• List serious college options - around 10
• Receive Applications - note deadlines and requirements; familiarize
yourself with essays and forms, consider application essay topics
• Do one or two trial interviews
• Do volunteer work to earn community service hours for your resume
• Talk to people in interesting careers
• Get letters of recommendation
• Talk with college friends home from summer
SENIOR YEAR • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER
• Discuss your classes, college plans and test scores with your high
school counselor
• Review your transcripts to be sure the information is correct
• Request applications from colleges you are interested in
• Look for health/shot records - you will need them when you enroll
• Attend fall college nights and fairs
• Visit with college representatives when they visit your high school
• Do thorough college visits (2-3 day maximum)
• Campus interviews
• Start working on application essays
• Attend campus open houses
• Do final list of college applications: including review worksheets;
review selectivity; consult parents; consult counselor
• October SAT I/ACT Tests
• Begin to apply for scholarships - search on the internet at
www.fastweb.com
• November SAT I and II/ACT Tests
• Review transcript with counselor
SENIOR YEAR • DECEMBER - JANUARY
• Final college visits before semester ends
• Deadlines for early action and early decision applications
• Give school forms to counselor
• Give recommendation forms to teachers and others
• End of campus visit program
• Local college receptions for applicants
• Alumni contact with applicants
• Request housing forms and send deposits
• FAFSA forms available for financial aid - do not mail until after Jan
1- complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• December SAT I an II/ACT Tests
• January SAT I/SAT II Tests
SENIOR YEAR • JANUARY - MARCH
• Deadlines for most college applications
• Colleges review applications
• Notification of decisions on college applications
• March SAT Tests
SENIOR YEAR • APRIL - JUNE
• May 1 - common response date acceptance of admission; withdraw other applications and write thank you notes
• Finalize plans for housing, financial aid, and scholarships
• Compare financial aid packages
• Visit colleges offering admission
• Make your final choice
JUNIOR YEAR • DECEMBER/JANUARY
• Review your PSAT results with counselor
• Talk with your friends who are home from college on break
JUNIOR YEAR • FEBRUARY/MARCH
• Determine college criteria (characteristics you want in a college)
• Review college web sites - Click here for a list of colleges in
• Georgia and surrounding states
• Discuss plans with parents
• Visit testing web sites: www.collegeboard.com/www.act.org
• Begin studying for the SAT & ACT
JUNIOR YEAR • MARCH - MAY
• Make a preliminary list of around 25 colleges
• Contact the financial aid office for each college on your list
• Meet with your high school counselor to discuss plans
• Attend spring college fairs
• Attend local college nights
• Compare colleges
• Between now and November of your senior year, visit several
colleges to get a feel for college in session and campus styles
• Do a financial aid calculator online to determine your expected
• Family Contribution (EFC) - a great site for this is www.finaid.org
• March, May & June SAT I Tests; register online and practice test at www.collegeboard.com
• Select a rigorous course program for senior year, consider
courses required for your intended college major
• Take April or June ACT - register online and take practice tests at www.act.org
JUNIOR YEAR • SUMMER
• List Colleges to visit
• Request information from colleges
• Viewbook (course catalog)
• Applications (usually not available before June)
• Freshman profile of GPA and test scores
• Costs & financial aid
• Department or activities of interest to you
• Take June ACT - register online and take practice tests at www.act.org
• June SAT I test
• June SAT II subject tests - these are necessary for early decision and early action at private colleges
• Review college viewbooks and catalogs Incorporate a few college visits into summer vacation plans
