AHS Guidance Department

Senior Year College Planning Timeline

  September

• Plan to work really hard this term.  Many colleges request your first and second quarter grades.

• If necessary, register to retake the SAT or ACT.

• Listen to announcements to find out what colleges are visiting.  If you are interested see your guidance counselor for a pass. 

• Review your final list of colleges and start gathering applications.

• Thinking about applying early?  You need to decide soon.

• Once you receive your applications, begin working on the essays, write, re-write, and re-write.

• Ask teachers and counselors to write letters of recommendation for you.  Ask early some teachers will be bombarded with many students.  You want to give them time to write a good recommendation.

October

• Talk with your counselor about application deadlines.  Plan out your own personal calendar of each school's deadline and when you will get each part of the application done.

• Mail early-action or early-decision applications.

• Request that your transcripts and test results be sent to colleges.

November

• If you want to take the SAT or ACT test again, sign up now.  The December exam might be your last chance.

• Research scholarships

• Use Thanksgiving break to finish up filling out your applications

December

• Mail applications, or turn them in to your counselor.

• Attend Financial Aid Night.

• Begin working with you parents on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.  Apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or get the forms from your guidance counselor.

January

• File all federal financial-aid forms, and apply for state aid. 

• Begin checking the Guidance Office weekly to check for Local Scholarships.

February

• Check with schools to make sure they have all your application documentation.

• Ask your guidance counselor to send out you mid-year grades.

March

• Continue to look for sources of financial aid.  Try your place or worship, your parents' employers, the guidance office, and free websites like www.fastweb.com

April

• By now you should have most of your decision letters.  If you have been wait-listed by a top-choice college, contact the admissions office and show your continued interest. 

• Evaluate your financial aid offers.  At most colleges you will have to make a deposit by May 1.

May

• You'll start receiving registration and orientation materials this month.  Read them carefully and send them back to the college

June

• GRADUATION!

• Have your counselor send your final transcript to your college

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!

Return to Guidance Homepage