Juniors

• Register and take the PSAT when your high school holds it.  Ask guidance about the fee waiver to take it free.
• Start a filing system.  You'll be needing one.  Use individual folders for:
  -Each college (correspondence/admissions information/financial aid/etc.) and have folders for
  -Testing information (SAT/ACT/AP/etc.)
  -Scholarships
  -Clubs, organizations, academic awards, church, athletics, volunteerism, jobs, etc. to keep track of your 'resume' items for scholarship and college applications and possibly even a resume.
• 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 and ACT. Ask counselors if you qualify for a fee waiver.
• Include 4 colleges on SAT and ACT registrations who NEED scores sent ELECTRONICALLY (especially Penn State-any campus).
• Attend college nights/fairs in your area.
• Use college search engines to develop a list of possible colleges to visit, check out their web sites, and maybe get on their mailing list.
• Do virtual visits of campuses to narrow down choices.
• Check into AP classes when scheduling your senior year classes.
• Memorize your Social Security number if you still don't know it.
• Take AP exams in May for any AP courses you are taking.

• Visit colleges in which you are interested and get a campus tour. 
  Print the 'Criteria To Consider when researching colleges' to use on tour.
  Ask for an overnight stay on campus with student shadowing. 
  Send Thank You letters/cards after your visits!
• Investigate the logistics of getting to campus as an on campus or commuter student: airfare, train tickets, metro passes, carpooling, getting and maintaining a car with insurance, or bus passes and schedules.  (Ex. Schuylkill County's STS Bus Schedule.)
• Narrow down your college list to about 4 schools or fewer.  A mix is good - private, public, state, & community.
• 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.
• Volunteer and take on positions of leadership.  These skills can further you in life and look good on applications.
• Research scholarships intensively 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.
• Take college classes at your local community college.  Most have a programs for students going into their senior year where you can get inexpensive credits and maybe even count them for a high school class.

Seniors

• Obtain admissions applications from your top choice schools.
• Add to that filing system you created as a Junior.  You'll need folders for:
  -Each scholarship to which you apply or are considering
  -Possible recommendation letters
  -Essays for college admissions and scholarship applications
  -Financial Aid
• If applying to a private school, you should also apply to a public and/or state or county school to compare financial aid packages at the least.
• 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 and have at least 2 people edit them.
• Set up interviews if required by colleges to which you are applying.
• Ask teachers, counselors, coaches, and/or employers for letters of recommendation or graded papers if required.
• Make sure that ALL parts of your application are COMPLETE and  your return address is on everything required.  It is not the job of the guidance counselor to complete your paperwork.
• 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.
• Check the status of your application with each college.  If anything is missing, check it out.  If something must be sent from guidance yet, ask nicely and be specific about what is needed.

• 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 at http://www.pin.ed.gov in order to complete the FAFSA online. Write down both PINs to keep for years to come!
• 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 at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and keep a copy!  If filing online - PRINT the CONFIRMATION page too!
• Call 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) for questions on the FAFSA or have completed with an Academic Specialist or even a tax preparer if experienced with the FAFSA.
• If a college requires mid-year grades to be sent, notify guidance, in writing, immediately.
• Take local college classes offered through your high school.

• Watch the mail/E-mail for your Student Aid Report. Call 1-800-4 FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or ask guidance, an Academic Specialist, or college financial aid officer if you have questions.
• Keep Stafford/Direct Loan 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.
• DON'T SLACK OFF!  Even if you are accepted at a college, final transcripts must be sent to the college at the end of your senior year.  The college can and will change their mind if you take a nose dive!

• 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.  May 1st is a national admissions deposit deadline.  If you need an extension, ask the college.

• 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.

• Figure out your finances:
  -Where will you do banking?  Local to college AND home?
  -Credit card (prepaid or low limit) with good student rewards or debit card?
  -Can you use your college ID card like a credit card?  If so, where?
• Phone:
  -Does your dorm room have a phone hook up?  If using a land line phone, how does the account get set up and charged to you?
  -If using a cell phone primarily or solely, check coverage and reception and remember to pack the charger.
• Check out EcampusTours for great College Life preparation information.
• Be informed about Student Credit Cards
• Insurances:
  -Full Time students living on campus MUST have health insurance.  Check out your options of extending current coverage or finding new coverage through the college or online.  Here's one link to check out: http://www.schoolwork.org/studenthealthinsurance.html
  -Auto insurance might offer discounts if you will not be driving or jack up rates if you are driving further and to certain areas/states. Ask auto clubs about student rates for emergency services too.
  -Renter's insurance covers the contents of your room/apartment.
  -Identity Theft insurance can help protect you with all of the new accounts you'll be creating.
• Move In Day:
  -Have a map of the town as well as a campus map handy.
  -Where and when can you pick up keys to your place?
  -Where and when can you park to unload?
  -Will your parents be staying in town?  If so, reserve a hotel early.
• 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  Remember to pack some memories too!  Photos and some posters can brighten a room and be a good ice breaker topic.
• 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.
• Complete 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!