Senior Year College Time Line

SEPTEMBER

• If you have not held any leadership positions while in high school, now is the time to step up and assume leadership of one of those organizations.
• Review college materials, college guidebooks, senior scholarships and other resources to narrow your college list.
• Begin to finalize a list of colleges with your family and guidance counselor.
• Consider visits, overnight stays, and interviews at your top college choices. Visit (personally or virtually) any colleges you have not already seen.
• Register for one last shot at the SAT or ACT if you haven't taken one of them yet -- or if you aren't happy with earlier scores.
• Begin thinking about teachers who would be willing to write strong letters of recommendation on your behalf.
• Begin brainstorming ideas for your college essays.
• Request (or download from college's Website) any applications that you do not have. Be sure to review each college's application requirements carefully.
• Attend Mansfield University’s college fair for one final review of college choices.
• Be sure your senior year mix of classes still includes challenging, college-prep courses
• Stay focused on grades.
• Continue to save money for college.

OCTOBER

• Finalize a list of college choices to reasonable number, ideally with one or more “stretch” schools and one "safety" school.
• Create a file for each of your college choices -- and keep all materials organized.
• Begin working on drafts of your college essays.
• Start working on college applications.
• Have standardized testing service (SAT or ACT) send your scores to your list of colleges.
• Stay focused on grades.
• Finish your eighty hours of community service and hand in completed forms to the guidance office.

NOVEMBER

• Finalize drafts of your college essays, but only after numerous edits, rewrites, and reviews by people you trust (family, friends, teachers).
• Complete college applications and put packets in the mail.  Make sure you request you’re your transcripts are sent by the guidance office.
• Be sure your guidance counselor knows your final list of colleges, as well as your preferences.
• Request key financial aid and scholarship information from your list of colleges.
• Stay focused on grades.

DECEMBER

• If you applied for early decision to a college, expect notification this month.
• If not completed, finish and mail remainder of college applications.
• Start detailed financial aid search, including outside sources for scholarships and loans.
• Stay focused on grades.
• Attend Financial Aid Night.
• Turn in the rest of your community service hours to the guidance office.  You should have eighty hours completed for ninth through twelfth grade.

JANUARY

• If applying for financial aid, get started on preparations by obtaining a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This can be obtained from the guidance office.
• Stay focused on grades.

FEBRUARY

• Complete the FAFSA, if possible. (You'll need your family's/guardian's tax records.)
• Keep track of your college applications; be sure all schools have received all your materials.
• Stay focused on grades.

MARCH

• College decision letters begin arriving.
• Celebrate your acceptances, decide about your wait lists, and deal positively with your rejections.
• Finalize financial aid applications.
• Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
• Stay focused on grades.

APRIL

• Make decision about college choice from among the colleges that accepted you.
• Notify all colleges (that accepted you) of your final decision.
• Submit tuition deposit to your college of choice.
• Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
• Stay focused on grades.

MAY

• Be sure to submit paperwork for room and board.
• Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
• Stay focused on grades.

JUNE

• Celebrate your high school success!
• Send thank you notes (if you haven't already) to everyone who helped you this year and for any scholarship money you may have received.
• Start planning for college.
• Watch college's summer deadlines (orientations, housing options, registration, etc.) closely.
• Get a summer job to help save money for college.

.