Senior year checklist of activities

Adapted from Learnmore.org’s “need to know” web resource

Fall

  • Set up an appointment with your ETS high school counselor to:
    • discuss important admissions processes and financial aid deadlines
    • receive a fee waiver for SAT or ACT testing
    • receive fee waiver(s) for college applications
    • receive Skillstutor access, if applicable 
    • find out about upcoming ETS activities/workshops
  • Complete your electronic portfolio (e profile) online for FREE.
  • Most college and scholarship applications should be done before winter break, so get started.
  • Meet with college representatives who visit your school in the fall and attend local college fairs. Schedule college visits with admissions offices and make appointments with financial aid officers.
  • Check with your school counselor about apprenticeship opportunities and application deadlines.
  • Assess your grades. If your grades have suffered recently, work hard to bring them up. If you have had a semester or two of poor grades, write a note explaining why and what you learned from your mistakes to include in your college applications.
  • Ask your ETS counselor, teachers, coaches and other adults to write recommendation letters for you to use with college and scholarship applications. Give them at least two weeks notice.
  • Narrow your list of colleges, apprenticeships or military possibilities. Collect all the applications you need and complete at least three.  Make sure to include a “dream” college and a “safety” college.
  • Complete your college applications online or on applications available in your school counselor’s office. Ask your ETS counselor, a teacher or parent to proofread your applications. Check each application deadline carefully-some are due as early as October.
  • Apply for scholarships early and often. Register for free online scholarship search engines such as www.fastweb.com or www.collegeanswer.com.
  • Be sure to get a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov so that you can complete your FAFSA application and access your information online.  One of your parents must also get a pin.

Winter

  • Contact ETS for help in submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Remember the March 10 receipt-date deadline.
  • Enjoy your last semester of high school but stay on track with homework and grades. Colleges will check your second semester senior year grades–so now is not the time to slack off.
  • Finish 21st Century Scholars paperwork, if applicable. Complete the affirmation form by March 10.

Spring

  • Read any regular mail or e-mail messages concerning your FAFSA. You may be asked to make a correction to your FAFSA or to submit additional information.
  • Celebrate your college acceptance letter and make plans for the next steps. Make sure you keep your grades and attendance up.
  • Review financial aid offers. If you don’t understand the letter sent to you from the college, call and ask ETS for help.
  • Decide on your final college choice by May 1. (Some schools have earlier deadlines.) Notify the other colleges that you won’t be coming. Send in your housing application and any required deposits, paying careful attention to deadlines.
  • Confirm your college choice by supplying ETS with a confirmation letter from the college.

Summer

  • Work and save money for college.
  • Contact your new roommate to plan what each of you might bring to your new college home.
  • Start planning and shopping if you’re moving into a dorm. Double-check with your college for what you’re allowed to bring.