Senior Year is a busy and extremely important time in the college admissions process. This is your last chance to get the ACT5 and SAT scores you need6, and senior year is when you have to narrow down your college options to the handful of schools to which you'll apply. You'll need to get your college essay up to snuff, line up your letters of recommendation, and apply for financial aid. During the application process, you'll need to keep active in extracurricular activities and maintain high grades.
August before Senior Year
· Register for the September ACT if appropriate (check ACT dates7).
· Come up with a preliminary list of colleges that includes reach8, match9 and safety10 schools.
· Explore the websites of the colleges that interest you to learn about admissions requirements.
· Check your senior year class schedule to make sure you're taking the English, Math11, Social Science, Science, and Foreign Language12 classes you'll need for your top-choice colleges.
· Look over the Common Application13 and begin thinking about potential topics for your personal essay14.
· Visit campuses15 and interview16 with college representatives if appropriate.
September
· Register for October or November SAT I and SAT II exams (check SAT dates17).
· Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss the colleges to which you're thinking of applying.
· Request letters of recommendation18, especially if you are applying early.
· Continue to visit campuses and interview with college admissions representatives.
· Request applications from all the schools to which you might apply.
· Create a chart of deadlines. Pay particular attention to early decision, early action, and preferred application deadlines.
· If appropriate, register for the October ACT exam.
· Work on your college essays19.
· Try to assume a leadership position in an extracurricular activity.
· Keep your grades up.
October
· Take the SAT I, SAT II and/or ACT as appropriate.
· Continue to research schools to narrow your list20 to roughly 6 - 8 schools.
· Take advantage of college fairs and virtual tours.
· Complete your applications if you are applying early decision.
· Research financial aid and scholarships. Do your parents' places of employment offer college scholarships for employee children?
· Get your college essay in shape. Get feedback on your writing from a guidance counselor
November
· Register for the December SAT or ACT if appropriate.
· Take the November SAT if appropriate.
· Don't let your grades slide. It's easy to be distracted from school work when working on applications. Senior slump can be disastrous for your admissions chances.
· Make sure you've submitted all components of your applications if you are applying to colleges with November deadlines for early decision or preferred application.
· Put the final touches on your application essays, and get feedback on your essays from counselors and/or teachers.
· Continue to research scholarships.
December - January
· Complete your applications for regular admissions.
· Make sure you've had your test scores sent to all colleges that require them.
· Confirm that your letters of recommendation have been sent.
· Submit the FAFSA21 (Free Application for Financial Aid).
· If you are accepted to a school through early decision, be sure to follow directions carefully. Submit required forms, and notify the other schools to which you applied of your decision.
· Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular involvement.
· Have midyear grades sent to colleges.
· Continue to keep track of all deadlines and application components.
· Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships well in advance of deadlines.
***For more information see www.About.com/college admissions****
