| September |
- Meet
with your counselor to review and evaluate
your college plans in light of your ACT and
SAT test scores and high school grades thus
far.
- Sign up to take or retake the ACT and SAT tests, if needed.
- Make sure that your high school transcript is correct and current.
- Ask an adult who knows you well (usually not a family member) to write a general letter of recommendation for you that can be copied and signed each time you need it.
- Make sure that you've completed all required steps in the admission, scholarship, and financial aid processes at each school you want to attend.
|
| October |
- Attend local or regional college fairs and financial aid fairs with your parents.
- Keep looking for scholarship money at
www.fastweb.com among other sources.
|
| November |
- If you've applied at an early decision school, make sure that everything is finalized.
|
| Decemeber |
- Watch for a response to your application for a military academy appointment or to an ROTC scholarship program or an early decision school, if you haven't already received one.
|
| January |
- If you plan to go to a community college or technical college, ask about admission, scholarships, and financial aid processes and deadlines.
- Pick up the new Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor, or find it online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- Encourage your parents to complete their income tax forms as quickly as possible. Have them help you complete the FAFSA. You can either complete the FAFSA online or fill out and mail in the actual form. Either way, keep a copy of your records.
- Check on the status of your admission and financial aid applications as needed.
|
| February |
- Complete the FAFSA if you haven't already done so.
- Continue to monitor all applications.
|
| March |
- Watch your mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is the report generated from your FAFSA. When you receive the SAR, make sure all of the information is correct.
- Contact the financial aid office of each school that you listed on the FAFSA and ask for a status report on your request for financial aid. Ask them when you should expect an award letter.
- Begin applying for local scholarships.
|
| April |
- Decide which school you want to attend.
|
| May |
- Finalize details with your parents on paying room deposits, tuition deposits, and other immediate expenses.
- Make sure that your high school counselor sends your final transcript to the school you're going to attend.
|
| June |
- Let your college financial aid office know about any outside scholarships, grants, or other kinds of student aid from private sources that you'll receive.
- Review your financial aid award letter with your parents. Follow the directions completely, sign it, and return it to the financial aid office. If you have questions or concerns, call the school's financial aid office right away.
- If you accepted a Federal Work-Study award in your aid package, it may be your responsibility to find an appropriate job. Check with the financial aid office.
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