Your Senior Year Timeline

This is an exciting time in your life and could be the first time you’ve been involved in a sizable decision regarding your next chapter. What a great opportunity to reflect and take stock of how you have grown as a student and to note those who have helped you along the way. A bit of planning will minimize the stress and help you enjoy the journey of the year to come. Here’s what to expect.

All school year long work hard at your classes as grades could affect your admission to colleges and scholarship eligibility. Some admission decisions are provisional and could be rescinded if grades tank. Stay involved in extracurricular activities and look for leadership roles if possible.

August

Review and finalize your college list, look for balance with a range of schools and limit the number on your list to a manageable sum

Create a personal email address if you have not done so already

Select your application platform if needed such as The Common Application.

Create an account and review what your target colleges require for their applications

Probably none will require an ACT or SAT, if you do need to take a test, try to schedule it before October

Begin sketching out your essay

September

Connect with College Admissions Counselors

Check your high school’s college rep visitation schedule and attend these presentations

Plan college visits, be sure to select a local college to get a feel of a college campus. These usually require registering with the Admissions Office, are free, and tours are typically led by students who can give you an insider’s perspective. A campus tour may give you helpful insight into what you like, dislike, and what really matters to you.

Finalize your essay

Identify your letters of recommendation writers

Check in with your high school counselor and personal admissions advisor to be sure you are on track academically for graduation and for college applications

October and November

Make any decisions regarding Early Decision or Early Action

Create a Spreadsheet of the colleges you choose to apply to and due dates

Complete and submit applications

Create an FSA ID and submit the FAFSA

December through April

Explore individual school’s financial aid websites and look for scholarship opportunities

Search for scholarships outside of the schools you’ve applied to by looking on state and federal websites, checking with employers and clubs, watch for local merchant offerings, and use a national search engine

Monitor your application status by watching for emails from your desired colleges. Reply right away to requests for more information

Watch for financial aid and scholarship deadlines

Review admissions offers and financial aid packages offered by colleges and make your decision

May through August

Watch for Next Steps from your selected college including deposits, housing selection, orientation, class registration,

Get a summer job if possible to save money for school

Mark your calendar for move in day and other on-boarding tasks

Watch email

Get excited for the start of college!

– Ann Voorhees is founder of Ann Voorhees College Consulting

ann@annvoorhees.com