Freshmen:

• Take challenging classes in core academic courses. Talk to an advisor or school counselor about taking honors courses.

• Work with their school counselor to create a yearly schedule for meeting graduation requirements.

• Get involved with community-based and leadership-oriented activities.

• Explore and identify career fields of interest through online research and by attending career fairs and other events.

• Keep a running list of accomplishments, awards, and recognitions to use in preparing a resume and college applications

Sophomores:

• Attend college and career information events.

• Research funding for college, including scholarships, grants, loans, etc.

• Reach out to mentors in the fields of interest.

• Continue exploring college and career options.

• Consider taking a practice test to prepare for the PSAT.

• Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).

Juniors-Fall Semester:

• Take the PSAT. Students must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for National Merit scholarships and programs.

• Attend in-person or online college fairs and college-prep presentations.

• Explore careers and their earning potentials in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Juniors-Spring Semester:

• Register for college admission exams such as the SAT and ACT; take practice tests to prepare before the big day.

• Research ways to pay for college.

• Identify scholarship opportunities to pursue; note deadlines on calendar.

• Contact colleges to request information and applications.

During the summer, soon-to-be seniors should:

• Start college visits.

• Narrow down the colleges being considered.

• Make decisions regarding early decision or early action programs.

• Enter and/or update information in the FAFSA4caster.​

Seniors-Fall Semester:

• Register for and take (or retake) the SAT and/or ACT, if not already done.

• Complete and submit college applications prior to deadlines.

• Complete and submit scholarship applications prior to deadlines.

• Request transcripts and letters of recommendation.

• As soon as possible after Oct. 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require.  After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor

• Meet with a counselor to verify that graduation requirements will be met on schedule.

Seniors-Winter/Spring Semester

• Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

• Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.

• Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.

• When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.