Senior Calendar Tips

August

Request applications and information from colleges
Visit school campuses throughout the fall to help narrow your choices
Look into overnight or weekend college visitation programs

September

Get PIN numbers for filling out the FAFSA at http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp . Both parents and student will need a pin to electronically sign the FAFSA in January.
Check for scholarships at schools in which you are interested. Many select schools will have fall deadlines. 90% of private aid comes from the school a student will attend.
Finalize post high school plans: college/technical schools/work, with your uparents/guardians
Work on essays and college applications
Register for the October and December ACT/SAT if you need to improve your scores.
Consult college reference books in the counseling center and library.
Request information from potential colleges, register online to recieve their material.
Attend college representative sessions for college in which you are interested
Attend college open houses at their camus as avaiable
Attend evening collge information sessions at various locations that they sponsor to describe their campus and programs
Develop a rusme for grades 8 through now and continue to update. Include things such as a community service, academic awards/honors, summer programs, etc.
Consider the option of Early Decision/Early Action acceptance to college. Early Decision is where you apply to one school in the fall and attend that school if acepted. Early Action is the same process but does not bind you to attend that school.
Identify individuals whom would be strong recommendation writers. When letter of recommendation are required, give each writer at least one month notice and a copy of your personal resume or the Brag Information sheet located on the Links page to asset them or an information sheet including the things you believe they need to know.
Write application essays and ask instructors, parents, and friends to read first drafts.
Look for scholarships!

October

Start outlining application essay ideas.
Request letters of recommendation.
Continue to note on calendar schedules or admissions and financial aid deadlines.
Begin completing college applications and essays. Explore applying to colleges online (some campuses may charge an extra fee; however, some campuses waive fees, since online applications speak up processing). Also, check on waivers if you attend an Open House, etc. Ask Ms. Hoelzeman to send an official transcript, shot records and ACT test scores to each college that is being applied to.
Visit any colleges you haven't seen already.
Look for scholarships!

January

Make sure you are staying on top of financial aid deadlines
Complete any college application that still need to be sent in.
Many select schools will require the counselor to complete a mid-year form. Make sure you have turned that and an address, stamped envelope in to your counselor.
Complete your federal income tax returns as early as possible. You will need them to finalize the FAFSA. Keep a copy of the form for your records.
Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
After the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Check to make sure all of the information on this form is correct. Submit any corrections to the processing center in a timely fashion.
Apply for Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship at http://www.adhe.edu. Go to the "YOUniversial" site where you will be applying to multiple state scholarships including the Arkansas Governor Distinguished scholarship.

February - March

Attend College Goal Sunday if help is needed with FAFSA.
Make sure you are staying on top of financial aid deadlines.
Many local scholarships are available at this time. Check with churches, civic groups, places of employment, etc.

November

Follow up to ensure that letters of recommendation are submitted.
Complete a FAFSA4caster (https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1) for an estimate of your financial aid eligibility. Apply for you FAFSA Pin number at http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp. All seniors and their parents need to apply for their number. Whether you plan to further your education now or not, all students and their parents need to obtain one. You will need to know your date of birth and social security number. The PIN number will be the first part of the FAFSA filing process. Reminder to all, this is grand money (free money!).
If you're applying early, don't miss the deadline. Remember: THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS WHEN IT COMES TO DEADLINES!
Look for scholarships!

December

Prepare for semester exams.
Look for chances to talk to college students who are home for the holidays, especially if they attend a school in which you are interested.
Obtain any other financial aid forms that may be required by your target schools.
Complete all applications neatly and send them in on time. Don't forget to include the application fee!
Make sure you plan to fill out the FAFSA as close to January 1 as possible! In order to submit your FAFSA online, parent and students must each apply separately and recieve a Personal Identification Number (PIN). This well serve as an "electronic signature" when officially submitting your FAFSA online.
Gather your financial records. Keep copies of everything!
Look for scholarships!

April

Compare your financial aid awards to the cost of the school you are planning to attend.
Make a final enrollment decision and submit the enrollment deposit, if required.
Notify any schools that you have chosen not to attend that have accepted you that you will NOT be attending.
Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you UNDERSTAND the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid.
Call the financial aid office of your college choice with any questions.
Sign and return financial aid forms for the school you will be attending.

May

Work with your high school counselor to send the final transcript to your chosen college.
Check the college's financial aid office to check your financial aid package status.
If your first choice college places you on their waiting list, do not lose all hope. Some students are admitted at a later date off of waiting lists. Go ahead and accept another offer, then if you are selected off the waiting list, you can make a decision at that time.
Prepare for semester exams.
Take AP tests for any AP courses. Scores on the tests rage from 1-5. A score of 3 or higher will earn a student college credit at many universities.

June - July

Register for classes - many schools will have you do that online, others will have a summer orientation program for you to attend and you will register then.