Senior year, you'll hit the ground running in August. Finish strong academically, continue to grow from your extracurriculars, and dive into the college and financial aid application process. 

🎓 Senior College Planning Checklist

🌟 Explore & Plan

☐ Meet with your school counselor to review graduation requirements, course selections, college plans, and scholarship opportunities.

☐ Explore careers, majors, and colleges using resources such as CFNC, BigFuture, Major Clarity, and NCcareers.org.

☐ Complete career and college-readiness assessments through NCcareers.org and Major Clarity.

☐ Update your CFNC plan of study and make sure your courses align with your graduation and postsecondary goals.

☐ Continue taking challenging courses that are appropriate for your goals and academic strengths. Use teacher and counselor input when selecting courses.

☐ Continue to focus on strong grades. Ask for help early and advocate for yourself by using teachers, counselors, tutoring, and other available supports.

☐ Stay involved outside the classroom through sports, clubs, volunteering, service learning, employment, or other activities.

☐ Talk with family, friends, teachers, counselors, and other trusted adults about their college and career experiences.

🏫 Build Your College List

☐ Create a balanced college list of approximately 3–5 schools, including a reach/dream school, target schools, and at least one safety school.

☐ Research each college's admission requirements, deadlines, and financial aid opportunities.

☐ Visit colleges in person or virtually whenever possible.

☐ Find out the true cost of attendance for each college, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, transportation, and other expenses.

☐ Create a college application plan and organize important deadlines and requirements in one place.

☐ Participate in College Application Week/Month if offered by your school or state.

📝 Prepare Your Applications

☐ Create your Common App account and connect/match it with Major Clarity, if applicable.

☐ Create your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID before completing the FAFSA.

☐ Decide whether to take or retake the SAT or ACT.

☐ Send SAT/ACT scores to colleges that require or accept them.

☐ Request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other adults who know you well. Give them plenty of advance notice.

☐ Write, revise, and proofread your college essays. Start early and allow time for multiple revisions.

☐ Complete and submit college applications before each school's deadline.

☐ Use the CFNC Application Hub to apply to participating North Carolina colleges and send official transcripts at no cost.

☐ Submit applications to out-of-state colleges through each institution's application system or designated application platform.

☐ Monitor your application status and make sure colleges have received all required materials.

💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships

☐ Create a scholarship list and keep track of application requirements and deadlines.

☐ Search and apply for scholarships through colleges, community organizations, employers, CFNC, BigFuture, and other reputable sources.

☐ Complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available. Check Federal Student Aid for current dates and information.

☐ Complete the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) process if you are applying to North Carolina colleges and want to be considered for in-state tuition and state financial aid.

☐ Complete the CSS Profile if required by any of your colleges.

☐ Check with each college's financial aid office for school-specific scholarships, forms, and deadlines.

☐ Compare financial aid award packages and consider the total cost—not just the amount of financial aid offered.

☐ Apply for student loans only if needed. Borrow responsibly and understand that loans must be repaid.

☐ Check out BigFuture Scholarships and other scholarship opportunities throughout the year.

🏆 Special Considerations

☐ Student-athletes: Talk with your counselor and coach about college athletic eligibility and required steps.

☐ Student-athletes: Submit required transcripts and information to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

☐ AP/College-Level Courses: Register for and take AP exams when appropriate.

☐ AP/College-Level Courses: Send AP scores to colleges when appropriate.

☐ Community College: Check with your college about placement testing and enrollment requirements.

☐ College Credit: Arrange for transcripts from community college, middle college, or other institutions to be sent to your college.

📅 Stay on Top of Deadlines

☐ Create a master deadline calendar for admission applications, financial aid, scholarships, housing, testing, and enrollment deposits.

☐ Check deadlines frequently. Many admission and scholarship deadlines occur during the fall and early winter.

☐ Use the CFNC North Carolina College Admissions Deadlines Guide as a starting point, but always confirm deadlines directly with each college.

☐ Keep copies of submitted applications, financial aid forms, scholarship applications, and confirmation emails.

🎉 Make Your College Decision

☐ Review your admission decisions and compare your options.

☐ Compare financial aid packages and calculate your expected out-of-pocket cost.

☐ Research your final options and discuss your decision with your family, counselor, and trusted adults.

☐ Send your enrollment deposit to the college you choose by the deadline.

☐ Complete all required enrollment steps, including housing, orientation, placement testing, health forms, and financial aid requirements.

☐ Indicate where you intend to enroll so your final high school transcript can be sent.

☐ Request your final high school transcript if it is not automatically sent through your application system.

☐ Send any additional college-credit transcripts required by your college.

🔄 If Your Plans Change

☐ If you are not accepted to your first-choice college, explore additional options with your counselor or through CFNC's College Redirection resources.

☐ Remember that there are many pathways to reaching your educational and career goals.

☀️ Before You Leave for College

☐ Complete any remaining financial aid and enrollment requirements.

☐ Review your college's orientation and placement requirements.

☐ Make sure your final transcript and required test/college-credit records have been received.

☐ Prepare for your transition to college.

☐ Enjoy your summer before college! 🎓