Post-Secondary Enrollment

Senior Year Planning Guide

August-September:

· Register to take or retake the ACT/SAT if necessary. Send you ACT/SAT test results directly to colleges you will be applying to. Some schools will only accept scores directly through ACT/SAT. Remember to include our schools CEEB code 365250 so I can receive your scores and put them on your transcript.

· Update your resume with any significant activities that you did over the summer. Provide your resume to your counselor and teachers who are providing you with letters of recommendations.

· Check the senior google classroom for any announcements, college, career or scholarship opportunities.

· Ask a few teachers for letters of recommendations. You should give them at least 2 weeks notice before you need it.

· Narrow your list of college choices to three to six schools.

· Commit to keeping good grades throughout senior year and taking classes that are going to prepare you. Admissions counselors will look at your senior schedule and first semester grades when making admissions decisions.

· If you would like to be considered for NCAA sports after graduation, you must register on the NCAA clearinghouse as soon as possible.

· Remind your parents to attend the Financial Aid Night. A financial aid officer from a college will explain the financial aid process..

· Attend the College, Career, Military Fair and Business Expo held at school. Also pay attention to colleges that hold special recruiting nights at their campus.

· Watch for deadlines! If the deadline is Dec 1^st, then you should request these items by early November to accommodate for Thanksgiving break.

· Don’t wait until due dates to submit your application. The Common Application and other online applications suggest you submit your application at least 48 hours before the deadline. This ensures that your application arrives by the deadline due to high internet traffic during these busy times.

· Continue volunteering, participating in extracurricular activities, and developing your leadership skills.

· Apply for scholarships; remember to seek private sources such as organizations, churches, employers, ect.

October-December:

· Parents should complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember this is FREE, so do not pay for this process. The FAFSA opens Oct 1^st.

· Check the scholarship list and your Google senior classroom for important updates and opportunities.

· Check college application, financial aid, and scholarship deadlines carefully.

· Maintain good grades. Some colleges request a mid-year report with your first semester grades. They want to see that you are still applying yourself. They can revoke an offer of admissions or scholarships for failing or disappointing grades on a mid-year or final transcript.

January-February:

· Continue to check the scholarship list for deadlines and opportunities. Scholarships are posted in google classroom, on the school counselor website, and on the scholarship bulletin board by Mrs. Ahrens office.

· Colleges will notify you of financial aid awards. Compare the financial aid packages to help you decide which college to attend.

· Continue to apply for private scholarships.

· Apply for local scholarships.

May 1^st:

· This is the final date to notify a college that you intend to enroll there. You should also be courteous and notify the other colleges that you have been accepted to that you have decided not to enroll there- a simple and polite email is appropriate.

May:

· Complete the senior survey with your final plans.

· Log on to Parchment and request your final transcript be sent directly to the college you plan on attending.

· If you took CCP classes through Edison or Rhodes you will need to fill out a transcript request form and send it directly to the college to request they forward your college transcript to the college you plan to attend.

Other Items to Consider Your Senior Year:

· Budget your time and stay on keep a calendar of important dates and deadlines.

· Ask for help if you are overwhelmed!

Junior Year Planning Guide

Fall:

· Make a list of potential colleges. It is important to research different aspects of colleges: size, cost, majors offered, distance from home, ect.

· Attend the College, Career, Military Fair and Business Expo at VHS.

· Take the PSAT in October. This test allows you to compete for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

· Review and prepare for the PSAT. A handout regarding this test will be passed out prior to the test.

· Visit colleges of interest.

· Continue taking challenging courses.

· Continue your involvement in extracurricular and volunteer actives. Colleges look favorably upon a strong commitment to activities.

· Seek additional opportunities to develop your leadership skills.

· Look at the testing schedules for ACT and SAT. Plan ahead for these tests and watch the registration deadlines closely. Reminders will be sent out as deadlines get closer. It is a good idea to for juniors to take the test in the spring, at the latest. Remember to include our schools CEEB code 365250 so I can receive your scores and put them on your transcript.

· Create a study plan for the ACT/SAT test. Watch for announcements regarding ACT review classes. Also there are many free ACT/SAT study programs online.

· If you are on an IEP, then meet with your counselor regarding the possibilities of accommodations on the ACT/SAT.

· If you are on a free or reduced lunch, you should discuss fee waivers with your counselor for the ACT/SAT/PSAT.

· Consider registering for the SAT subject tests if you plan to apply to any highly selective colleges. Check the individual college websites to see if these tests are necessary.

· Parents and students should attend the Financial Aid Meeting.

Winter/Spring:

· Update your list of potential colleges and research the college’s admissions requirements.

· Take the ACT/SAT. It is ok to take both assessments. Watch for the registration deadlines. Plan to take the test at least twice. It is also a good idea to check college admissions requirements. Some schools require the ACT writing test.

· Visit colleges of interest.

· Think about summer activities that will interest colleges and strengthen your resume.

· If you are considering being a college athlete, research the requirements on the NCAA Clearinghouse website. Register with them and request your transcript be sent in June.

· Start thinking about which teachers you might ask for a recommendation letter for your college and scholarship applications next year.

Summer after Junior Year:

· Continue volunteering and participating in extracurricular activities. Continue to strengthen your leadership skills.

· Visit colleges that interest you.

· Make a list of colleges you will be applying to and list their deadlines. Make a note of any schools with early decision or early action options.

· Begin rough drafts of college applications and essays.