Junior Year · Senior Year

Junior Year
September
1. Begin thinking about college majors that match your interests. Consult a guidance counselor about whether the courses you have taken, plus those you plan to take, will meet graduation requirements and prepare you for admission to college.
2. If you will be seeking an athletic scholarship, contact coaches in your sport at schools you are considering.

October
1. Take the PSATs.
2. Begin to explore with your parents how you will finance your education. How much are they able to contribute? How much are you willing to borrow–or earn?

Mid-December
Review your PSAT results with a guidance counselor and decide whether you need to take a prep course for the SAT. These courses run 12 weeks and cost about $750.

January
Register for the ACT, the college entrance exam commonly taken in 25 states, mostly in the West and Midwest.

February
1. Register for the March SAT if it is required by the schools you're applying to.
2. Start to develop a list of colleges whose requirements and characteristics match your qualifications and interests. Tap the resources of your counseling office, the library, college Web sites.

Spring break
Visit colleges–and talk to students and professors as well as admissions officers. Inquire about financial aid opportunities.

April
Register for the May or June SAT II (subject tests), and begin researching scholarships.

May
If enrolled in any advanced-placement courses, take the AP tests.

Summer
1. Send for college applications.
2. Begin to think about the theme of your application essays.
3. Visit colleges.

Senior Year
September
1. Take another look at your course list. Do you need any additional credits?
2. Register for the October SAT I or ACT test, if necessary.
3. Narrow your list of potential colleges.
4. Continue research on scholarships.

October
1. Review your final list of colleges with a school counselor.
2. Request recommendations and give teachers and counselors the forms. 3. Request transcripts.
4. File any early-action or early-decision applications.
5. If not applying early, file applications for schools with early deadlines.
6. Submit financial aid profile to College Scholarship Service.
7. Register for the December or January SAT I or SAT II, if necessary.

November
1. Take the SAT Language Test with Listening (French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and English proficiency) if your colleges require it.
2. Write and polish any required essays.

December
1. Mail all applications or turn them in to your high school. If you applied early, inform the school about any honors you have received since, and make sure transcripts of recent grades are sent out.
2. Schedule college interviews.

January
1. File federal financial aid forms and apply for state financial aid. Your guidance counselor can tell you whether your state requires any financial aid forms in addition to the federal aid application.
2. Make sure that your high school sends transcripts of your mid-year grades to colleges.

February
Confirm that all of your application materials, including recommendations, have been sent off to your list of schools.

April
1. Review college acceptances and compare financial aid offers.
2. Decide which school to attend, send in your deposit, and notify other colleges of your decision.

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