College Application Timeline & Senior Year Checklist
College Application Timeline
Below is a timeline for the college application process. While these dates aren't set in stone, the majority of items for each month should be completed in a timely manner.
JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE
February:
- 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.
March:
- 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.
April:
- 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.
May:
- 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.
June:
- 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.
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!
September:
- 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.
October:
- 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.
November:
- 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.
December:
- 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.
January:
- 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.
February:
- 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.
March:
- Check college deposit deadlines (housing and attendance).
- Continue checking on scholarships.
April:
- 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.
May:
- 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.
June/July:
- Ask the counseling office to send a final transcript.
August:
- Work to help pay for college.
- Attend orientation.
- Register for classes.