Senior Year College Planning Calendar

Download the Senior Year College Information Calendar (pdf, 67.24KB)

September

·       Continue to take a full course load of challenging, college-prep courses and keep working hard into order to earn the best grades possible.

·       Continue your extracurricular involvement!

·       Meet with your College Counselor to discuss whether you need to take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests or ACT in the fall.

·       Take the ACT, if necessary.

·       Talk to your counselor, teachers, and parents- and finalize your college list.

·       Collect applications from your colleges/universities by visiting their websites, contacting the schools via telephone or email, or pulling extra applications from the school’s file in the guidance hallway.

·       Make sure you have an appropriate e-mail address for communications with colleges!!!

·       Check the upcoming college visit lists which are posted in the guidance hallway & GAC, and read the scrolling announcements for the dates and times that these college representatives will visit our school.  Attendance at these meetings is important!!  Ask Questions!

·       Make copies of EVERYTHING.

·       Label a folder for each college and make a calendar showing application deadlines for admission, financial aid, and scholarships.

·       Teacher Recommendations.  Many private colleges require letters of recommendations from teachers and your counselor. Ask 2-3 core academic course teachers who know you well if they will write you a positive academic recommendation. Provide them with the appropriate form (available in the guidance hallway) and ask your teachers to turn in the completed letters to your college counselor. Make sure you allow your teacher(s) to have plenty of time and provide them with your deadlines as well!

·       Counselor Recommendations. If you need a counselor recommendation or a secondary school report, make sure you check in with your college counselor! You will need to turn in the Counselor Recommendation Questionnaire (available in the guidance hallway) and meet with your counselor multiple times. Please notify your college counselor at least 2 weeks before your application is due in order to allow her sufficient time to write the glowing recommendation that you deserve! J

·       Encourage your parents to attend the Senior Coffee on Monday, September 13^th. Then, join your parents in attending College Speaker Night on Monday, September 27^th.

 

October 

·       Make sure you have secured teacher & counselor recommendations. Follow up with your references as necessary (but do not harass them!!)

·       After conferring with your counselor, request that the testing agency send your official test scores to the colleges to which you are applying.

·       Take the ACT, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests if necessary.

·       Finalize your essays and applications. Have another person proof everything. Continue to make copies!

·       Attend the National College Fair at Saint Louis University on Sunday, October 17^th and College Night at Meramec on Monday, October 18^th.

·       Mail college applications for Early Decision admission and Early Action BEFORE the November 1 or the November 15 deadline.

November

·       If applying on-line, make sure your counselor receives all the necessary secondary report materials to include with your transcript.   

·       Continue to submit applications as needed. Make sure to observe ALL application and scholarship deadlines. 

·       Keep your grades up – colleges will look carefully at your 7^th semester grades!

·       Take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, if necessary.

·       Register for the December ACT if advised by your counselor.

 

December

·       Be sure to submit applications with January 1 deadlines at the beginning of December in order to allow time for processing in the midst of winter break.

·       Register for your FAFSA PIN number.  Your FAFSA information cannot be submitted until after January 1^st, but you and your parent will need PIN numbers to complete the on-line form.  www.fafsa.ed.gov

 

January-March

·       Submit the FAFSA (FREE Application for Federal Student Aid) and any additional financial aid forms requested by the colleges.  DO THIS ASAP!!!

·       Complete and submit all applications still not sent.

·       Follow up and check to make sure that colleges received all of your application information, including recommendations and test scores. 

·       Re-visit colleges if you are still trying to make your college decision. Many schools sponsor admitted student events during this time of the year & into April.

·       Maintain contact with your admissions rep at each college/ university. Demonstrate that you are truly interested in their school!

 

April-May

·       Notification of decisions by colleges under regular decision guidelines usually occurs between March 15 and April 15.

·       Notification of financial aid packages from colleges and universities to which you have been accepted are typically mailed out during this period of time.

·       Compare financial aid packages.

·       It may help to make up a chart of the +/- of each school. Discuss with your family, or your college counselor, or both!

·       Make your final choice and NOTIFY your school by May 1^st.  Send a deposit to your chosen school.   Failure to do this may result in a revocation of your spot and/or financial aid package. Notify all of your schools of your final decision. This may open up a spot in the freshman class for someone who is on the waitlist!

·       Inform the Guidance Office of your final decision so your official final transcript will be sent. You must complete and return your senior survey (including your signature!) in order for your transcript to be released.

·       KEEP YOUR SECOND SEMESTER GRADES UP – Colleges have the right to withdraw an acceptance offer based on your final semester grades and YES, they do exercise this option!!