Detailed Yearly Senior Calendar

SUMMER

• Review your career plans and decide which type of post-secondary school is best for you.
• Save money from your summer job for college.
• List your top college choices.
• Sign up for the Fall SAT or ACT.
• Request admissions information and school catalogs.
• Start to fill out your Common App profile with your basic information.

AUGUST

• Firm up your college selections and familiarize yourself and admission deadlines.
• Parents should attend the Senior Parent Night for more information about the college process.
• Request admissions information and school catalogs.
• Go on college visits.
• Collect letters of recommendation from your teachers to include with your college applications.
• Start brainstorming about ideas for your college essays.
• Continue to take challenging courses during your senior year.
• Stay focused on maintaining or increasing your GPA.

SEPTEMBER

• Mark your calendar with registration, admissions, and financial aid deadlines and fees.
• Attend the CACRAO (Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) College Fair at Warren County High School. All Warren County Seniors will be involved in the College Fair.
• Determine if the schools that interest you have online admission applications.
• Begin writing drafts of your college essays.
• Start completing early admission college applications.
• Meet with college/university representatives who visit your high school. Look at virtual tours college campuses online (www.ecampustours.com).
• If you haven't already taken the SAT and/or ACT, register for the test(s).
• Attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
• Ask employers, teachers, and guidance counselors for letters of recommendation to accompany your admissions applications.
• Complete applications for every scholarship for which you may be eligible; some have deadlines as early as October.
• Meet with your guidance counselor to develop a college admission and financial aid application plan.
• Sign up for an FSA ID, to complete your FAFSA online.(Also let your parents know that they will need an FSA ID.)

OCTOBER

• Take the SAT and/or ACT.
• Continue working on your admissions essays.
• If you haven't already done so, attend college planning and/or financial aid information nights and college fairs.
• File your Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1. You can complete your FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov or fill out a printed form and mail it in.
• Visit your top school choices. If possible, make appointments with faculty, staff, and students.
• Contact the schools' financial aid offices to determine which forms they require for institutional financial aid. Some schools may require special forms.

NOVEMBER

• Be mindful of deadlines. Always submit information admission applications by their deadlines.
• Complete admission applications Monday-Friday of College Application Week.
• If necessary, register to retake the SAT and/or ACT.
• Request financial aid forms and applications. Double check the deadlines for submission.
• Follow up to ensure your employers, teachers, and guidance counselors send letters of recommendation.
• Stay focused on maintaining and increasing your GPA.

DECEMBER

• Research and apply for local and outside funding or scholarships. Always check with your guidance counselor.
• Finalize admission applications.
• Continue to research and apply for other financial aid, including grants and scholarships.
• Watch for early admissions notices (they tend to arrive in December or January).

JANUARY

• Watch for the e-mail notice indicating your Student Aid Report (SAR) is ready.
• Review your SAR for errors and make any corrections as indicated.
• Rank your top school choices.

FEBRUARY

• Ask your counselor to complete any necessary Mid-Year School Reports. They are typically due in February.

MARCH

• Check with the financial aid offices to ensure your paperwork is complete. Submit tax forms if they request them.
• Narrow your school choices and make campus visits.
• Be on the lookout for acceptance letters.
• Start looking for summer jobs.

April

• Make your final school decision and mail deposits, as required.
• Check with the school you've chosen about returning financial aid award letters.
• Apply for educational loans, if needed.
• Notify your high school guidance office of your college selection and any scholarships received.

MAY

• Plan for registration, orientation, and housing sessions that you must attend at the school in which you will enroll, and make plans accordingly.
• Finalize your summer job plans, and make a plan for saving a portion of your summer earnings.
• Prepare a realistic student budget.
• Follow up with your high school to ensure the counselor forwards your final school transcripts to the college.

JUNE

• Plan for college transportation.
• Follow up with the financial aid office to ensure all paperwork is complete.

JULY

• Save money from your summer job.
• Make copies of your financial aid forms, health forms, etc for your files to aid in resolving future issues.
• Register for the Fall semester.