Embedded Files
September
Resources
FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college.
Finish High School
Meet with your college advisor/high school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and meet college admission requirements.
Find out what options you have if you are not going to be able to meet the requirements.'
Choose A College
Narrow down your list of colleges to 5-8 colleges.
If you haven’t yet decided which colleges to apply to, attend the college fair in your area. Be sure to go prepared.
If you haven’t already, visit the colleges to which you are applying.
Get Ready for Your FAFSA
You and a parent each need an FSA ID.
Check your high school counseling office for financial aid workshops.
Review deadlines for specific college programs and scholarships.
Get Your College Application Materials Together
Decide if you want to apply for an “early action” or “early decision” at any college and check the application due dates.
Register for the SAT and/or the ACT.
Consult your college advisor/high school counselor and college websites about any other required tests.
Request letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, employers, and others to include in your college applications.
Ask teachers, family members and friends to read your college application essay draft, and give consideration to their suggestions.
Continue participating in and tracking your extracurricular activities.
October
Resources
Financial Aid Application
Complete the FAFSA as early as possible after October 1.
Visit startheregetthere.org to find a local FAFSA completion event and help with the FAFSA.
File your TAP application at the end of the FAFSA.
See if any of the colleges you’re applying to require any other financial aid forms, such as the CSS Profile.
College Application
Make a final check and review of your school records.
Work on college applications - know what application to use and when the deadlines are.
Request transcripts from your high school to be sent to the colleges to which you are applying.
Apply for any applicable scholarships/awards from local organizations.
Meet early decision/early action deadlines, if desired.
November
Organize Your Applications
Complete your college admissions applications.
Attend financial aid workshops and seminars.
Keep a folder to track college applications.
Use the HESC College Finance Advisor to create personalized Pay for College Action Plan.
December
Resources
Complete College Applications
Are all your college applications submitted?
Any deadlines approaching?
Financial Aid
Attend financial aid application workshops, if you haven’t yet.
Finish Your Research
Look for early admissions notices from colleges, if applicable.
Talk to alumni and college friends to get more information about the colleges to which you applied.
January - February
Resources
Fill Out Scholarship Applications
Continue to check for scholarship opportunities.
You may be asked to send colleges your mid-year grade report to your colleges.
Look for college acceptance notices.
Are you maintaining your folder of correspondence?
March
Resources
AP Exams
Check Your Financial Status
Check your financial aid status at your college or university.
Start looking for a summer job.
April
Resources
Financial Aid
Look for college financial aid packages from colleges to which you are accepted. Find out what happens next.
If you have questions, review your financial aid packages with the colleges’ financial aid offices.
Visit Your Top Choices
Complete your last college visits before making your decision.
Its Decision Time!!!!
Decide what college you will attend, sign college letter of intent, accept or refuse the financial aid offered, and send in the required housing and tuition deposits by May 1. Use the Financial Aid Award Letter Comparison Tool to compare award letters before you accept any offer.
Celebrate your college decision.
May
Communicate Your Decision
Send thank you notes to all who assisted you, including college advisors/high school counselors, teachers and others who wrote recommendation letters.
Notify the colleges which you decided not to attend. If you have received aid packages from these colleges, notify the financial aid offices so the awards can be offered to other students.
Notify your high school counselor office and college financial aid office of any scholarships received.
Follow Up with Financial Aid
Follow up with your college about financial aid and orientation.
June - August
Tie Up Loose Ends
Have your final transcript sent to your college.
Use your summer job to save for your education.
Finalize your Financial Aid
If you plan to borrow money from the Federal Student Loan Program, complete your application and promissory note.
Congratulations!!!! You're Ready for College!!!!!
Get ready for your first year of college!
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