College Planning Checklist - Senior Year

An extended version of this list is available on the CollegePrep-101 web site.  Items listed include suggestions for each part of the school year, as well as things to do during the summer before college. 

Senior Year Checklist

General Stuff
  • Visit the College Answer Guy (www.collegeanswerguy.com) and CollegePrep-101 (www.collegeprep101.com) web sites.
  • Continue to challenge yourself and take solid elective courses (don’t take a blow-off schedule, fight senioritis).
  • Attend college fairs in your area.
  • Visit college campuses, visit many, visit often.  Attend events at the colleges you are interested in.
  • Talk to people whose opinions you respect about the schools you are considering
  • Go stay with friends who are in college. Find out what they like and dislike.
  • Explore careers and job opportunities in those careers.  Talk to your parents and your friends’ parents about what they do.
  • Talk to your friends about what they plan to do after high school. 
Early Fall
  • Sit down with everyone who has a stake in your college decision and solicit their input. Listen to what everyone has to say.
  • Line up people to write letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to write the letter(s).
  • Borrow scholarship information (contact names, addresses, applications, etc.) from someone a year older than you who received several scholarships and/or had the same major as you, or someone with comparable involvements and activities.
  • Take the ACT/SAT in September/October (repeat as necessary or desired).
Mid-Fall
  • Talk to your high school counselor about local scholarships and get the applications.
  • Keep checking back periodically throughout the year for information on the latest scholarships, but don't drive them nuts!
  • Apply for scholarships before Christmas break if application deadline isn’t earlier. (verify the arrival of your application, transcripts, etc.).
Spring
  • Attend a financial aid workshop with your parents and apply for financial aid as soon after Jan. 1 as possible.
  • Take CLEP/AP Tests (if applicable)
  • Apply for housing as soon as you choose a school
Summer before college
  • Enroll as early as you possibly can.
  • Work with your parents on a financial plan or budget. Where will your money come from? Who pays for what? How/When to ask for more? What constitutes an emergency? Consider a credit card – really!  Just for emergencies, though.
  • Make sure to take a tour of YOUR classes before school starts so you won't get lost or look foolish on the first day of class.
  • Call and figure out if your dorm bedding will be standard twin or twin xl (extra long twin beds and bedding) - most campus housing uses xl twin beds, so you'll need to buy accordingly.

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