top of page
Your No-Nonsense Stop For College Information

Grade Level Spring/Summer Timelines
With Help From College Board, Fastweb.com, & NACAC

senior.jpg
senior.jpg
senior.jpg

Spring/Summer Tasks for Seniors: 

​

March & April

  • Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail

  • Submit SAR and tax forms to the financial aid office

  • If you have not received your Student Aid Report four weeks after sending in your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center

  • Be on the lookout for scholarship award letters

  • Watch the mail for college acceptance letters and financial aid award letters

  • Evaluate your options and make your final college selection

  • Send in your deposit to the college

  • Notify the other schools that you will not be attending

  • Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college (housing, financial aid, etc.)

  • Consider summer job opportunities

May

  • Review financial aid information; decline offers from the schools you are not attending

  • Clear senior obligations with the School Counselor

  • Notify counselor of any awards and scholarships

  • Send out graduation announcements to family and friends

  • Begin studying for final exams

  • Finalize summer job plans

June

  • Graduation!

  • Write thank you notes for any scholarships you received or for any graduation gift

July/August

  • Check the mail for packets from the college regarding registration for classes, campus events, and Freshmen Orientation

  • Buy the things you need for college gradually over the summer; avoid last minute, expensive buying decisions Pack for college

  • Do not miss your Freshmen Orientation dates

  • Begin your first semester of college

junior.jpg
junior.jpg

Spring/Summer Tasks For Juniors: 

Spring

  • Contact your counselor before leaving school for the summer if you are considering military academies or ROTC scholarships. If you want a four-year ROTC scholarship, you should begin the application process the summer before your senior year. 

  • Develop a list of 15 or 20 colleges that are of interest to you. You can find many colleges at which you’ll be happy and get a great education. The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges that will meet your goals. 

junior.jpg
juniors.jpg

  • Stay open to all the possibilities—don’t limit your search. To find the best college for you, you should apply to colleges of varying selectivity. Selective colleges admit a portion of students who apply. Some colleges are highly selective while others are less selective. Make sure to apply to public, private, in-state, and out-of-state schools so that you have plenty of options from which to choose. 

  • Take the SAT. The test is typically offered in March, May, and June. Make sure you start preparing for the test several months in advance using the tools available at satpractice.org. And remember, if you’re not happy with your scores when you get them, you might want to test again in the fall. Many students take the test a second time as seniors, and they usually do better. 

  • Start to gather documents for financial aid: Be sure to keep a copy of your tax returns handy. You’ll use these to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens on Oct. 1. 

Summer

  • Register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center if you are an athlete planning to continue playing a sport in college (ncaaclearinghouse.net).

  • Get your FSA ID: Before you can fill out your FAFSA, you need to get a username and password (also known as an FSA ID).

  • Find a full-time or part-time job, or participate in a summer camp or summer college program. ¨

  • Visit colleges. When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college. While you’re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors, and students. Take campus tours and, at colleges you’re serious about, make appointments to have interviews with admission counselors.

  • Create a résumé—a record of your academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and work experiences since you started high school. 

  • Download applications. Go to the website of each college’s admission office and either complete the application online or request a paper application from colleges to which you’ll apply. Check application  dates—large universities may have early dates or rolling admission.

  • Visit some local colleges—large, small, public, and private. A visit to a college campus can help you decide if that college is right for you. Make a plan ahead of time to get the most from your visit. Check out the campus checklist at bigfuture.org. Attend college fairs, too.

  • Scan local newspapers to see which civic, cultural, and service organizations in your area award financial aid to graduating seniors. Start a file. 

bottom of page