Throughout your senior year, you will need to keep track of a series of steps, including

• registering for the appropriate tests: Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT) (click here for more information on these tests);
• submitting your applications for admission;
• comparing acceptance offers from schools;
• and finally, after you’ve accepted a school’s final offer, having your high school send your final transcripts to that school.

Don’t forget that the process of applying for financial assistance to help you pay the costs of attending your school of choice is separate. This process begins with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (Go to the “Funding” tab for more information.) You should complete your FAFSA as soon as you can after January 1 so you can get the results to the schools you are interested in attending in time to meet their state aid deadlines.

Below is a generic timeline to use as a guide as you progress through your senior year. Mark the key dates on your calendar so you can keep track of what you need to accomplish and when each task needs to be started and completed. Many schools have their own “timeline” or “important dates” information keyed more closely to the academic programs and financial assistance opportunities they offer. You can use this timeline, in conjunction with the school’s, to give yourself a more complete picture of the tasks you will need to accomplish.

• Meet with your guidance counselor as soon as you can to discuss your plans. Make sure you are on track to graduate and check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into the school(s) of your choice.
• Make sure that schools you’ve identified still meet your requirements. Change your list, if necessary.
• Contact those schools that have made your final cut to request information and applications for admission. Ask about admission requirements, application deadlines and any required fees, and financial aid. Ask if these schools will need official copies of your transcripts at the time you send in your application.
• Register for the October/November SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests.
• If you are planning to apply for Early Action or Early Decision (see the “Applying Early” section for details), you need to prepare and submit those applications now. Make sure you allow enough time to prepare any essays you will need to include in your application or to meet any audition or portfolio requirements.
• As you prepare these early applications, be sure to give any recommendation forms to appropriate teachers and counselors with stamped, college-addressed envelopes to be included with your application. Make sure your portions of the forms are filled out completely and accurately. Also, don’t forget to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the school(s) to which you are applying. Also, schedule any required school interviews.

• Take your SAT and/or ACT tests, and have the testing agency send the official scores to the schools on your final list. If necessary, register for the December or January SAT tests.

• You should begin preparing your applications for regular admission. These applications are usually due by the end of December or early January. As with the early admissions applications, be sure to give any appropriate recommendation forms to appropriate teachers and counselors with stamped, school-addressed envelopes to be included with your application. Make sure your portions of the forms are filled out completely and accurately. Request that your high school send your official transcripts to the school(s) to which you are applying. Also, schedule any required school interviews.
• Make sure you allow enough time to prepare any essays you will need to include in your application or to meet any audition or portfolio requirements.
• If you submitted early decision applications, contact the admissions offices at those schools to make sure they have everything they need from you.

• If you haven’t already done so, make sure your official SAT and ACT test scores are being sent to the schools to which you are applying.
• Schedule any remaining required interviews.
• If you have applied to any schools for an early decision, you will begin hearing from those schools during this month. When you decide which school you want to attend, you need to notify that school by letter of your commitment, submitting any required deposit check. Many schools require this notification letter to be postmarked as early as mid-January for early decision.

• Try to have your parent(s) complete their income tax forms so you can begin the process of applying for financial assistance. If your parent(s) have not completed the tax forms, you can provide estimated information, but remember that any inaccuracies will need to be corrected later.
• Between January 1 and February 15, 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. You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or on paper, but completing the application online is faster and easier. Don’t wait for acceptance offers from your schools before you apply.
• Contact the admissions office at any schools to which you submitted regular-decision applications to make sure these schools have everything they need from you.

• If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. Make any necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor, for example, you completed the FAFSA using estimated parents, tax information but now they have filed their IRS forms and the FAFSA must be updated.
• You should receive the results of your completed FAFSA. The schools you listed on your application will also receive those results. Review your results and make sure you make any necessary corrections.
• Complete your scholarship applications.

• Contact the financial aid office at the schools to which you have applied to make sure they have received the appropriate application material from you.

• You should hear from the schools to which you submitted regular decision applications.
• From those schools that accept you, compare your acceptance letters and your financial aid and scholarship offers.
• Make your acceptance choice. Find out what deposits you will be required to make to ensure your place in the freshman class.
• When you decide which school you want to attend, you need to notify that school by letter of your commitment, submitting any required deposit check. Many schools require this notification letter to be postmarked by May 1.

• Take the Advanced Placement exams for any AP subjects you’ve taken in high school.
• If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular school, and you decided to wait for an opening, contact that school and let them know you are still interested.

• Contact the school you will be attending to determine when fees for tuition, room, and board are due and how much they are.
• Have your high school send your final transcripts to the school you will be attending.

• During the summer before your freshman year, you should participate in any summer orientation program for incoming freshmen and make any necessary arrangements for any medical exams or health insurance coverage if you have not previously done so.