Visit this page to view instructional videos (creating your account and using the service) or fill out the transcript request form in the front office (Building B) and turn it in to the Registrar's Office.
REMEMBER: Counselors do not give out Official Transcripts!
-Senior class presentations will begin the week of September 2nd in the Lecture Hall.
College Campus Visits
9/8-NMSU
9/12-UNM
9/15-College Fair
9/17-UNM School of Pharmacy
9/26-John’s Hopkins University
9/30-Case Western Reserve University
10/3- St. Johns College
10/30-St. Mary’s College
Counselors are available via email to schedule appointments and answer questions.
Create your resume and keep it updated throughout your Senior year. Colleges, recommenders, and employers will ask for a copy. There are Google Doc templates to help you get started with general formats.
Begin networking with career professionals, college admissions officers, and other students who may be able to help you navigate your after-high-school plans.
Explore your future career and/or major by completing a career assessment.
You can find a lot of helpful information on career exploration, colleges, scholarships, and jobs at https://www.nmcareersolutions.com/vosnet/Default.aspx.
SEPTEMBER
Check your Class of 2026 Google Classroom and school email weekly.
Maintain or improve academic grades during your ENTIRE senior year. Don’t let senioritis set in!
If you are considering the military, take the ASVAB-Check with the ROTC office to register.
Set up a calendar for completing college applications so you don’t miss a deadline. Review this calendar frequently.
Register for the October/November ACT/SAT, if needed. Remember that the October and November scores won’t be back until December so if you are trying to meet a January deadline, make sure you sign up on time. See the registration dates on the last page of this handout.
Narrow your college choices and apply online.
Listen for announcements of college reps visiting Cleveland High School.
Try to visit the colleges of your choice. You may take up to 5 days for college visits and have them count as an excused absence. You MUST pick up the permission form in the Counseling Office and have it filled out and approved BEFORE your absence.
Develop potential teacher recommendation sources if needed.
Attend the Albuquerque Regional College Fair at the Convention Center, Sunday, September 28th from Noon to 3:00 pm to visit with college reps from across the nation and learn about admissions requirements and scholarships
Fill out the online UNM application for Regents/Presidential Scholarships available on the UNM website (due December 1st).
Apply to UNM by October 15, 2025, to get the application fee waived (just select “Mail Payment”)
OCTOBER
Register for Nov/Dec ACT/SAT if applicable
Apply for scholarships.
After October 1st, start filling out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You will be filling out the 2026-27 FAFSA (your first year in college). You will use 2026 taxes to complete the application, and make sure you go to the correct site https://www.fafsa.gov/.
Don’t forget to start submitting entries into the Varsity Grant Scholarship. You can enter once per category, and there are 10 categories. They will draw for eight $1000 scholarships to APS Seniors - see the Class of 2026 Google Classroom post.
NOVEMBER
Continue checking out possible sources of financial aid and scholarships, visiting colleges, and completing college applications
Finalize UNM Regents & Presidential scholarship online applications by December 1, 2024
Finish admissions application to UNM by mid-November so you can be admitted by December 1st to be considered for the UNM Regents, Presidential, Woodward, Scholar,s and Achievers Scholarship (student must be fully admitted by this date to be considered). See https://scholarships.unm.edu/ for requirements.
Finish admissions application to NMSU by mid-November to be considered for the NMSU President’s Associates Excellence and Aggie Achiever Scholarship. See https://fa.nmsu.edu/scholarships/ for requirements.
DECEMBER
If you have a deadline for an application for admissions or a scholarship that requires a teacher or counselor recommendation, and it is due January 1st or 15t,h you must give the information to your Counselor or Teacher by December 1st
JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL
Send applications to any remaining college choices and provide them with any requested documents (transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, etc.)
Continue completing scholarship applications
Complete FAFSA by going to https://www.fafsa.gov/
Submit housing applications
Narrow down your college options by comparing costs, programs and services
MAY/SUMMER
It’s time to make a decision! Notify the college you selected to make sure you receive all the information for new students.
Send in your final transcripts using www.parchment.com
Please note that if you do not pass all of your classes and therefore do not meet graduation requirements, you will not be able to pick up your Cap & Gown until after graduation.
Attend New Student Orientation at your new university
Finalize housing arrangements