Planning for a 4-Year School

January – August:

• College Admission Testing 

  • Register for SAT and/or ACT

  • Register for SAT subject tests in May (if applicable)

•  Collegiate Athletics 

  • Talk to coaches if you are interested in athletic scholarships

  • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center if you are interested in collegiate athletics

•  Military Aspirations

  • Notify your school counselor if you plan to attend a Military Academy (Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Naval Academy, West Point)

  • Notify your school counselor if you plan to apply for an ROTC Scholarship

• Narrow College Choices

  • Investigate careers of interest

  • Attend college and career fairs

  • Approach professionals and tradespeople with questions

•  Finances

  • Look for a summer job to help pay for college costs

  • Discuss financial plan with parents/guardians

•  Visit Colleges

  • Register for tours of college campuses (on the admission's page of the website)

• Organize your college application materials.  The Common App has created a document that gets you started, click here. 

Summer:

• Visit Colleges (See College Visits link)
  Plan to attend the Open House dates in the Fall

• Save money to help pay for college costs

• Work on Student Self-Assessment (in the senior Google Classroom)

• Identify recommenders

Before Senior Year Checklist

      o I have taken the SAT and/or the ACT
    o   I have narrowed my search of colleges
    o   I have discussed my financial plan with parents/guardians
    o   I have registered for tours of college campuses
    o   I have met with Mrs. Buchanan and I have a copy of my transcript
    o   I have completed the Student Self-Assessment 

August-December:

• In Meeting with School Counselor:

  • Review your post-secondary plans 

• To Do:

  • Finalize a list of colleges to which you will apply

  • Look up Application DEADLINES-put them on your calendar and make a plan for completing the application requirements for each school.  Check each school for priority deadlines for filing financial aid applications.  

  • Organize your application materials to save time

  • Start drafts of your college essays (See Essay link)

  • Start the application process (See RHS College Application Process link)

  • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens October 1st  (See Financial Aid link)

  • Attend a FAFSA Workshop at RHS 

• To Register for:

  • Take the SAT/ACT if going to a 4-year college 

  • Register for a tour to visit the colleges that most interest you

• To Request:

  • Request high school transcripts for each application  (Transcript request form is HERE)

    • You should submit one request for the Common App and list all schools

  • Identify and ask for reference letters and Teacher Recommendation forms

    •  ***Must complete a student self-assessment and give to recommenders 

    • *** Must have two teachers fill out a Teacher Recommendation form 

    •  ***Please give at least two-weeks notice

• As the year comes to an end:

  • Finalize portfolios, audition tapes, or writing samples

  • Follow-up with references (write Thank You notes)

  • Complete revisions of all applications and essays – Submit Applications

  • Make sure your FAFSA has been filed.

End of December Checklist:

     o   I have met with my counselor (Mrs. Buchanan or Mrs. Mosby)  to discuss my plans
    o   I have taken the SAT/ACT
    o   I know my “reach school,” my “mid-range school(s),” and my “safety school” and I know the  application deadlines for these schools
    o   I have completed the student self-assessment, requested reference letters, and written Thank You notes to the individuals that provided the letters
    o   I have completed the revisions of my applications and essays
    o   I have submitted the applications
    o   I have requested transcripts
    o   I have attended a Financial Aid Workshop at RHS
    o   I have either filed my FAFSA or made a plan to file my FAFSA by my earliest priority deadline

     By Graduation Checklist:

January:

      o   I  completed Financial Aid and Scholarships (See Financial Aid link)Even if you don’t think you will qualify for aid, you should still complete the FAFSA application to be eligible for scholarship money

• • You may also need to fill out the CSS Profile (See Financial Aid link)

  • Apply to Scholarships (See Scholarships)

      o   Send midyear grades (this is automatically done in guidance for every school you requested a transcript)

February:

      o   I have confirmed that the colleges I applied to received my information

March:

      o   I have looked…

• • Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail

  • Look for admission responses; this will include financial aid package

      o   I have reviewed…

• • Review the Student Aid Report (SAR) and make the necessary changes

  • Review the fine print – tie up loose ends

April:

      o   I have reviewed award letters

      o   I have weighed my options and made my decision

      o   I have notified the college of my final decision

May:

      o   (If applicable) I have taken Advanced Placement (AP) exams

• • Colleges have different criteria for each exam taken – check with each college/university.  

  • You will need to send your AP Scores to the college you plan to attend. 

      o   I have sent the following:

• • Send a deposit to the college of your choice

  • Send in financial aid forms

  • Send letters of decline to financial aid offices

     o   I have updated the college on my financial aid situation (Did you receive any scholarships?)

     o   I have arranged for housing and meals

     o   I have notified my counselor of my final decision so she can send my final transcript and I have requested that New River Community College send my final transcript with my dual enrollment credits to the college I am attending.  

     o   I have confirmed that the Final Transcript was received by the college

Summer:

• I have secured a summer job and saving money to assist with college expenses

• I have made a budget for while I am at college

• I have made plans to attend Orientation at my school