College-planning calendar

Junior year

March

Write, telephone or use the Internet to request admission literature and financial aid information from the colleges on your list. There is no charge and no obligation to obtain general information about admission and financial aid.

April

When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself academically.

Register for the May/June SAT I and/or the May/June SAT II. Not all SAT II subject tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar carefully to determine when the subject tests you want are offered. Register for the June ACT if you want to take that test.

Continue to evaluate your list of colleges and universities. Eliminate colleges from your original list that no longer interest you, and add others as appropriate.

Look into summer jobs, or apply for special summer academic or enrichment programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing their skills and interests.

May
Attend a college fair to get more information about colleges on your list. NACAC sponsors college fairs in cities across the country during the fall and the spring. Visit www.nacac.com to check out the schedule for the National College Fairs and the Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs.

Get a jump start on summer activities—consider enrolling in an academic course at a local college, pursuing a summer school program, applying for an internship, working or volunteering. If you work, save part of your earnings for college.

Begin visiting colleges. Phone to set up appointments. Interviews are always a good idea. Many colleges will tell you they are optional, but an interview will show interest, enthusiasm and initiative on your part and provide an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered. Set up interviews as early as possible—interview times become booked quickly!

Take the SAT I or the SAT II.

June
After school ends, go visit colleges. Seeing colleges firsthand, taking tours and talking to students can be the greatest help in deciding whether or not a school is right for you. Although it is ideal to visit colleges during the academic year, going in the summer will still be valuable.

Take the SAT I, the SAT II and/or the ACT.

July
Visit colleges, take tours, have interviews and ask questions. Make college visiting a family event. Involve your parents and siblings in every step of your application process. Choosing the right college is a tough decision; the opinions of those who know you well can provide helpful insight into which college is best for you.

August
Begin preparing for the actual application process: draft application essays; collect writing samples; and assemble portfolios or audition tapes. If you are an athlete and plan on playing in college, contact the coaches at the schools to which you are applying and ask about intercollegiate and intramural sports programs and athletic scholarships.

Complete the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you hope to play Division I or II sports. (This form cannot be mailed until you finish your sixth semester of high school.)

Senior year

September
Check on application and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you plan to apply. It is essential to meet all deadlines!

Meet with your guidance counselor to be sure your list includes colleges appropriate to your academic and personal record. Review your transcript and records with your school counselor to ensure their accuracy.

Register for the October/November SAT I and/or SAT II or the September/October ACT.

If the colleges require recommendations, ask the appropriate people to write on your behalf. At least three weeks before the due date, ask your counselor and teachers, employers or coaches to write letters of recommendation. Provide recommendation forms, any special instructions and a stamped, addressed business envelope to the people writing your recommendations. Write thank-you notes to those who write recommendations, and keep those people informed of your decisions.

October
Attend a regional college fair to investigate further those colleges to which you will probably apply. (For a list of college fairs, go to www.nacac.com. For college open house dates, visit www.nextSTEPmagazine.com.

Mail applications in time to reach the colleges by the deadlines. Make sure your transcript and test scores have been/will be sent to the colleges to which you are applying.

If applying for early decision or early action, send in your application now. Also prepare applications for back-up schools. Remember, if you are accepted under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that college and to withdraw all other applications.

Register for the December/January SAT I and/or SAT IIs or December ACT if you have not completed the required tests or if you are not happy with your previous test scores and think you can do better.

Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges on your list.

November
Take the SAT I or SAT II if appropriate. Don't forget to have test scores sent to colleges on your list.

Continue completing applications to colleges. Make copies of all applications before mailing the applications.

December

Have official test scores sent to colleges on your list if you have not done so.

Consult your school counselor again to review your final list of colleges. File your last college application.

If you applied for early decision, you should have an answer by now. If you are accepted, follow the instructions for admitted students. If the decision is deferred until spring or you are denied, submit applications now to other colleges.

January
Keep working hard in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout your senior year.

Request that your counselor send the transcript of your first semester grades to the colleges to which you applied.

Parents and students, complete your income tax forms as soon as possible. You will need those figures to fill out the FAFSA. Complete and return your FAFSA as quickly as possible after Jan. 1.

February
Remember to monitor your applications to be sure that all materials are sent and received on time and that they are complete. Stay on top of things and don’t procrastinate; you can ruin your chances for admission by missing a deadline.

If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks of submitting the FAFSA. Review the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any items on the SAR.

If more than four weeks have passed after sending in your FAFSA and you have not received an acknowledgment, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.

Complete scholarship applications. Apply for as many as you can.

Enjoy your final year in high school, but don't catch senioritis!

March
Stay focused and keep studying—only a couple more months to go!

April
Do not take rolling admission applications for granted. These schools may reach their maximum class sizes quickly, so the earlier you apply, the more availability there may be.

Review your college acceptances and financial aid awards. If you are positive you will not enroll at one or more of the colleges that accepted you, please notify those colleges that you have selected another college. Keeping colleges abreast of your plans might enable those colleges to admit someone else. If you know which college you will attend, send your tuition deposit and follow all other instructions for admitted students.

May
By May 1, decide on the one college that you will attend. By May 1, send in your tuition deposit to the college you will attend. Notify the other colleges that accepted you that you have selected another college.

Be proud! You have completed a difficult task.

If your first-choice college places you on their waiting list, do not lose all hope. Some students are admitted off the waiting list. Contact the college to let them know you are still very interested. Keep the college updated on your activities.

Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate, and request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend.

June

Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college you will attend. Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you will be receiving.

Know when the payment for tuition, room and board, meal plan, etc., is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a plan that will allow you to pay in installments.

Congratulations! You've made it through high school! Enjoy your graduation and look forward to college.

July
Look for information in the mail from the college about housing, roommate(s), orientation, course selection, etc. Respond promptly to all requests from the college.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. NACAC sponsors 60 college fairs nationwide. For more information, visit www.nacac.com.

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