College Planning Checklist
Freshman
- Meet with your guidance counselor to plan college prep courses for high school.
- Learn about college acceptance.
- Set academic goals.
- Become involved in extracurricular activities; seek leadership roles whenever you can.
- Discuss how to pay for your college with your parents.
- Start gathering information on career fields that interest you.
Sophomore
- Register for PSAT/NMSQT and/or PLAN.
- Make a list of features you want in college.
- Start searching the Internet for schools that interest you.
- Examine college information resources in guidance and media center.
- Start making a list of schools to examine more carefully.
- Contact admissions offices and ask for brochures and information.
- Take PLAN to prepare for ACT (Oct-Dec).
- Take PSAT/NMSQT to prepare for SAT (Oct).
May and June
Meet with guidance counselor; pre-register for challenging college prep courses.
June, July and August
- Study for PSAT/NMSQT
- Consider a summer job or volunteer experience in your field of interest.
- For aptitude testing, see your guidance counselor to set up an appointment to take the ASVAB.
- The most widely used multiple aptitude battery of tests in the world, it assesses academic ability and predicts success in a variety of military and civilian occupations.
Junior
September-October
- Attend college fairs.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship.
November
- Refine your list of schools; eliminate the ones that do not meet your criteria.
- Request catalogs for schools remaining on your list.
- Compare and contrast admission policies, academic programs and placement opportunities for each school.
December
- Examine PSAT/NMSQT results to determine areas that need improvement.
- Discuss PSAT/NMSQT scores with your guidance counselor and your parents.
- Consider taking SAT prep courses to improve your scores.
- Explore career fields of interest and research what type of training is required. Talk to people in your fields of interest.
- Ask your counselor what schools offer the best programs for your areas of interest.
January-February
- Continue narrowing the number of schools in your file.
- Talk to your counselor and gather information on the application process
March
- Start preparing for Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
- Register to take the SAT or ACT. (Taking them early will allow you time to retake them .)
- Explore early decision options with your counselor.
April
- Take the SAT and/or ACT or register for May tests.
May
- Final opportunity to take required tests for those applying early decision.
June
- Make arrangements for campus tours.
- Review test results and determine if you should take them again in the fall.
July
- Start visiting colleges or universities that interest you.
- Consider a summer job or volunteer experience in your area of interest.
- Study for the SAT or ACT. Consider taking a test preparation course, online tutorial, or self-help books.
- Finalize your list of 6-10 favorite colleges or universities.
August
- Determine how you will meet costs at selected schools, i.e. through parent, on your own, school, or other resources.
- Note all admission deadlines.
- Continue to visit schools that interest you. Arrange for interviews while on campus or with assigned alumnus at home.
- Start filling out admission applications.
- Develop a resume.
- Obtain a Social Security Number if you don't have one.
Senior
- Expect to receive letters of acceptance or non-acceptance.
- Review all acceptance packages carefully.
- Make final visits to schools that have sent acceptance letters to make final decision.
- Select the school you plan to attend and send a deposit by specified deadline.
- Notify schools of you decision.
- Send thank you notes to those who wrote recommendations.
- Register for/take advanced placement tests.
- Register to take or retake SAT and/or ACT.
- Request that official test scores be sent to schools where you are applying.
- Meet the college representatives.
- Check dates and locations of college fairs and parents nights in your area.
- Send thank you notes to each college representative who spends time with you.
- Decide which teachers and other people you would like to write letters of recommendation.
- Fill out Senior Information Profile for those writing recommendations.
September-October-November
- Take or retake SAT and/or ACT.
- Make a final list of your six top college choices.
- Attend college fairs.
- Finalize application packets.
- Send early decision and early action applications.
- Request high school forward official copies of transcript and counselor recommendation to schools where you applied.
- Promptly respond to any request from admissions officers.
December
- Submit admission applications.
January
- Request transcripts of first semester grades be sent to select colleges/universities.
- Apply for outside scholarships.
February
- Verify that schools have received all application materials.
- See if mid-year transcripts have been sent.
- Mail FAFSA.
March
- Register and start studying for advanced placement tests.
- Look for Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail and submit to financial aid office.
- Contact ARNG recruiter for ROTC scholarship information.
April-May-June
- Take any remaining Advanced Placement (AP) tests.
- Request that your final transcript be sent to the college you have selected.
July-August
- Finalize your college budget.
- Note deadlines for tuition and room and board payments.
- Apply for student loans if necessary.
- Attend freshman orientation.
Resources and Files
Click here to download and print the College Planning Guide Checklist (pdf)
Click here for a Resume Template
Click here for a Senior Year Resource Guide
Click here for a Letter of Recommendation Form
Click here for a College Application Tracker
Click here for the Financial Aid Powerpoint