College Preparation Checklist Senior Year Timeline
TO DO: ALL YEAR
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.
TO DO: FALL
As soon as possible after its Oct. 1 release, complete and submit your FAFSA® form, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may require. You should submit your FAFSA form by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.
After you submit the FAFSA form, 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 form 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 the standardized tests required 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’re applying.
Complete any last scholarship applications.
TO DO: SPRING
Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.
Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.
Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that the 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, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.
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.
Make informed decisions about student loans
TO DO: PARENT
Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA form.
Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For tips, read Federal Student Aid and Identity Theft.
Understand the benefits of federal student loans.
Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing “What should I consider when taking out federal student loans?” with him or her.
Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered you or your child Direct Loans, the Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students and Federal Student Loans: Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents booklets might be useful to you.
1.) Create an FSA ID
An FSA ID is a username and password that gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. BOTH the student and a parent/guardian must create their own FSA ID before starting the FAFSA. If a parent/guardian has already created an FSA ID, they do not need to create another ID.
2.) Using your FSA ID, log-in and start your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.
3.) Once you have completed your FAFSA, forward your confirmation email to an ETS Advisor!
It is SUPER important for TRIO ETS to have your FAFSA confirmation email on file to prove that our students are applying to college!
Humboldt Seniors: hickma2@stolaf.edu Community of Peace Academy Seniors: xiong49@stolaf.edu
Washburn Seniors: schmid22@stolaf.edu Edison Seniors: aguila3@stolaf.edu
Need help completing your FAFSA? Were you selected for FAFSA verification?
Schedule a 1:1 appointment with a TRIO ETS Advisor!
Humboldt and Washburn Seniors: Kali Hickman- Find a Time
Community of Peace Academy Seniors: Ben Xiong - Find a Time
Washburn Seniors: Anna Schmid - Find a Time
The purpose of this form is to give permission to the St. Olaf College TRIO Educational Talent Search staff to access postsecondary information to more fully assist participants with academic planning after high school graduation. Click the link below to complete the form: