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| August • Review your high school coursework and activity plans. • Keep in mind that colleges look for the following: - challenging coursework - a strong GPA - involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteer work, or church. • Obtain a Social Security Number if you don't already have one. You will need it to apply for college and financial aid. • Sign up for Educaid's FREE monthly e-mail CollegeBound Newsletter at www.educaid.com. |
September • Identify sources of college and career information at your school. Start looking through guidance publications, college catalogs, and guidbooks. • Put together a list of 10 colleges that you would like to attend. Plan to apply to at least 3-5 schools. • Talk to your parents and your high school counselor about where you want to go to school. • Study and register for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). • Obtain dates and locations of college fairs and "parent nights" in your local area. |
October • Take the PSAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Remember to take you calculator. • Inquire about Advanced Placement (AP) or summer college courses that may be available to you. • Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights. |
| November • Start looking into eligibility requirements for federal and alternative student loans. A good source of FREE, up-to-date information on low-cost student loans is Educaid. Helpful customer service representatives at Educaid can be reached weekdays at 1-877-318-2368. • Call (800)4-FED-AID and ask for free copies of financial aid materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). |
December • Your PSAT/NMSQT score report should arrive. • Start planning to take the SAT I and/or SAT II exams, if necessary. You may also need to take the ACT. Check with the colleges you are appliying to and find out specific testing requirements. Ask your high school counselor about registration deadlines |
January • Go through the catalogs of the 3-5 schools that interest you the most. • During your college visits, make sure you meet with an admissions representative and a financial aid officer to find out what types of aid are available. • Attend financial aid nights, if you have not already done so. |
| February • Start seriously investigating private scholarships and other student aid programs. Ask your teachers and counselor if any locall organizations offer free use of a scholarship search program. • Go to www.scholarships.com to review scholarships available to you. • Register and study for the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams. |
March • Continue investigating outside funding sources. • Register and study for the SAT and/or the ACT exams, if you have not already done so. • For more information about financial aid and answers to your questions, visit Educaid's website at www.educaid.com |
April • Begin scheduling visits to each of the 3-5 schools that are on your final list. If appropriate, apply for an interview and/or an overnight visit. • Consider taking the Advanced Placement (AP) exams while information is fresh in your mind. • Take an SAT prep course to help prepare for the upcoming test. • Begin preparing essays for college admission and scholarship applications. |
| May • Take the SAT (I and II) and/or the ACT exams. • Take Advanced Placement (AP) exams which are given in high schools nationally in early to mid-May. • Be aware of the test dates and registration deadlines for the remaining SAT I and SAT II exams. You may take them during your senior year in high school. • Continue compiling information to find out which organizations award scholarships to graduating seniors. (You may have to begin applying the summer after your Junior year.) |
June • Take the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams if you did not take them last month. • Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer. This will help you to prepare for the SAT, if you plan to take it in the fall. • Obtain a summer job that might be related to your career interests. • If possible, save some money from you summer job to pay for college costs. • If you travel this summer, consider scheduling a college visit. • Important numbers: -Educaid: 1-877-318-2368 www.educaid.com |
| August • Review your career plans and decide which type of school is right for you. • Visit some college campuses. • Narrow your college list to 3-5 schools. • Request catalogs and admissions information. • Contact your high school counselor for registration materials and test dates for the SAT and/or the ACT. • Sign up for Educaid's free email CollegeBound Newsletter at www.educaid.com. • Go to www.scholarships.com to review scholarships available to you. |
September • Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting your school. • Make a list of test names, dates, fees, registration deadlines, and of deadlines for college admissions and financial aid applications. • Remember that you must take tests like the SAT and ACT at least six weeks before the deadline for scores to be submitted to colleges. • Begin asking teachers, guidance counselors, and employers for letters of recommendation to include with your admissions and/or scholarship applications. |
October • Take the SAT or ACT exam, if necessary. •Work on admissions application essays. • Visit your top school choices. Interview some students, faculty, and staff. • Attend special programs such as college fairs and financial aid nights. • Find out which financial aid applications your college choices require and when the forms are due. • Some private universities may require that you register for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE at this time. (This determines your qualification for private school aid.) |
| November • Take the SAT or ACT exam, if necessary. • Obtain financial aid applications from your guidance office or college of choice. Read them carefully to determine what information is required and when the applications are due. • Begin preparing your college applications. Check with the colleges to find out when materials must be postmarked. |
December • Pick up a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at your high school counseling office or your local library. Begin working on it. DO NOT SUBMIT IT BEFORE JANUARY 1. • Apply for outside funding or scholarships. • PARENTS: Save your year-end payroll stub if it shows your earnings for the year. You may need it for financial aid eligibility reviews by schools. |
January • Submit your completed Free Application for Federal Studen Aid (FAFSA) to the processor as soon after January 1 as possible. • KEEP COPIES OF ALL FORMS YOU SUBMIT. • January is Financial Aid Awareness Month. Look for special programs in your area. (In some states) • PARENTS: It's helpful to get your income tax returns prepared early--schools may request them to prove eligibility for financial aid. |
| February • Check to see if your mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools to which you have applied. • Mail your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), if you have not already done so. • Research taking Advanced Placement (AP) or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. • Rank your finalized list of colleges. • February is Financial Awareness Month. Look for some special programs in your area. (In some states) |
March • Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. Your SAR contains federal financial aid information. • Submit SAR and tax forms to the financial aid office if requested. Contact each office to make certain that your application is complete. Find out what else you need to do to extablish and maintain your eligibility for financial aid. • Keep copies of all forms you submit to the financial aid office. • If you have not recieved your Student Aid Report four weeks after sending in your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (319) 337-5665. |
April • Watch the mail for college acceptance and financial aid award letters. Compare the financial aid awards you recieve. • Make your final decision and send in a deposit by the deadline. • Check with the college you've chosen about the details of signing and returning financial aid award letters. • Notify the other schools that you will not be attending. • Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college (housing, financial aid, etc.) |
| May • Take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations that are given in high schools nationwide. • If you need and are eligible for a student or parent loan, call Educaid at 1-877-318-2368 for a loan application. • Finalize summer school or summer job plans. |
June • Other: • Important numbers: -Educaid: 1-877-318-2368 www.educaid.com |
