| |
Have your student write an early
draft of a college and/or scholarship application essay
over the summer or early in the fall. Students
will need time to refine their college essays. Suggest
that others critique the initial draft. |
| |
Continue a solid, college prep
curriculum. Your student’s senior year
schedule and performance will be important in college
admission decisions. |
| |
Register for and take the fall ACT
and/or SAT and Subject Tests
(if needed). Click here for more information or
to register for the SAT I and II tests. Click
here for more information or to register
for the ACT test. |
|
Utilize free test preparation
resources available online and elsewhere. The
SAT and ACT web sites offer free practice tests (see
links at bottom) as do web sites that focus specifically
on college entrance exam test prep including www.number2.com and www.testprepreview.com. |
| |
Continue college visits; narrow
down college options. Make sure your student
takes advantage of overnight visits at the colleges s/he
is seriously considering whenever possible. |
| |
Complete and mail college and scholarship
applications paying close attention to deadlines.
Be aware of special admission options such as Early
Decision and Early
Action. |
| |
Make sure your student applies
to at least one college to which s/he has a very good
chance of being admitted. |
| |
Register with the NCAA
Clearinghouse if your student plans to play
sports at a Division I or II college (if s/he
hasn’t done so already). |
| |
Take SAT
and Subject Tests(if
needed). |
| |
In January/February, attend the
financial aid meeting at your student’s high school
or College Goal Sunday at a nearby site to get help completing
the FAFSA.
Click
here for more information on College
Goal Sunday. |
| |
Mail/submit the FAFSA
as soon as possible after January 1 (and before March
10 in Indiana). Get a certificate of mailing if sent by
U.S. mail or file online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Submit any other financial aid forms required by the college(s)
your student may attend
and check to be sure the colleges your student is still seriously considering do not have earlier dates by which any of the financial aid-related forms must be filed. Click here for more information on the financial aid process. |
| |
Review the Student Aid Report (SAR)
& financial
aid packages from the colleges your student
applied to (after submitting FAFSA). |
| |
Make overnight visits to final
college choices. |
|
Submit the enrollment deposit to
the college your student plans to attend by May 1 (National
Candidate Reply Date) OR other date as designated by the
college if your student has not done so already. |
|
|
Register for and complete AP tests for any AP courses your student is taking (May). |
|
Make final preparations for your
student’s first semester. File any necessary
loan paperwork, housing information, etc. that may be
required. |
|
Attend the on-campus orientation/registration
sessions offered to students and parents at the college
your student will to attend. |
|
Continue to save for college. Every family will have to contribute something toward the cost of attending college. Although the college years may not be far off, remember that anything you can put away now will be welcomed assistance when the time comes. Early and consistent savings are the keys to savings growth. Click here for more information on how savings can affect financial aid. |
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