Senior Information

Senior Information
Senior Calendar

Below is a link to our Career Center Website

https://www.nscsd.org/webpages/cnscareercenter/index.cfm

College Application Time begins in September. Here is the process that should be followed to ensure that colleges receive your application materials in a timely manner:

(1) meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans beyond high school (your Senior Review meeting)

(2) go into Scoir and add colleges to your "Colleges I Am Applying To" List

(3) ask your teachers in person to write you letters of recommendation; THEN go into Scoir and request your letters of recommendation (you will need at least two and you MUST request them in Scoir)

(4) fill out your college applications by either using the Common Application, the SUNY Application, or the application directly on the college website; make sure you fully complete and submit your applications; pay attention to deadlines!

(5) update your resume in Scoir: teachers and counselors can use this information when writing your letters of recommendation

(6) send your SAT and/or ACT scores to your schools if required. YOU must send your scores; your school counselor does NOT send them and they are NOT on your transcript; most schools are now test optional so check each college's website to see if these test scores are required.

(7) complete the PINK sheet: go to your counselor's office and complete a PINK sheet letting your counselor know where you applied to college (we do NOT send out any transcripts or letters of recommendation until we get your PINK sheet!!)

(8) complete the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid); this can be completed as early as December 1st of your senior year; you want to complete this as soon as it is available-DO NOT WAIT-it can have an impact on how much financial aid you will receive

(9) search for scholarships throughout your senior year; scholarships are free money and you can apply for as many as you want to; let your counselor know if you need a letter of recommendation or a transcript for any scholarship; pay attention to deadlines!

(10) wait to hear back from your colleges

September

• Sign up for the October ACT and/or November SAT if needed. Test scores are optional now for most colleges so make sure you have researched your colleges and know if you will need these scores or not.  

• Meet with college reps of the colleges you are interested in when they come to the Career Center. You can sign up on Scoir.

• If you registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse, please let our school's Registrar know in order to have your transcript sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

• Create an account on the Common App if you are going to be applying to four year colleges. This will be your application.

• Plan any visits to colleges that you are applying to but have not yet visited.

• Line up your teacher recommendations (two is plenty). ASK THE TEACHERS IN PERSON FIRST, then request the letter through Scoir.

• Check the Career Center website for current scholarships. 

• Be sure to attend your senior review with your counselor when scheduled.

October

• Meet with college reps of the colleges you are applying to in the Career Center.

• Sign up for the November SAT if you want to improve your score.

• Make sure to have your SAT/ACT scores sent to the colleges to which you are applying (if required). 

• If applying early decision, complete your application and let your school counselor know by filling out a pink sheet!

• Start filling out and completing all college applications.

• Fill out the pink sheet in the counseling office AFTER you have submitted your applications so your counselor can send transcripts and letters of recommendation.

• Continue checking the Career Center website for current scholarships.

• Complete CSS profile if needed for college applications.

• Attend the College/Trades Fair and Financial Aid Night at CNS with your parents. Check with your counselor for the date and time.

November

• Take the SAT if you registered for it. Check deadline for registering for the Dec SAT/ACT.

• Be sure your first quarter grades are good. Some colleges ask for report cards.

• Continue checking the Career Center website for current scholarships.

• Finish submitting applications by Thanksgiving Break. Be sure to fill out the College Application Cover Sheet and Transcript Request Form; then give it to your counselor AFTER you have submitted your applications.

December

• Take the SAT or ACT tests if you registered for them.

• Pink College Processing sheets are due to your counselor two weeks before break for Jan 1st deadlines, if not, there is no guarantee transcripts will arrive on time. 

• Early decision application notifications should arrive by now.

• Start a financial aid folder. In this folder you will keep all financial aid documents organized. 

• Request your FSA ID# at www.fsaid.ed.gov.  You will need it to complete the FAFSA.

• Begin filling out the FAFSA as early as possibly after it becomes available on December 1st.

• Write thank you notes to anyone who has written you a letter of recommendation.

• Continue checking the Career Center website for scholarships.

January

• Continue checking the Career Center website for current scholarships.

February, March, and April

• Monitor applications to make sure all materials are sent and received on time.

• Continue checking the Career Center website for current scholarships.

• Apply for community scholarships (including Dollars for Scholars.)

• Notify colleges if you are declining admission (it’s polite).

• Request that mid-year grades be sent to your colleges if necessary.

• National Commitment Day is May 1st, tuition deposit is due by then.  

Before May 1st

• Send in tuition deposit and housing deposit if necessary.

• Notify other colleges that accepted you that you have selected another college.

• Continue checking Career Center website for current scholarships.

May

• Take Advanced Placement exams (if enrolled in AP courses).

• Continue checking the Career Center website for current scholarships.

• Inform your counselor of your admission decisions and what college you will be attending.

June

• Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from CNS!

• Be sure to attend graduation rehearsal and graduation.

• If you have taken any courses that received college credit, you need to contact the colleges who awarded you credit and have them send a transcript to the college you will be attending so you can get credit for those courses. Do this in July. 

• Contact College Board and have your AP report sent to the college you will be attending so they can determine what credits you will receive for your AP courses. Do this in July.