College-planning calendar Junior year March Write, telephone or use the Internet to request admission literature and financial aid information from the colleges on your list. There is no charge and no obligation to obtain general information about admission and financial aid. When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself academically. Register for the May/June SAT I and/or the May/June SAT II. Not all SAT II subject tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar carefully to determine when the subject tests you want are offered. Register for the June ACT if you want to take that test. Continue to evaluate your list of colleges and universities. Eliminate colleges from your original list that no longer interest you, and add others as appropriate. Look into summer jobs, or apply for special summer academic or enrichment programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing their skills and interests. Get a jump start on summer activities—consider enrolling in an academic course at a local college, pursuing a summer school program, applying for an internship, working or volunteering. If you work, save part of your earnings for college. Begin visiting colleges. Phone to set up appointments. Interviews are always a good idea. Many colleges will tell you they are optional, but an interview will show interest, enthusiasm and initiative on your part and provide an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered. Set up interviews as early as possible—interview times become booked quickly! Take the SAT I or the SAT II. Take the SAT I, the SAT II and/or the ACT. Complete the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you hope to play Division I or II sports. (This form cannot be mailed until you finish your sixth semester of high school.) Meet with your guidance counselor to be sure your list includes colleges appropriate to your academic and personal record. Review your transcript and records with your school counselor to ensure their accuracy. Register for the October/November SAT I and/or SAT II or the September/October ACT. If the colleges require recommendations, ask the appropriate people to write on your behalf. At least three weeks before the due date, ask your counselor and teachers, employers or coaches to write letters of recommendation. Provide recommendation forms, any special instructions and a stamped, addressed business envelope to the people writing your recommendations. Write thank-you notes to those who write recommendations, and keep those people informed of your decisions. Mail applications in time to reach the colleges by the deadlines. Make sure your transcript and test scores have been/will be sent to the colleges to which you are applying. If applying for early decision or early action, send in your application now. Also prepare applications for back-up schools. Remember, if you are accepted under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that college and to withdraw all other applications. Register for the December/January SAT I and/or SAT IIs or December ACT if you have not completed the required tests or if you are not happy with your previous test scores and think you can do better. Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges on your list. Continue completing applications to colleges. Make copies of all applications before mailing the applications. Have official test scores sent to colleges on your list if you have not done so. Consult your school counselor again to review your final list of colleges. File your last college application. If you applied for early decision, you should have an answer by now. If you are accepted, follow the instructions for admitted students. If the decision is deferred until spring or you are denied, submit applications now to other colleges. Request that your counselor send the transcript of your first semester grades to the colleges to which you applied. Parents and students, complete your income tax forms as soon as possible. You will need those figures to fill out the FAFSA. Complete and return your FAFSA as quickly as possible after Jan. 1. If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks of submitting the FAFSA. Review the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any items on the SAR. If more than four weeks have passed after sending in your FAFSA and you have not received an acknowledgment, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243. Complete scholarship applications. Apply for as many as you can. Enjoy your final year in high school, but don't catch senioritis! Review your college acceptances and financial aid awards. If you are positive you will not enroll at one or more of the colleges that accepted you, please notify those colleges that you have selected another college. Keeping colleges abreast of your plans might enable those colleges to admit someone else. If you know which college you will attend, send your tuition deposit and follow all other instructions for admitted students. Be proud! You have completed a difficult task. If your first-choice college places you on their waiting list, do not lose all hope. Some students are admitted off the waiting list. Contact the college to let them know you are still very interested. Keep the college updated on your activities. Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate, and request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend. Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college you will attend. Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you will be receiving. Know when the payment for tuition, room and board, meal plan, etc., is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a plan that will allow you to pay in installments. Congratulations! You've made it through high school! Enjoy your graduation and look forward to college. View more articles | Information provided by collegeanduniversity.net |