometimes they require action on your part.

• Provide Documents For Financial Aid Verification: The federal government selects 30 percent of all FAFSA financial-aid applications for verification, which means a college will require you to submit additional documents. These include signed copies of your tax returns, your parents'/guardian's tax returns, your W-2s and your parents'/guardian's W-2s. Send these in immediately.

• Compare The Different Financial Aid Packages: Go over each school's package thoroughly with your parents or guardian. Talk to a financial-aid officer at the college if you have questions or feel the package isn't enough and want to explore additional financing plans.

• Make Your Final Decision: Choose the college that's right for you by May 1. Send the corresponding enrollment form, deposit check, and signed financial-aid package.

• Inform The Schools You Won't Be Attending: Once you have chosen the school you want to attend, make sure to inform the schools that accepted you that you won't be attending. 

• Take AP Exams: Although AP exams may come after you've decided on a school, a good score can earn you college credit for any AP classes you took during high school.

• Finish Enrollment Papers: Upon accepting a school's offer, you'll receive a package with information on classes, orientation, housing and more.

Summer 

• Send Your Final High School Transcript: Many colleges require a final high school transcript. If this is the case for you, contact your high school counselor to make sure your transcript gets sent on time.

• Say Thank You: Thank anyone who was especially helpful during the college application process, such as teachers and mentors. 

• Take Summer Classes If You Can: This step is not necessary, but it can be beneficial. Summer classes can help you prepare for your upcoming college-level courses or help you get some of the required courses out of the way. Some schools even accept students on the condition that they complete summer school before beginning their first semester. Contact the school for more information.

• Prepare For Your First Year At College: Sign up for the required orientation (most likely online due to COVID-19). Figure out where you'll be living if you will move to the Dorms. Schedule your first-semester courses. Due to the special conditions we are now living in, every school has a different plan. Find that information on their website or contact the school about it.