12th Grade College Bound Students

September

• Register for October and November SAT (SAT I) and Sept./Oct. ACT tests.
• Meet with Mrs. Smith to review college lists
• Meet with your EC and make sure you are on track with your  graduation requirements.
• Call all the colleges you are interested in and request an application.
•  Gather financial records.
• Decide who will be writing your letters of recommendation.
• Decide the number of colleges and cost of applying.
• Read through all the college applications you will be applying to and start working on the essays.

October

• Register for December ACT/SAT I/SAT II.
• Take ACT/SAT I/SAT II.
• Attend all college information nights in the community.
• Finish researching colleges and reduce your list to about 5-8 schools.
• Continue to work on rough drafts of college essays and applications.
• Send in “Early Decision” or “Early Action” applications.
• Begin UC/CSU applications.
• Talk to the teachers you would like letters of recommendation from.
• Keep watching for scholarships.

November

• Send in UC and CSU applications as early in the month as possible.
• Take the SAT I or SAT II.
• Finish essays and go over them with Mrs. Yago, Ms. Freeman or Mrs. Smith.
• Give all recommendation and secondary school report forms to teachers and Mrs. Smith (counselor) to complete.
• Apply to your colleges.
• Know the deadlines.  Write them down on a big calendar.
• Keep your grades up!

December

• Take the SAT or ACT if needed.
• Send in any college applications that are due.
• Start thinking about Financial Aid and visit a workshop in town.
• Visit the FAFSA website and Cal Grant website…be informed!

January

• Verify with your EC that you taking all the required courses to be on track for graduation in May.
• Request semester transcripts to be sent to colleges.
• Verify with Mrs. Clark, our registrar, that your transcript has been sent to the colleges.
• Let your college advisor know your first choice colleges.
• Stay in contact with your representative at those colleges. Ask if you can send any additional academic or talent information or letters.
• Watch application deadlines.
• Keep sending your applications. It is not too late to apply to many colleges.
• FAFSA and Cal Grant material may be sent anytime after January 1st.

February

• Check that the college has received financial, test scores, and all other forms.
• Keep your EC posted on what is happening in your college pursuits.
• Check for scholarships.
• Turn in your Financial aid forms if you have not already done so.

March

• Understand the process of how to get apply for a community college.
• Watch for Student Aid Report (SAR) to arrive.
• Apply for any colleges that accept late applications.

April

• This is the month you should hear from your colleges.
• Decide where you wish to go.
• Submit applications to community college if you are going there. Take placement tests.
• Start looking for summer jobs.

May

• Mail in deposit to one college by May 1st. Sign and return your financial aid letter if you plan to accept their offer.
• Take placement tests for the college you got accepted to, if applicable.
• Fill out any housing forms.
• Turn in your final transcript request to Mrs. Clark.
• Finish all your classes and have fun at graduation.

Adapted from UCSD college counseling course