These are suggestions of things to consider when getting ready for your senior year.

August - Get Psyched for Senior Year!!

• Meet with your School Counselor!

• Check your schedule and transcript to make sure you are enrolled in the appropriate classes that make sense for your plans after high school.

• Check your HOPE GPA to ensure you remain on track to be eligible for the HOPE Program.

• Make a preliminary list of colleges or technical schools you are interested in attending. Review the admissions requirements for the colleges/technical schools you are considering. Double check your graduation requirements, make sure you are on track to graduate on time!

• Register to take (or retake) the ACT and/or the SAT College Entrance Exam, Register to take ACCUPLACER if you plan to attend a school within the Technical College System of Georgia.

September - October:

• Take another look at your list of colleges, become familiar with the application process, double-check the deadlines and make sure they still satisfy your requirements. It's not uncommon for students' goals to change as they get closer to graduation.

• Give any recommendation forms to teachers, school administrators, counselors and mentors with mailing instructions. Make certain that your portions of the forms are filled out completely and accurately.

• Most early decision and early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1. Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these admissions options and remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the college on time.

• Start checking for scholarship applications. Visit our website once a week to check the scholarship page. New scholarships come in at all different times. They aren't just for the "straight A" student.

• Meet with college admissions representatives visiting CHS! Listen for announcements and SIGN UP to meet. Sign up sheets will be located in the Career Center. Most of the time they will be set up in the lunchroom during all four lunches or in the Career Center.

• Parents & Students - Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which is now available on October 1st of each year - You will need your financial information. Virtually all colleges require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to apply for financial aid. Visit FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete. Filling out the FAFSA is the first critical step in applying for federal and state grants, loans and scholarships to help pay for college.

• Review your list of potential colleges and make a final list of schools that interest you. Keep a file of deadlines and required admission items for each school. Many students like to have a "dream school" and a "safety school" as well as two or three others.

• Register to take or retake the SAT or ACT tests if you have not already done so. Have the official scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges or universities that have made your final list of schools.

• Attend college fairs. PROBE Fairs are held around the state in October and November.

• If you're interested in serving your country after high school, maintain contact with your local military recruite

• Visit some colleges. Seniors get two college visits a year. You must complete the paperwork.

• Gather all application materials. Get an application packet from every college you are thinking about applying to.

• Read through the packet to what's required and what's involved in applying. You will be able to apply to most colleges in Georgia online through Georgia Futures.

• Start your college application essay(s) early. Most schools require essays as part of their application packet. Get the topic and start writing it early. Be sure it reflects your best effort. Give it lots of thought, edit, spell-check and ask for feedback from an English teacher, counselor, parent, etc.

• Make a list; check it twice. Make a checklist for each college you are going to apply to. Include all the information that needs to be completed such as application, recommendations, essays, transcripts, etc. Know all deadlines for admissions as they are different for each college. KNOW Financial Aid deadlines. This will help you stay organized and on track.

• Request recommendation letters. Now is the time to ask teachers school counselors, coaches and employers for letters of recommendation. These will be required for college applications. Give at least ten days notice before any deadlines. Be sure to say thank-you to each person who provides a recommendation.

• Lookout for Special Events. In October, Bartow County high schools host SPIN, or Student-Parent Information Night. At SPIN, there will be recruiters from various colleges on hand as well as representatives to address the financial aid process and completion of the FAFSA.

• Parents - Find out if colleges require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Some colleges (mostly private schools) require this special form, which is essentially a supplement to the FAFSA. The College Board website has a list of the schools that require it, but it's always check with the college directly.

• Parents - Call the financial aid offices to find out if they require any other special forms of their own. If they require specialized forms, ask them to mail them to you now.

• •PARENTS & SENIORS - Find out the deadlines for all financial aid forms now.

November:

• Some college applications should be completed this month. Continue with college planning. Review and follow significant deadlines and distribute recommendation forms. Check with the financial aid office of schools you are applying to for specific information on scholarships and costs for tuition, fees, room and board, and any additional financial aid information they require.

• Continue checking for scholarship applications every week. Not all scholarships are for top students and athletes. There may be a perfect scholarship for you — it's worth doing a little research.

• If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. Make the necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor.

• If you’re planning on attending a Georgia school, you can submit your college application online through GAfutures.

• If you are applying to schools outside of Georgia, apply through the school’s website. Be sure to check your college and financial aid applications thoroughly. Having someone else review with you can help catch any errors.

December:

• Try to finish your college applications by the end of January (if the deadline is not earlier).

• You'll be ahead of the game and able to shift your focus to financial aid applications, scholarships and simply enjoying your senior year.

• If you're still applying to colleges, get those applications filled out and submitted as soon as possible, allowing at least three weeks for processing.

• Watch your inbox/mailbox if you submitted an early decision application. Early decision replies usually arrive in December. If you do get an acceptance letter and choose to accept the school's offer, you should withdraw any other applications.

• If you haven't already done so, check your graduation status, make sure your official test scores are being sent to the colleges to which you are applying, schedule any remaining required interviews and take the necessary SAT Subject Test, if required for admissions.

• Become familiar with resume writing and start thinking about how you're going to spend your summer. Summer is a great time to earn money to help pay college expenses and gain work experience. Ask your counselor about internships, and start researching the summer job market in your area.

• Review the list above. Are you on schedule? Have you skipped anything?

January-February:

• January and February are financial aid months.

• Get your income tax returns prepared early. Colleges may request them, and you will need tax information to complete the FAFSA if you have not already done so.

• COMPLETE the FAFSA. Submit the form as soon as possible. Some schools require it as early as February 1.

• You improve your chances of receiving financial aid if you submit your forms early. Colleges are award aid as the applications come in and there is a limit to how much they have to give.

• Remember to keep copies of all financial aid forms you submit.

• Apply for outside funding and scholarships. Keep checking for scholarship applications in the Counseling Office every week and explore other sources. For example, parents might belong to organizations or work in businesses that award scholarships. Ask around. Visit fastweb.com, the Internet's largest free scholarship search. Look around!

February-March:

Make sure your FAFSA has been filled out and submitted.

• Check on mid-year transcripts. Did you tell Ms. Lee which colleges want to attend? She will NEED to know.

• Watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR). This is one-page summary of the FAFSA information you submitted.

  • It is sent to you to confirm the accuracy of all data one last time before it is forwarded to your colleges. Occasionally the SAR will note that information is missing or incomplete.

  • In all cases, follow directions on the SAR and return it as quickly as possible.

  • If you have not received your Student Aid Report within five weeks after sending in your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (301) 722- 9200.

  • The report arrives by mail or by email if you filed the FAFSA electronically.

• •Rank your college choices while you wait for responses to your applications.

April:

• Watch the mail for college acceptance letters. They typically start arriving in April.

• Compare financial aid packages from each college. If a financial aid offer is not what you expected, do not hesitate to contact the college's financial aid office to discuss your concerns. They may have the ability to adjust the offer.

• Make a decision which college you will attend and send them your formal acceptance.

May:

• Submit your deposit (if required) and corresponding forms to the college you will be attending.

• Watch for important deadlines at your college of choice. These may include housing deposits, financial aid and more.

• Complete all required forms at CHS. This will include your request for a final transcript to be sent to the college you will be attending.

Have a fun summer and good luck in college, your apprenticeship or career!