Juniors

• Register and take the PSAT when your high school holds it.
• Maintain consistently good grades and behavior.
• Review career plans and find schools that offer that major.
• Request catalogs and admissions information from the schools.
• Meet with Admission Representatives visiting your high school.
• Prepare for SAT - take prep classes if offered at your school.
• Register on free scholarship search websites and watch your email inbox.
• Check into local college classes offered to juniors through your high school.
• Keep in mind that colleges look for challenging coursework, a strong GPA, and involvement in activities, volunteerism, work, and church.
• Identify things you are looking for in a college.
• Athletes - contact coaches at colleges where you are interested in applying by January.
• Learn how make healthy decisions especially about sex at SafeTeens.org and 4Parents.gov
  
  
  

• Register and take SAT. Ask counselors if you qualify for a fee waiver.
• Include colleges (like Penn State) on SAT registration who need scores sent electronically.
• Attend college nights/fairs in your area.
• Check into AP classes when scheduling your senior year classes.
• Memorize your Social Security number.
• Take AP exams in May for any AP courses you are taking.

• Visit colleges in which you are interested and get a campus tour.  Ask for an overnight stay on campus.
• Narrow down your college list to no more than about 4 schools.
• Get a job! It looks good on college applications and helps you learn responsibility and budgeting.
• Learn your Social Security Number and make sure your name is correct on your Social Security card.
• Research scholarship and start on the requirements.
• Take some free non-credit online college level courses to practice and see if you can make the grade at Free-Ed.net.

Seniors

• Obtain admissions applications from your top choice schools.
• If applying to a private school, you should also apply to a public and/or state or county school to compare financial aid packages.
• If applying 'early decision' submit your application to guidance ASAP.
• Whenever you submit a college application, make sure that guidance knows so they can send transcripts.  Remember your transcripts include grades, SAT scores, class rank, attendance & behavior records so don't slack off!
• Work on application essays if required.
• Ask teachers, counselors, coaches, and/or employers for letters of recommendation or graded papers if required.
• Check important deadlines at your chosen colleges - admissions application, housing, financial aid, scholarships, etc.
• Take any local college classes offered through your high school.
• Take some free non-credit online college level courses to practice and see if you can make the grade at Free-Ed.net.

• Submit any last college applications to guidance at least a week before the deadline.
• Go on collegeboard.com to send SAT scores if the college requires electronic submission.
• Keep checking on free scholarship sites and in guidance for scholarship eligibility.
• Watch the mail if you applied to a college with the 'early decision' option.
• Thank anyone who provided you with a recommendation letter.

• Watch the mail for acceptance letters.
• If applying to a private college and a CSS/Financial Aid Profile is required - complete and submit.
• Apply for a student PIN and a parent PIN in order to complete the FAFSA online - PRINT the PIN e-mail as it expires and disappears within 10 days!!!  Put your printed PIN pages or mailed PIN papers in a safe place.
• Keep applying to as many scholarships as you can.
• Ask parents to save any year-end total payroll stubs in case you need them to complete financial aid forms.
• Register for SAT II if you feel you are strong enough to do well in a certain subject area for college credits.

• Have parents complete tax forms as soon as possible in order to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.  They are to receive their W-2s by Jan 31st by law.
• ASAP after Jan 1st - complete and submit the FAFSA paper form by mail OR the electronic form online and keep a copy!  If filing online - PRINT the CONFIRMATION page!
• Call 1-800-4-FEDAID for questions on the FAFSA or have completed by an educational planner or tax preparer.
• If a college requires mid-year grades to be sent, notify guidance immediately.
• Take local college classes offered through your high school.

• Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report. Ask guidance, an educational planner, or college financial aid officer if you have questions.
• Keep Stafford or PLUS parent loan forms you receive and complete if you find out that grants and scholarships won't cover college costs.
• Watch the mail for college acceptance, housing, and financial aid letters. Compare financial aid awards received.
• Follow directions to review or complete any federal or state grant papers sent to your house.

• Send in any deposit required for the college you decide to attend.
• After notifying your chosen college that you'll attend, notify the other colleges that you are declining their acceptance.
• Keep applying for scholarships.
• Send in housing selection and deposit by deadline if required.
• Research taking CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests if you are good in any certain subjects areas.
  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

• If needed, apply for the Stafford Loan and/or Parent Loan (PLUS) if grants and scholarships won't cover college costs.  Complete the online counseling when prompted and sign your Master Promissary Note.
  Check out http://www.pheaa.org/educationalloans/index.shtml for loan information as well as the Financial Aid & Scholarships page on this site.
• Take college placement tests if required and schedule classes with your college's advisor when prompted.
• Study for AP (Advanced Placement) tests.
  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
• Before May 1st - make sure you send in your deposit to the school of your choice

• Take AP exams.
• Finalize summer school or job plans.
• Request transcripts from any college where you may have taken early credits to be sent to the college where you intend to enroll.

• Parents can help with move-in day and stay for any parents' weekend but reserve a hotel room well enough in advance.
• Verify cell phone coverage, and if taking a car to keep at college, check insurance and auto club policies, especially to see about student discounts.
• Set up a checking account - the college credit union usually offers a good deal, or look for a bank with branches near both college and home.
• Sign up for a student credit card, preferably one that helps keep the student's credit in line with rewards or good grades, paying on time, and not going over the credit limit.
• Compile a photo album that includes expressions of love and encouragement for when you get might get lonely or stressed. 
  (by Penny Musco, USA Weekend, July 6-8, 2007, p. 4.)
• Check out EcampusTours for great College Life preparation information.
• Take Community College credits in the summer and transfer these cheaper credits to your intended college.
• Check on summer courses at your intended college.  Some colleges offer FREE on campus dormitory housing in the summers!

• Pack for college. Always take about 1/2 of what you think you should pack. Remember power strips and extension cords and maybe a can opener and a few tools.  THINGS TO PACK
• Mingle and STUDY!  Take advantage of free tutoring, study sessions, and professor's office hours.

• See what classes you can CLEP out of then register and study up for CLEP exams
• Take advantage of free tutoring services on campus
• Look into studying abroad, internships, externships, fellowships, and more scholarship opportunities

• If you do not receive a report of tuition and fees spent, ask the bursar's office to provide a copy in order to take advantage of tax credits you and your family may receive by attending an accredited school.
• Compete a FAFSA Renewal online.

E-tips for A grades - College is confusing; We're here to help!

Try Bookins.com book swap for some of those college books.  Here's how it works:  You get 15 points just for signing up, then more points for every book posted that someone else wants to grab.  Points are assigned according to a book's age and original cost.  The only cost is for the book's recipient - $3.99 for postage and delivery confirmation (as of 6-2007).
Other sites are ReadersUnited.com and PaperBackSwap.com.

Keep safe by following the rules and your common sense.
Check out SecurityOnCampus.org's Safety Tips!

About College is your complete guide to everything you really wanted to know about college life and adjustment but didn't know whom to ask!