Your Senior Year Checklist Preparing For College

Name Name of Chapter Date

Ready! Set! Go!

It’s time to start your college preparation now.

Higher education options

Type of institution

Community colleges Technical colleges Public universities Private universities Health-related and professional institutions

Degrees offered

Associates degree Certificates Associates degree Certificates Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree Professional degrees (law and medicine)

Examples

Mountain View College Palo Alto College ITT Technical Institute Texas State Technical College University of California at Los Angeles University of Texas at Austin Florida State University Stanford University Notre Dame University Harvard University John Hopkins University

Getting into college

• • Every university has different admissions requirements.

Common admissions requirements include o o Grades Grade point average (GPA) o o o Courses taken Class rank Admissions exams (i.e. ACT/SAT) o o o o Extracurricular activities, leadership Community service Employment College essays and interviews

Getting started

• Time to start getting ready for college • Graduation will be here before you know it • Use this checklist to help take the right steps to prepare for college

College checklist – 11

th • 11 th grade – Fall Semester

grade

o Take the PSAT exam in October to be considered for national scholarships o Talk to your counselor about your college plans o Review your high school graduation requirements o Take college-level classes (i.e. advanced placement, IB, honors, dual credit) o Study for your SAT and/or ACT exams o Visit colleges and universities o Participate in your school’s college fair

College checklist – 11

th

grade

• 11 th grade – Spring Semester o Continue to focus on academic – your GPA this semester is generally the one used for college admissions o Study for your SAT and/or ACT exams o Take the SAT/ACT exam for the first time o Visit colleges and universities o Apply for college summer programs o Be active in extracurricular activities and community service o Prepare your college portfolio including a resume

College checklist – 11

th

grade

• 11 th grade – Summer before your senior year o Visit colleges and universities o Participate in a summer camp o Prepare your college portfolio including a resume o Draft a list of college choices and visit as many as possible

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to your senior year.

This time next year you will be starting college.

College checklist – 12

th

grade

12 th          grade – Fall Semester Make a college to-do calendar with important deadlines Double check you graduation requirements Register for and take the SAT and/or ACT exam Research deadlines for admissions/scholarships Submit your college applications Schedule your interviews and auditions (if required) Write your college essay Find out about on-campus housing options Research scholarships and requirements

College checklist – 12

th

grade

12 th grade – Spring Semester         Follow-up on your admissions applications Complete your income tax return (and encourage your parents to do the same) in order to complete your financial aid applications File your financial aid applications by the priority deadline Follow-up on your financial aid award letter (4-6 weeks after applying) Keep applying for scholarships Stay focused on your academics, every grade still counts Pay your housing deposit and your enrollment deposit (if required) Register for freshman orientation

College checklist – 12

th

grade

12 th grade – Summer Semester  GRADUATION!

     Complete any pending financial aid documents required Attend your freshman orientation Contact your roommate and introduce yourself Finalize travel arrangements if your college is out-of-town Make plans for your move-in day to the residence hall

Using Financial Aid

Four types of financial aid available to students • Grants are free money for students based on financial need • Loans are money that must be paid back • Work study requires students to work part-time • Scholarships are free money for students based on academic merit

Applying for financial aid

• Students must apply for financial aid after January 1 st their senior year of high school.

of • Parents must prepare their tax returns early to ease the submission of their financial aid application. • Financial aid deadlines vary by college. Students should inquire at their college for priority and final deadline dates.

Applying for financial aid

• U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and certain eligible non-citizens must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Apply online at www.FAFSA.gov

• Some states provide limited financial aid for undocumented students. Students should inquire with the Financial Aid Office at their college to determine eligibility and application requirements.

Applying for scholarships

• Scholarships are offered by o o o Universities and colleges Corporations, businesses, private organizations Non-profit organizations and foundations • Deadlines and application requirements vary by scholarship.

• The peak period to apply for scholarships is November to March of your child’s senior year.

• Students should speak to their counselor to learn more about scholarship resources.

How to stay organized

     Create a College Portfolio to track all of your information Keep a college calendar and checklist Keep copies of all of your documents Organize your e-mail (get an e-mail if you don’t have one yet) Write down the name and contact information of the people you speak with about your applications

Enjoy your last two years of high school

      Finding the right college for you takes a little effort and is a big decision Do your research Stay organized Don’t miss deadlines Ask questions Have fun

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