TIMELINE: Senior year

🍁 Determine your Career & College Interests 

◼️ (Self Discovery on Naviance can help with this)

🍁 Determine What Kind of Post High School Education / Experience You Want to Have

◼️ Check out the "Life Planning: What's After High School" link for information

◼️ Use Naviance to research career opportunities and entrance requirements

🍁 Compare Colleges & Career Options 

◼️ Click on the Link above to learn more about available opportunities

🍁 Apply to Colleges that Interest You 

◼️ September & October are College Application Months

◼️If you are applying to multiple schools, consider using the Common App

◼️Access the Common App

◼️Curious about the Common App? Learn More 

◼️Some Colleges / Schools are not on the Common App.  

◼️ Apply for them directly through Naviance (or their College Website)

◼️Thinking about attending College in Colorado? Apply for FREE October 7-9

◼️Need Help on "The College Essay?" find it here

🍁 Find Out What Standardized Tests You Might Need

◼️ Click the Link above to:

◼️ Learn more about standardized tests (ACT vs SAT)

◼️ Register for a standardized test

◼️ Find ways to practice for a standardized test

◼️ If you send your test scores to your Colleges (for admissions and/or scholarship purposes) 

◼️You must send them directly from your ACT and/or College Board Account

🍁 Gather Information on College Costs & Discuss Family Financial Resources

◼️ Click on the link above - 

◼️You will be taken to an excellent article that explains the different types of post-secondary education and costs

◼️ Naviance breaks down expected college costs based on household income

🍁 Register with NCAA and/or NAIA to Play Collegiate Athletics: 

◼️ All students hoping to be recruited to play NCAA athletics MUST create an NCAA Account

◼️ The Link above will provide you with additional information re: Collegiate Athletics

🍁 Attend College Fairs

◼️October 5, 2025: Western Slope College Fair @ Aspen High School

🍁 Attend Career Expos

◼️October 2, 2025: Youthentity Expo in Rifle, CO

🍁 Visit (Schedule Visits) Colleges.

◼️You will receive a "school-related excused absence" for ALL college visits

◼️Try and visit in the Fall (if possible).  

◼️ Schedule college visits through college websites

🍁 Start Applying for Scholarships

◼️ Visit the MHS Scholarship Webpage by clicking on the link above

◼️ Search for Regional & National Scholarships using Naviance

🍁 Learn More About Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (by clicking here) 

◼️ Learn about the Different Types of Student Aid (click on this link)

◼️ Learn how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (click here)

◼️ The FAFSA Application (for 2026 -2027) IS NOW OPEN

◼️ MHS Financial Aid Nights will be held on Wednesday, October 8th, and on Wednesday, October 15th

🦃🎄 Develop / Improve Your Professional Resume

◼️ Students should use the Brag Sheet they've developed to help form their resume

◼️ "Scholarship / Academic" Resumes are typically 2-3 pages in length.  

◼️ "Career Oriented / Employment" Resumes are typically 1 page in length

🦃🎄 Apply for Scholarships 

◼️ Most Colleges have internal scholarships; apply for these after being accepted 

◼️ Search Naviance for Regional & National Scholarship Opportunities

◼️ Visit the link above to be taken to the MHS Scholarship Webpage 

🦃🎄 Secure Letters of Recommendation from Teachers, Employers, Community Members

◼️ Click on the Link above for an article from the College Board re: Letters of Recommendation

◼️ Click HERE to view a Google Slides Presentation re: Letters of Recommendation

🦃🎄 Look for College Acceptance Letters

◼️ Colleges may - send acceptance letters via email. 

◼️ They may also - send acceptance letters via the US Postal Service

◼️ Finally, sometimes students have to - check College Application Portals to view acceptance decisions

🦃🎄 Re-Take the ACT or SAT (if needed)

◼️ ACT / SAT Exams should only be taken to help with admission OR to secure scholarship opportunities

◼️ Click on the link above to be taken to view information re: ACT and SAT Exams

🦃🎄Log-In to Your Student Accounts (at the Colleges you've been Accepted to) 

◼️ Learn About your Next Steps - 

◼️Colleges will tell you what steps to take in order to attend their institution next fall

◼️ Pay close attention to the checklists you are assigned in your student portal

◼️ Make sure you accomplish / complete these checklists by / before the deadlines assigned by the college

◼️ View any Scholarships you've been awarded

❄️💕 Continue Applying for Scholarships 

◼️ Search Naviance for Regional & National Scholarship Opportunities

◼️ Visit the link above to be taken to the MHS Scholarship Webpage 

❄️💕 Submit your Official CNCC Transcripts to your College(s)

◼️ Learn How to Send your CNCC Transcripts by clicking on the link above

❄️💕 Log-In to Your College Student Accounts (of Colleges you're accepted to)

◼️ Learn About your Next Steps - 

◼️Colleges will tell you what steps to take in order to attend their institution next fall

◼️ Pay close attention to the checklists you are assigned in your student portal

◼️ Make sure you accomplish / complete these checklists by / before the deadlines assigned by the college

◼️ View any Scholarships you've been awarded

🍀☔ Continue Applying for Scholarships

◼️ Search Naviance for Regional & National Scholarship Opportunities

◼️ Visit the link above to be taken to the MHS Scholarship Webpage 

🍀☔ Compare / Contrast your Financial Aid Award Offers

◼️Log-in to each college portal to view Financial Aid Awards

◼️ Different colleges will award different financial aid packages

◼️ Compare each offer to determine which college makes the most financial sense

🍀☔ Make your Final College Decision by May 1st

◼️Submit College Deposit (housing, enrollment etc.)

◼️ Participate in College Advising Sessions with College Advisor(s)

◼️ Complete your Housing Application (from your College)

◼️ Register for Fall 2025 Classes

🍀☔Forward Your Emails & Move Google Drive Items

◼️ Your high school email & Google drive will be disabled after graduation

🍀☔ Complete Graduation Information for the Rio Blanco Herald Times Newspaper

◼️Pictures (baby & senior)

◼️Post-Secondary Educational Plans

◼️Scholarships Received

◼️ Senior Quote

◼️ Special Awards / Accomplishments

◼️Thank Yous & Lasting Quote

◼️Senior Video

🌞⛱️ Send your Official CNCC Transcripts to your Colleges / Universities

◼️ Learn How to Send your CNCC Transcripts by clicking on the link above

◼️ Your FINAL CNCC Transcript will not be available until after your high school graduation

◼️ You MUST send your Final Official CNCC Transcript to the college you are attending

🌞⛱️ Write Thank-You Notes to all Scholarship Committees 

🌞⛱️ Receive Orientation Information & Schedule from your College / University