College Planning Calendar for Seniors

Pulling Your Applications Together

• Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 and review it with your counselor. Get an application and financial aid info from each. Visit as many as possible.
• Make a master calendar and note:
  • Test dates, fees, and deadlines
  • College application due dates
  • Required financial aid applications and their deadlines
  • Recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials
  • Your high school's deadlines for application requests, such as your transcript
• Ask for recommendations. Give each person your resume, a stamped, addressed envelope, and any required forms.
• Write application essays and ask teachers, parents, and friends to read first drafts.

Applying Early Action or Early Decision?

• November 1: For early admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications in early November. Send your SAT® scores at collegeboard.com.
• Ask if your college offers an early estimate of financial aid eligibility

Get Financial Aid Info

• Attend financial aid info events in your area.
• Talk to your counselor about CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® and learn about it with Completing the PROFILE.
• Use Scholarship Search at collegeboard.com, review scholarship books, and ask your counselor about local and state funding sources.