The 2008-2009 school year is coming to an end. Seniors will be graduating and moving on to college, technical school or trade school. Juniors will officially be seniors with a busy year ahead of them before walking across that stage next May or June. Senior year is NOT the time to coast, relax and develop senioritis. It’s the time to get all your ducks in a row and start a timeline for college planning. Here’s some suggestions from experience that might help.

Summer

1. Start refining your college list by viewing college tours online and deciding which schools you would like to pursue further by visiting and requesting an admissions interview.
2. Do some online practice tests of the SAT and/or ACT to determine your weaknesses. Spend time over the summer studying and improving your vocabulary, math skills and essay skills.
3. Start writing your application essays and refining them so they will be ready for submission.

August-September

1. Register for the SAT and ACT
2. Meet with your high school counselor and make sure your courses are on track for the colleges you have chosen and review your academic record for accuracy.
3. Meet with admissions representatives who come to your school and attend the college fair. Make sure you get business cards so you can follow up during the application process.
4. Plan college visits and schedule admission  interviews while on campus.

October

1. Take SAT and ACT tests
2. Give teacher recommendation forms to your teachers and the school report form to your counselor to provide ample time for completion as a part of your college applications.

November

1. Register for SAT Subject tests to be taken in December.
2. Begin preparing your college applications and make sure you have all components completed and ready for submission.

December

1. Submit your financial aid CSS/PROFILE to the appropriate colleges.
2. Obtain a copy of the FAFSA and begin preparing to complete it in early January. Make sure you are familiar with the form and necessary financial records required.
3. Take your SAT Subject Tests
4. Mail your college applications BEFORE your winter break. Keep copies of everything you mail and send the applications and forms via certified/return receipt mail. If you apply online, send the additional forms via the mail.

January

1. Complete the FAFSA online the first week of January. Remember that Financial Aid depends on completion of this form and you MUST make it a priority.
2. Study hard and do well on your mid-semester exams.

February

1. Check to make sure that your mid-year transcript is sent to all the colleges you have applied to. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Your awards, aid and scholarships rely on the receipt of this transcript.
2. Contact your colleges to verify receipt of the transcript and ascertain if they are in need of any additional information.

March

1. Watch for your SAR (Student Aid Report) in the mail and review it carefully. Make any corrections that might be needed and return it immediately.
2. Submit your SAR and required tax forms to the financial aid office. Contact each college’s financial aid office to verify your application is complete and they have all the forms they require. This is also VERY IMPORTANT.

April

1. College acceptance letters start to arrive. Review your financial aid award packages and compare the colleges.
2. Make your final decision on which college you want to attend and mail the acceptance form along with the deposit. Also contact the colleges you will not be attending and notify them to take you off their list. This will open up spaces for students who are wait listed.

May

1. May 1st is the absolute LAST DAY to decide on your college choice. You MUST let the college know by this date. There are NO exceptions!
2. Write thank you notes to every person who helped you: recommendations, counselors, family, and friends.
3. Take AP exams to get college credit.

As you can see, there are many tasks to complete during your senior year. If you’ve planned ahead and done all you should have, you should be able to walk across that stage at graduation breathing a sigh of relief that you planned and executed every step to get into the college of your choice.