Senior Year Planning Guide

College and Career Readiness Milestones

Senior year includes critical academic deadlines and important postsecondary decisions. This page outlines a monthly roadmap for students and guidance for families to support a successful transition beyond high school.

Important Reminder:
FAFSA opens in October. Early submission increases eligibility for certain state and institutional aid programs.

Students

Senior year requires focus, organization and timely action. The timeline below highlights essential milestones to complete graduation requirements, meet application deadlines and prepare for life after high school.

Ongoing Responsibilities

I’ve gotten this far- so I won’t let deadlines trip me up now!
When I turn 18, I will register to vote; and if I am male, I will register for the Selective Service. Registering for the draft at 18 is required on FAFSA and there is no financial aid without FAFSA.
If any of my scholarship or college applications require letters of recommendation, I will request those AT LEAST two weeks in advance. The sooner, the better! It is courteous and very helpful to supply a resume to the person whom you are asking to write your letter. Also, it is good form to write a sincere, personal thank you note to anyone who does write a letter on your behalf.
I will continuously check sites for scholarship opportunities, both local and beyond. Applications open throughout the year, so exhaust all resources, including the district website, employers, civic organizations, and national sites like www.fastweb.com and www.cappex.com
If I am in a CTE pathway that includes an opportunity for certification or licensure, I will be sure I am doing all I can to be prepared and set aside funds for my out of pocket expenses. Those certifications make me employable!
If I am a student-athlete and plan to play sports in college, I will register for NCAA eligibility at http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp

September

I will meet with my counselor and make sure that I am on track for graduation.
I will prepare myself for any EOC’s that I may not have passed. I will take them in December.
I will create a master list or calendar with application fees and deadlines, test dates, and my school’s application processing deadlines.
I will check to see if any college-specific admission tests, auditions, or portfolio submissions are required. If so, I will collect all needed materials or make needed appointments.
I will attend a financial aid workshop presented by the school district, and any other applicable college and career presentations this year.
If I am interested in attending a military academy, I will pay careful attention to deadlines and requirements.
I will finalize my resume and ask a teacher or counselor to review it.
I will request official transcripts early – sometimes they take time to run.
I will make visits to 2 of my top 4 colleges.
I will check with my counselors to see if I am eligible to receive fee waivers for applications and tests.
I will register for a college entrance exam, such as the SAT (www.collegeboard.com) or ACT (www.actstudent.org) if I haven’t yet taken them, or if I need to raise my score.

October

I will finalize my college choices. I will submit all applications by November 1, or by specific deadlines for the colleges to which I am applying.
If I have not already done so, I will finalize my college application essays.
I will meet with my counselor and check my GPA and class rank.
I will prepare early decision, early action, or rolling admission applications.
I will complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE only if it is required by any of my selected colleges.
I will register for any tests that are required or recommended by the colleges on my list and have my score reports sent to my selected colleges.
I will submit my FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) with my parent's help. (The FAFSA opens October 1!) (Encourage your parents or guardians to file income tax returns early. Some colleges want copies of your family’s returns before finalizing financial aid offers.)

November

I will make sure not to miss early decision application deadlines – many of them are in November.
I will complete my application essays using my practice essays as skeletons for this process. Be sure to proofread them for mistakes.
I will contact financial aid and check out work-study opportunities that may be available next fall.
If interested, I will ask about ROTC programs on campus.
I will follow my school’s procedure or ask my counselor and have transcripts sent to the colleges.
If required, I will give my counselor the proper forms for recommendations, etc. at least two weeks before colleges require them.
I will take any necessary tests and have scores reported to my college choices.

December

I will meet with my parents and counselor and check on my senior year plan; making sure that I am on track.
I will check to ensure I do not owe any fines (technology, textbooks, etc.) to the school, which, if not paid, will hold up transcripts and record requests.
I will go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and get user names for both myself and my parents. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS INFORMATION IN A SAFE PLACE AS YOU WILL NEED IT ANNUALLY TO UPDATE FAFSA.
I will enjoy my Winter Break.

January and February

March and April

I will continue to apply for scholarships and grants, keeping a close eye on deadlines!
I will stay active in school. If I am wait-list, the college will want to know what I have accomplished since I applied.
I will expect to receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April. Make sure that you have visited the college before accepting. I will remember to compare the net cost, not the “sticker price” of a school.
I will tell my counselor which college I will be attending. I will also notify the other colleges that I have applied to and let them know of my choice by May 1.
I will contact the college I will be attending to answer any questions that I may have about housing.
I will prepare AND REGISTER for any AP exams I plan on taking. If I haven’t already done so, I will set up an account at https://apcollegeboard.org so that I can find out my results and check what my college will be accepting for exams that I receive a 3, 4 or 5 on.

May and June

I will inform all colleges to which I applied for my admission and financial aid decision by May 1.
If I have decided not to attend a school which has offered me admission, I will notify that school of my intention to enroll elsewhere. This will free up my spot for someone else waiting on an answer.
I will send a deposit to only one college. I will make sure I check to see if there is also a deposit for housing necessary.
I will work with my counselor to resolve any admission or financial aid problems.
I will ask my high school counselor to send a final transcript to my chosen college.
I will take any AP exam that may earn me advanced placement, college credit or both.
I will consider financial aid offers and ask the financial aid office at the college I’ve chosen to see if any additional aid is available. If I need help, I will take my award letter to my counselor for help in interpreting it.
I will register for any needed college summer camps, such as ROTC, sports, band, and Freshman Orientation.
Prepare for your college freshman year! Congratulate yourself for all your hard work.

Family Support for Senior Year

A successful senior year requires planning, communication and partnership. Families help reinforce expectations, monitor progress and support postsecondary decisions. The sections below outline meaningful ways to stay engaged throughout the year.

Support and Encouragement

Encourage participation in school events and postsecondary planning activities.
Attend financial aid information nights and other campus events.
Meet with teachers and counselors to discuss academic progress and postsecondary plans.
Help identify job-shadowing or volunteer opportunities aligned to career interests.
Promote strong attendance and timely communication regarding absences.

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