Senior Year Planning

Your senior year is your opportunity to strengthen your skills and broaden your experiences, in school and out, to prepare for all the challenges ahead. A successful senior year can help launch you on the path to a successful future. Make the most of your senior year.

Tips for Success

  • Maintain a challenging course load. You should take the most rigorous courses available.

  • Stay active and involved. Continue involvement in activities, sports, volunteer work, etc. Take advantage of internships or career-focused jobs.

  • If you have excelled at high school classes, consider taking a college class.

  • Students playing college athletics should register online with the NCAA at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

  • Here’s a planner of the things students and parents need to be doing each month from now through June of the senior year.

October

  • Both student and parent should request a Department of Education FSA ID. This serves as a login and as an electronic signature for FAFSA on the web and significantly reduces processing time.

  • Parents should file financial aid forms (FAFSA) as soon as possible after Oct.1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applying early improves the chances of receiving aid from as many resources as possible. Be sure to complete the financial aid application for each college.

  • Narrow colleges of interest to fewer than five. Research these thoroughly. Make a chart to help you compare characteristics for different schools during your research.

  • Begin preparing applications with great care. Most institutions recommend applications for admissions be submitted by October.

  • Begin requesting teacher recommendations. Ask at least 10 school days prior to the deadline.

  • File early decision or early action applications before your college of interest’s due date- often December 1 or earlier.

  • Begin checking for special scholarship announcements on the school web site, the Guidance Office, or in the announcements.

  • Find out if the colleges have institutional scholarship deadlines by visiting their web sites or reviewing their literature.

  • If you are not planning to attend college, see your counselor and begin procedures for other post-high school opportunities.

November & December

  • Continue to search and apply for scholarships. Many scholarship deadlines fall on or around Dec. 1.

  • Start gathering identity and financial documents necessary to complete FAFSA. Visit FAFSA on the web for a list of required documents.

  • If you are applying for regular decision admissions and for financial aid, it is not too early to submit the PROFILE application. Visit PROFILE online to learn more about the service and how to submit the application.

  • Early decision and early action responses should arrive this month. Read the award letter carefully.

  • Financial award letters may arrive with the early admissions. If you have questions about the financial aid award, contact the financial aid office directly. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the award before making a final commitment.

  • The Student Aid Report (SAR) should arrive two to four weeks after the FAFSA is submitted. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure is printed on the front page at the upper right. If the SAR has not received four weeks after submitting the FAFSA, call 1-800-4-FEF-AID. If there are any errors on the SAR, make corrections and mail back immediately. If you provided a valid e-mail address, you can view and make corrections online.

January

Male students who will be 18 at the time they complete the FAFSA are required to register with Selective Service to be eligible for federal and state aid (https://www.sss.gov/).

February & MArch

  • Avoid SENIORITIS. Senior grades can be crucial to your admission (including 3rd & 4th quarter grades, especially for those on waiting lists or on the cusp of admissions). All acceptances are conditional until colleges deem your final grades have met their standards.

  • Watch deposit deadlines for housing.

  • Colleges will begin notifying students of admission status and financial aid. Discuss these with your parents.

  • If financial aid is not adequate, call the specific financial aid office. The first offer is not necessarily firm! Perhaps you can provide special circumstances that exist.

  • Participate in financial aid information nights scheduled by local colleges.

  • Many priority financial aid deadlines fall in February. Applications received by the priority deadline are given the highest consideration.

  • Continue to apply for scholarships. Apply! Apply!

  • Begin looking for summer jobs or internships.

April

  • Most colleges will have notified you by April 15. If you are wait-listed, consult with your counselor immediately.

  • Continue to apply for scholarships.

  • Hit the books for next month’s AP Exams. AP scores will determine how much credit is granted- college credit for AP exams can mean big savings. Do not count on this unless you have first checked the procedures at your institution.

May

  • Colleges have an acceptance reply deadline of May 1 (excluding early decision candidates), which you must confirm with an acceptance letter and deposit.

  • If you are taking AP exams, make sure scores will be sent to the final choice college.

  • If there is a gap between cost of attendance and the financial aid offered, families should start pursuing alternative payment methods.

  • Attend Senior recognition night.

  • Complete the semester with good attendance and academic standing.

  • Make a request for your final transcript at Commencement Practice.

June

  • Prepare for the final transition to college.

  • Finalize your housing plans.