Senior Year - College Planning Checklist

Welcome to the
Senior Year: College Planning

There are a number of things that a busy senior must do! The following list is designed to help a senior keep track of some of these important things.

All year long
   ■    Research and apply for scholarships.
   ■    Keep up your grades! Colleges look at your senior grades. This is no time to slack off after so much hard work.

September
   ■    Review graduation status and college plans with your counselor.
   ■    Begin to prepare your senior resume.
   ■    Attend the College Tour held at LHS for all seniors.
   ■    Attend the National College Fair in Salt Lake City. (If you are applying to out-of-state colleges.)
   ■    Sign up to take or retake the ACT or SAT. The ACT is required for colleges in Utah while the SAT is required by some out-of -state schools.
   ■    Watch the Scholarship Board for new scholarships. Pick up applications from the student center.
   ■    E-mail or send letters to schools asking for admission applications and financial aid information.

October
   ■    Take or re-take the ACT or SAT.
   ■    Get your own personal copy of the scholarship book from the student center.
   ■    Checkout the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.
   ■    Continue to research scholarships and write for applications.

November
   ■    Get college admission applications. Applications are available for all Utah colleges on-line.
   ■    Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers or a counselor who know you well.
   ■    Provide resume information to those who are writing recommendations for you.
   ■    Look for new scholarships posted on the scholarship bulletin boards weekly and check due dates.
   ■    Re-apply for the ACT if you want to take it one more time.
   ■    If you need to write an essay for admission, start now! (BYU and some out-of-state colleges require an essay.)
   ■    Apply for on-campus housing if desired. Some schools fill up fast.
   ■    Apply for admission at colleges before priority deadlines pass, so you will have the best chance of receiving a scholarship. Most institutions require admissions applications before, or at the same time as scholarship applications.
   ■    Request an official transcript from the counseling office to complete the application process.
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.

December
   ■    Final administrations of the ACT or SAT tests with results available in time for most Utah schools scholarship final deadlines and for admissions.
   ■    Apply for admission to the college(s) and technical school(s) of your choice. Most applications can be submitted on the Internet.
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.
   ■    Request an official transcript from the counseling office to complete the college application process.
   ■    Send applications, transcripts, and recommendations to colleges. Even if the school's deadline is later, applications received early are read more carefully.
   ■    Verify that all parts of your scholarship application has been received, including letters of recommendation, transcripts, and ACT scores.

January
   ■    Apply for Financial Aid. Use the FAFSA on-line.
   ■    Find out if your college has separate forms for financial aid.
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.

February
   ■    Follow up on any remaining steps required for college admission or scholarship application processing.
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.

March
   ■     Don't forget to check the Scholarship Board for new scholarships and due dates.

April
   ■    Receive notification of admission decisions from colleges.
   ■    Carefully select the college you will attend next fall. Once you have made a final decision, write other colleges and decline their acceptance.
   ■    Evaluate scholarship and financial aid offers and accept or decline them in writing.
   ■     Let your counselor in on your decisions concerning college and scholarship choices. (We want to know, and will "officially" present your scholarship at the Awards Assembly.)
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.

May
   ■    Take the Advanced Placement test in the courses/subjects you have been studying this year.
   ■    Watch the scholarship bulletin boards for new scholarships and due dates, then apply.
   ■    Notify the counseling office of scholarships you have received. We would like to honor you in the Awards Ceremony.
   ■    Remember to invite your parents to the Awards Ceremony.

June
   ■    Pick up your cap and gown.
   ■    Graduate!

Fall
   ■     Attend Freshman orientation if your school has one.
         Go for it! And Good Luck.

Note:
One of the biggest mistakes that students make in planning for college is not starting soon enough. Don’t wait until your senior year to:
    ■    Take tough classes.
    ■    Become concerned about your grade point average.
    ■    Get to know your high school counselor.
    ■    Take the ACT or the SAT test.
    ■    Decide to go to college.
    ■    Become aware of the resources in the Student Center.

Note: College Planning
One of the biggest mistakes that students make in planning for college is not starting soon enough. Don't wait until your senior year to take tough classes. Don't wait until your senior year to become concerned about your grade point average. Don't wait until your senior year to get to know your high school counselor. Don't wait until your senior year to take the ACT or the SAT test. Don't wait until your senior year to decide to go to college. Don't wait until your senior year to become aware of the resources in the Student Center.