College Application Timeline & Senior Year Checklist

College Application Timeline

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

• Parents attend college orientation night at Gananda.
• Plan to take a challenging course load in senior year.
• Meet with counselor about the college search process.

• Register for April ACT (Check to see if your college(s) of interest require and/or recommend you take it).
• Register for the May SAT.
• Use college catalogues and handbooks in the counseling office and CHOICES in the computer lab and Choices Planner at home (www.bridges.com).
• Investigate outside college funding sources (i.e., internet search, public libraries or your family’s place of employment).
• Attend College Fairs.

• Review courses for senior year and graduation requirements. Be sure to select strong college prep courses to increase your chance of admissibility.
• Create an initial list of colleges to contact for additional information.
• Begin visiting colleges of interest (possible during Spring recess).
• Register for the June SAT.
• If you are considering military academics or ROTC scholarships, be sure to contact your counselor.

• Register for the June ACT.
• Create your “resume” – record of your accomplishments, involvements and work experiences (in and out of school) over the past three years.
• Request teacher recommendations using recommendation forms found in the counseling office.
• Plan an interesting and challenging summer.

• Take your Regents exams seriously. College admissions personnel typically look at results from Junior year first.
• Continue the college search process. Arrange for college visits over the summer.

• Stay focused on college.
• Keep extra-curricular and community service activities going.
• Visit college campuses.
• Save money for college expenses.
• Look for scholarship money.
• Complete parent brag sheets.

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Your Senior Year CHECKLIST!

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT.
• Attend local college nights at malls, etc.
• Get letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, employers, ministers, coaches, advisors, etc.
• Set up senior interview in the counseling office.
• Narrow down your list of colleges (approximately 3-6 schools).
• Meet with college representatives who visit the high school.
• Continue making campus visits.
• Begin working on college applications (Make a folder for each college).
• Check for local and national scholarship opportunities. The counseling office has a scholarship box that should be checked on a regular basis.
• Get off to a strong start academically.

• Take the SAT/ACT.
• Bring in completed college applications along with application fees to the counseling office (especially early decision applications). Remember to check application deadlines. If applying on-line, complete all steps and bring a copy to the counseling office. Consider applying as early as possible before funds/scholarships have been awarded to others.
• In order for transcripts to be sent from the counseling office to a college/scholarship, etc., a transcript request form must be submitted.
• Update your “resume” – your list of accomplishments, involvements and work experiences.
• Continue to request letters of recommendations (forms available in the counseling office).
• Continue checking on scholarships.
• Work on college essays; consult with your English teacher.
• Continue visiting colleges and scheduling interviews (remember to send follow up thank you letters). Reminder – If you are visiting a college during school hours, you must fill out a “College Visitation” form available in the counseling/main offices five days prior to your visit.

• Take SAT.
• Continue bringing in completed applications and fees to the counseling office.
• Obtain financial aid information from each college’s financial aid office to which you are applying. Note the required documents and deadlines for filing.
• Watch deadline dates for scholarships and/or college applications.
• Continue checking on scholarships.
• Submit at least one application by Mid-November.

• Take SAT/ACT.
• Give the counseling office a minimum of 10 school days to finalize processing of scholarships and college applications.
• In order for transcript to be sent from the counseling office to a college/scholarship, etc., a transcript request form must be submitted.
• Get financial aid forms and pin number via the internet.
• Begin putting together all the necessary information needed to complete the financial aid forms.
• Continue checking on scholarships.
• Attend financial aid night at Gananda.
• Have all applications submitted to the counseling office by early December.

• Complete your financial aid form (FAFSA, etc.). Parents: prepare your income tax returns early and make copies – this information may be requested by colleges to prove eligibility for financial aid. Do not submit to the counseling office.
• Submit mid-year grade requests to the counseling office.
• Prepare for midterm exams.
• Notify the counseling office of college acceptances.

• Check with the counseling office to see if mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools to which you have applied.
• Make sure colleges have received all the materials needed to make a decision.
• Send any supplemental information that colleges may request.
• Continue checking on scholarships.
• Notify the counseling office of admissions decisions.

• Check college deposit deadlines (housing and attendance).
• Continue checking on scholarships.

• All final admissions decisions should have arrived.
• If you are on a wait list, write a justification letter and send supporting materials. Ask teachers, coaches, etc. for help.
• Review college acceptances, perhaps revisit your top choices.
• Review financial aid packages; talk with college financial aid officers if you have specific questions.
• Decide on a college.
• Continue checking on scholarships.
• Deposits due in early May.
• Begin preparing for the AP exams.

• Notify the college you choose of your decision to attend.
• Notify colleges that you did not choose, so they can offer admissions to others on their waiting lists.
• Fill out housing information.
• Take AP exams, if applicable.

• Ask the counseling office to send a final transcript.

• Work to help pay for college.
• Attend orientation.
• Register for classes.