Timeline for Senior Year

September

If you have not held any leadership positions while in high school, now is the time to assume a leadership role in one of the organizations you are a part of.
Consider visits, overnight stays and interviews at your top college choices. Visit (personally or virtually) any colleges you have not already seen.
Register for the SAT or ACT. Be sure to take any SAT II tests, if required.
Ask a teacher to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf if you have not already done so.
Review, revise and finalize your college essays.
Attend college fairs for one final review of college choices.
Be sure your senior year courses still includes a challenging mix of college-prep courses.
Stay focused on grades.
Keep your résumé updated.
Continue checking the website for scholarship opportunities.
Create a college choice "short-list", ideally with one or more "stretch" schools and one "safety" school. (5-6 schools in total)
Create a file for each of your college choices - and keep all materials organized.

Consider creating a master schedule of all of your application deadlines.
Complete the FAFSA if applying for financial aid.
Continue working on college applications and begin submitting them.
If you have a clear "first choice" college, consider applying for early decision.
Have standardized testing service send your scores to your list of colleges.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Stay focused on grades.

Complete all college applications and submit them.
Be sure your counselor knows your final list of colleges, as well as your preferences.
Request key financial aid and scholarship information from your list of colleges.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Stay focused on grades.

If you applied as an early decision applicant to a college, expect a notification this month.
If not completed, finish and submit remainder of college applications.
Start detailed financial aid search, including outside sources for scholarships and loans.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Stay focused on grades.

Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Keep track of your college applications - be sure all schools have received all of your materials.
Stay focused on grades.

College decision letters begin arriving.
Celebrate your acceptances, decide about your wait lists, and deal positively with your rejections.
Finalize financial aid applications.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Stay focused on grades.

Make a decision about your college choice from among the colleges that accepted you.
Notify all colleges (that accepted you) of your final decision.
Submit tuition deposit to your college of choice.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.
Stay focused on grades.

Celebrate your high school success!
Send thank you notes (if you haven't already) to everyone who helped you this year.
Start planning for college.
Watch your college's summer deadlines (orientations, housing options, registration, etc.) closely.
Continue searching and applying for scholarships and grants.