SEPTEMBER:
For Seniors:
Prepare a list of colleges that interest you. See the Choosing A College
page for ideas
Contact colleges for applications by email, web site, phone or postcards
Make a list of your activities, honors, awards community service and work
experience
Sign up to retest for the SAT or ACT
Gather your test scores from the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject
Tests, ACT and AP exams
Take advantage of free SAT workshops in your community. www.kaplan.
com or www.princetonreview.com
Visit your high school college/career center or guidance office for
additional college information
Begin writing college essays
Apply for scholarships that are advertised at your high school. Also check
www.finaid.org or www.fastweb.com for additional scholarships
These services are free
Continue to get good grades. Your grade point average is the most
important part of your application.
Many colleges will see your grades from the first semester of the senior
year. You need to continue to get good grades in order to be competitive.
If you plan to apply Early Decision or Early Action, see the Highly Selective
Page for information.
Set up a separate email account for your college correspondence.
For Juniors:
Sign up for the PSAT in mid-October at your high school. It will be given in
mid October at your high school and you will receive the results in
December.
Continue to get good grades. Your grade point average is the most
important part of your application.
Participate in community service or other activities that interest you.
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER:
For Seniors:
Attend College Night Programs at your high school or in your area.
Attend College Representative visits at your high school.
Repeat the SAT or ACT tests. Many colleges will accept test scores from
October, November and December of the senior year.
Begin filling out your college applications and write your essays.
If you need letters of recommendation for private colleges, ask your
teachers (usually two teachers) if they would write you a letter.
Provide your teachers with the “Letter of Recommendation” form from the
college application. Private colleges often request letters. Most public
colleges do not accept letters of recommendation.
Continue to apply for scholarships
For Juniors:
Plan to take the PSAT in October
Attend College Night Programs at your high school or in your community
Attend College Representative Visits at your high school
Attend college programs in your community.
DECEMBER:
For Seniors:
Watch for scholarships at your high school
Pick up Financial Aid Applications
For Juniors:
Your PSAT results should be available this month
Study the questions you missed on the PSAT and begin to prepare for the
SAT in the spring
Sign up for the SATs or ACT
Continue to get good grades and prepare for finals
JANUARY:
For Seniors:
Encourage your parents to attend Financial Aid Night Programs at your
high school or in your community
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The forms
are available at your high school or online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov
The FAFSA should be mailed in by February 1 if possible. You do not
need to wait for the completion of income tax records in order to file the
FAFSA.
Financial aid is distributed as soon as the forms are received and an
updated tax return will be requested.
Continue to watch for scholarships.
For Juniors:
Sign up to take the SATs or ACT at the end of the junior year
FEBRUARY/MARCH:
For Seniors:
As you receive acceptances to colleges, you need to do further research
See the Reference Books section for books that provide more insight to
the colleges
You may want to visit a few colleges during your spring break
Talk to graduates from your high school about their college choice
For Juniors:
You might want to take an SAT prep class to improve your score and learn
strategy tips
You can also purchase a SAT guide such as Barrons SAT or The
Princeton Review Cracking the System or Kaplan’s Fast Track SAT &
PSAT or College Board’s The Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT by
College Board
If you plan to take the SAT Subject Tests, you may want to borrow or
purchase the Barron’s or Kaplan SAT II books
Attend spring college fairs in your community
Begin to explore colleges that interest you
Visit colleges during your spring break
Explore summer academic programs on college campuses, summer
jobs, community service or foreign exchange programs
APRIL:
For Seniors:
Many highly selective colleges notify seniors in the month of April.
If you are placed on a wait list, contact the college if you are still interested.
Some colleges will allow you to appeal a decision. If you have new
information to offer (such as an omission or error on the original
application or an honor or award you received after you mailed your
application), you may want to write a letter of appeal.
If you are not happy with your financial aid offer, you may want to contact
the Financial Aid Office of the college.
Continue to research your college choices
Check web sites, college catalogs, college guides, other students and
college videos for more information
Prepare for the May and June SATs
Continue to get good grades
MAY:
For Seniors:
May 1 is the universal date to contact colleges regarding your acceptance
Watch all deadlines and respond to the college emails or mail.
Let your high school registrar (the Counseling Office secretary) know
where you plan to attend college and the address where the final
transcript should be sent.
For Juniors:
Take the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests (if needed) in May
and June
Prepare well for finals. The GPA is the most important part of your college
application.
JUNE:
For Seniors:
Continue to get good grades during finals.
All college acceptances are provisional. You could have your college
acceptance withdrawn if your grades slip. BE CAREFUL.
For Juniors:
Continue to work hard during finals. Your GPA for college is determined
by your grade point average in grades 10 and 11
Before summer vacation, gather as much college information as
possible from your high school college/career center or Counseling Office
Explore summer jobs, community service opportunities, summer
programs and the many other opportunities available during summer
College Planning Calendar
