Senior Year
Don’t take the summer off! Waiting until the start of the senior year to decide on where to apply, to begin the application process, writing your college essay and researching financial aid and scholarships will add stress and panic to an already busy time.
Your 12th grade plan
If you have an independent college counselor, meet with them during the summer months.
Set-up a timeline to work on your application and essay and narrow down your list of colleges where you want to apply.
Visit your Common Application account or the websites of the schools you are interested in and familiarize yourself with their application requirements.
If possible, take advantage of vacation or travel opportunities to visit colleges.
SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL
Fall of Senior Year
Application time! Don’t let your academics take a back seat to finishing your college search and filling out your applications.
Discuss your applications and college selections with your high school college counselor or independent college counselor.
admission2college is a valuable resource that can complement working with your high school college counselor.
Finalize your list of schools of where you want to apply.
Work with your high school college counselor or your independent college counselor to strategize when is the best time to apply to schools. Pay attention to application deadlines.
If you need to take the ACT and/or SAT again make sure you take them as early as possible.
Schedule the SAT Subject Tests if needed.
Many schools require one or two recommendation letters from a teacher and a counselor.
Fall/Winter of Senior Year
If you have applied Early Decision or Early Action, now all you can do is wait for the decision by December 1st or 15th. If you have decided to apply Regular Decision don’t wait until the last minute to send in your application. Finish it and send it in as soon as possible. Don’t wait for the deadline!
Visit colleges and attend their visitation programs. If possible, schedule campus visits that include staying on campus for a night.
Financial Aid
Attend financial aid information nights.
Many colleges offered merit scholarships that you automatically qualify for and are based on your academic record in your admission application.
Depending on your choice of major some schools will require you to separately apply for departmental scholarships.
Research scholarships offered by outside organizations.
Fill out the required financial aid forms.
Spring of Senior Year
The wait is over! You've received your admissions decision.
May 1st is the deadline to send your enrollment deposit to the school you decided to attend.