Staying on top of the college process is key to your success. Here is a month-by-month listing of what you need to do. Please stay current and communicate with us.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
❑ Complete the Common App, Coalition App, or Specific College Apps. Make sure that we see your essays before they are added.
❑ Check Naviance or your school’s program and sign up for college visits at your school. They are your representatives for their college and are available to help you. Know your college representatives they are the ones who understand your school, and the schools in your area and they are often the first to read your applications.
❑ Decide if you will apply Early Decision to your top choice school. You need to meet all deadlines and understand the commitment of ED. Your parent and guidance counselor must sign off on the Early Decision application. One per student only!
❑ Determine if you will apply Early Action or Regular Decision to the schools on your list.
❑ Remind your counselor and recommenders when you need letters written. They need at least three weeks’ notice.
❑ Look at the fall calendar — plan final campus visits/interviews where you can. Don’t panic you have until May 1st to look at the schools and decide, but some schools want to see that you “demonstrate interest”.
❑ Check your social media- it represents you and some colleges look at it to see what kind of student you will be on their campus.
❑ Request interviews at colleges that you are interested in, where available. These are less prevalent than in the past.
OCTOBER
❑ ED and EA candidates prepare to submit applications by the deadline, Oct. 15th, Nov. 1st, or 15th!
❑ Attend local college fairs (if offered) and college visits at your high school. Connect with the people who will be reading your application.
❑ Check Naviance or your school’s program to follow up with recommenders to confirm they have written their letters.
❑ Fill out the FAFSA and CSS Profile (when requested) to see if you qualify for need-based financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE (required by many private schools and a few flagship state universities) may help you get money toward college. Your SAI (student aid index) is the essential number in determining financial need.
❑ Take advantage of priority deadlines — get your application considered sooner and increase eligibility for merit aid.
❑ Use our CounselMore App Tracker to stay on top of what’s due. Plan to submit applications 1 week before the due dates and all before winter vacation!
❑ Confirm that counselor and teacher recommendation letters have been uploaded into Naviance and request transcripts be sent to the schools you’re applying to (there may be a small fee for each transcript).
❑ Decide which test scores (SAT, ACT) to send and order score reports.
NOVEMBER
❑ Continue to “demonstrate interest” in schools — open emails from colleges, call the admission office to request an alumni interview, etc.
❑ Make sure all essays are reviewed by us before they are sent to colleges. The deadline to have all drafts in is Thanksgiving.
❑ Check all of your application portals for the schools where you have applied. Follow up with colleges to make sure all application materials were received.
DECEMBER
❑ Note financial aid application deadlines, which may differ from admission application deadlines. Check to see if additional information or applications are required for MERIT AID.
❑ Proof any remaining REGULAR DECISION applications one final time and “submit”!
❑ Let us know where you get in!!!!!!
JANUARY
❑ Send mid-year grade reports to all schools where you’ve applied.
FEBRUARY
❑ Beware of Senioritis…stay on track academically!
❑ Begin planning for summer (work, travel, volunteering, etc.).
MARCH
❑ Decisions arrive in the mail and/or online by the end of the month. We suggest you open your portals and your offer letters in private.
❑ Celebrate!
APRIL
❑ Attend “admitted student” events on campus and compare/contrast other aspects of the schools where you were accepted (including financial aid awards).
❑ If you were waitlisted, express interest to the school. We will help guide you.
❑ Send a deposit by May 1st to accept a spot at the college of your choice!
❑ Continue to do your work in class and prep for your AP tests.
❑ Start planning the graduation party!
MAY
❑ Thank teachers, counselors, and coaches who helped you apply to college. A written note is the best and most respectful way to do this.
❑ Open and respond promptly to communications from the college — information about housing, orientation, course registration, etc.
❑ Solidify summer plans (work? travel? study? volunteer?).
❑ Connect with future classmates (and perhaps find a roommate) through the college’s official social media sites.
❑ Enjoy time with your friends and family and bask in the glow of your accomplishments at graduation!