Senior year timeline

Senior year! This is it! This is not a year to slack off and take it easy. Start off the year telling yourself that senioritis will not happen!!

Also, a tip: make yourself a professional email address and sign up for everything college-related with it. You'll need this to sign up for websites that will send you scholarship information, and it will be the way that many colleges get in touch with you after you've filled out their applications. You all are attached to your cell phones anyway - now you just have to start to use it for more than FB, instagram and vine ;) 

Check out this timeline of important events for you to look out for throughout the school year. 

OCTOBER:

Ø  Make a final check and review of your school records.

Ø  Attend college nights or conferences.

Ø  Register for the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and/or the ACT if you have not yet done so.

Ø  Consult your college advisor/high school counselor and college Web sites about any other required tests.

Ø  Work on applications.

Ø  Request transcripts from your high school to be sent to the colleges to which you are applying.

Ø  Apply for any applicable scholarships/awards from local organizations.

Ø  Check college application deadlines.

Ø  If you haven’t yet decided which colleges to apply to, attend the college fair in your area.

NOVEMBER

Ø  Complete your college admissions applications.

Ø  Attend financial aid workshops and seminars.

Ø  Keep a folder to track college applications.

DECEMBER

Ø  Are all your college applications submitted?

Ø  Any deadlines approaching?

Ø  Begin to get FAFSA materials together.

Ø  Get a Federal Student Aid PIN for you and your parents.

Ø  Talk to alumni and college friends to get more information about the colleges to which you applied.

Ø  Review student financial aid application forms.

JANUARY

Ø  Attend financial aid application workshops, if you haven’t yet.

Ø  File the FAFSA online and, if required, the colleges’ financial aid application forms.

Ø  File your TAP application online at the end of the FAFSA.

Ø  Remind your family to keep copies of all tax returns.

Ø  Continue to check for scholarship opportunities.

Ø  Look for email messages from FAFSA and TAP.

FEBRUARY

Ø  You may be asked to send colleges your mid-year grade report.

Ø  Look for college acceptance notices.

Ø  Are you maintaining your folder of correspondence?

MARCH

Ø  Register for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, if needed.

Ø  Check your financial aid status at your college or university. Check your TAP status on HESC.org.

Ø  Start looking for a summer job or internship

APRIL

Ø  Look for college financial aid packages from colleges to which you are accepted.

Ø  If you have questions, review your financial aid packages with the colleges’ financial aid offices.

Ø  Complete your last college visits before making your decision.

Ø  Decide what college you will attend, sign college letter of intent, accept or refuse the financial aid offered, and send in the required housing and tuition deposits by May 1.

MAY

Ø  Notify the colleges which you decided not to attend. If you have received aid packages from these colleges, notify the financial aid offices so the awards can be offered to other students.

Ø  Notify your high school counselor office and college financial aid office of any scholarships received.

Ø  Follow up with your college about financial aid and orientation.

JUNE

Ø  Have your final transcript sent to your college.

Ø  Use your summer job to save for your education.

Ø  If you plan to borrow money from the Federal Student Loan Program, complete your application and promissory note.

Ø  Get ready for your first year of college!