College Preparation Checklist

TO DO:

...all year

• Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this checklist.

• Work hard all the way to graduation—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.

• Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.
  

...fall

• As soon as possible after its Oct. 1 release, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) at fafsa.gov, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may require. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February. Refer to “FAFSA Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist as you go through the application process.

• After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. This document lists your answers to the questions on your FAFSA and gives you some basic information about your aid eligibility. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.

• If you haven’t done so already, register for and take such exams as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT for college admission.* Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

• Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

• Well before your college application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit the required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you are applying.

• Complete any last scholarship applications.

...spring

• Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

• Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers. Use the “Compare Financial Aid Offers” tool at www.consumerfinance.gov /paying-for-college to analyze aid offers side by side.

• Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, paperwork you might need to submit, and other aid for which you might wish to apply.

• When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

TO EXPLORE:

• Refer to StudentAid.gov/fafsa to learn about the FAFSA process.

• Understand the FAFSA better by watching the videos in the “FAFSA: Apply for Aid” playlist at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid

• Follow or like the office of Federal Student Aid at www.Twitter.com/FAFSA and www.Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid to get regular financial aid tips.

• Make informed decisions about student loans; find important information at the “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?” section on page 4 of this checklist and the “Federal Versus Private Loans” page at StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

*REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance, and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, ask your school counselor about getting the fee waiver.