Make Senior Year Count!
You want to avoid "senioritis." Take courses that will prepare you
for college. |
Courses
to Take |
| Stay on track. Review
courses with your counselor to make sure you're meeting high school
graduation requirements, Oklahoma's Promise course work and GPA
expectations, and entrance requirements for the schools that
interest you. Remember to update your Plan of Study. |
Your Plan of Study |
| Finalize your Individual Career
Academic Plan. ICAP activities will help you finalize your plans
for life after high school and take the first steps to reaching
your postsecondary goals! |
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| Talk to your counselor about
possibilities for concurrent enrollment (taking college-credit
courses while you're still in high school). |
Earning
College Credit While in High School |
Save your money!
Continue to plug money into your Oklahoma 529 plan. |
Oklahoma 529
College Savings Plan |
| Sign up. Even if you've
already taken the ACT or SAT, register for the fall ACT and/or SAT
tests; you might boost your score! Have the official scores sent by
the testing agency to the colleges or universities that have made
your final list of schools. |
Test
Prep
www.act.org |
| Visit college campuses that are a
good match with your abilities and career interests. |
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| Narrow your choices. Many
students select three to five schools to apply to, including their
"dream" school, their "safety" school and two or three other
choices. |
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Check your transcripts to make
sure you have all the credits you need to get into the colleges
that interest you.
Find out from the colleges whether or not they need official
copies of your transcripts (these are sent directly from your
school). |
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Keep an eye out for financial aid
workshops and seminars, for both you and your parents.
There is a lot of help out there when you're looking for info on
financial aid. |
Financial Aid 101
Financial Aid Wizard |
| Apply for an FSA ID.
Request an FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. This FSA ID is used throughout the federal aid
process, including completion of the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). |
Federal Student
Aid |
| Register for the October/November
SAT and ACT tests if you plan to take them. Make sure your
official test scores are sent to the colleges to which you are
applying. |
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Take another look at your list of
colleges, and make sure they still meet your needs.
It's not uncommon for students' goals to change. |
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Make sure you meet the
requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the
colleges to which you want to apply.
Double-check the deadlines. |
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| Give any recommendation forms to
the appropriate teachers or counselors using whatever process your
school recommends (AppDocs, paper recommendation form with a
stamped, college-addressed envelope, etc.), making certain that
your portions of the forms are filled out completely and
accurately. |
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Most early decision and early
action applications are due in November or earlier.
Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these
options, and remember to request that your high school send your
official transcripts to the college on time. |
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Complete your Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1.
The FAFSA serves as your application for federal and most types of
state financial aid for college.
Be aware: The FAFSA will open
December 1, 2024.
Start it now at: FAFSA.gov. |
FAFSA.gov |
| Continue to apply for
scholarships. Apply for 2-3 scholarships per week to
increase your chances of being awarded FREE money for college. |
UCanGo2 Scholarships
Scholarship
Success
Guide |
Make a final list of schools that
interest you and keep a file of deadlines and required admission
items for each school.
Many students like to have a "dream school" and a "safety school"
as well as two or three others. |
Your Portfolio - Postsecondary Plans |
Take the SAT or ACT tests. Have
the official scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges or
universities that have made your final list of
schools.
Register for December or January SAT or ACT, if necessary. |
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Get started on any essays to be
included with your applications.
Give your essays to others (teachers, counselors, parents,
friends) for feedback. |
College Application Essay Tips |
Submit your college admission
applications.
Be sure to check them over thoroughly! Having someone else review
your application with you can help you catch any errors. |
|
Be sure to consult with your
school counselor about scholarship opportunities.
Not all scholarships are for top students and athletes. There may
be a perfect scholarship for you - it's worth doing a little
research. |
Find
a Scholarship |
| Work on your scholarship
applications and mail according to deadlines. |
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| Check with the financial aid
office of schools you are applying to for specific information on
scholarships and costs for tuition, fees, food and housing, and any
additional financial aid info they require. |
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If you completed the FAFSA online,
you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) shortly
thereafter.
Review for accuracy and make any necessary corrections
online. |
Making FAFSA
Corrections |
Watch your mailbox and inbox if
you submitted an early decision application.
Early decision replies usually arrive by December. If you do get
an acceptance, you should withdraw any other applications. |
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| If you haven't already done so,
make sure your official test scores (SAT, ACT,
etc.) are being sent to the colleges to which you are
applying. |
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Check for other financial aid
options.
In order to be considered for financial aid, you will need to
submit a FAFSA, even if you have not yet been notified of your
acceptance to the college(s) to which you applied. |
FAFSA.gov |
| Request that your high school send
your official transcripts to the colleges to which you are
applying. |
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| Contact the admissions office of
the colleges to which you have applied to make sure that your
information has been received, and that they have everything they
need from you. |
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| Complete your scholarship
applications. |
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| Contact the financial aid office
of the colleges to which you have applied to make sure your
information has been received, and that they have everything they
need from you. |
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| You will probably hear from the
colleges as to whether or not you are accepted by April
15. |
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| If you will be living on campus,
submit your housing deposit to ensure you get the residential
option you prefer. |
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Compare your acceptance letters,
financial aid and scholarship offers.
These are all important things to consider when choosing a
college. |
How to Select a College or University |
When you choose a college that has
accepted you, you may be required to pay a non-refundable deposit
for freshman tuition.
This should ensure your place in the entering freshman class. |
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| Take AP exams for any AP subjects
you studied in high school. |
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Decision time!
You should decide on a college by May 1. Notify that school by
mailing your commitment deposit check. Many schools require that
your notification letter be postmarked by this date. |
How to Select a College or University |
| If you were placed on a waiting
list for a particular college and have decided to wait for an
opening, contact that college and let them know you are still very
interested. |
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| Have your school send your final
transcripts to the college you will be attending. |
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| Contact your college to determine
when fees for tuition, food and housing are due, and how much they
will cost. |
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| Participate in any summer
orientation programs for incoming freshmen. |
Explore
Schools |
| Track it. Continue adding to your
document file or resume: report cards, lists of awards and
honors, school and community activities, and volunteer work. |
Resume
Builder |
| Now that you know you will be
attending college in the fall, it is a good idea to make sure you
have student health insurance in case of any
emergencies. |
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