UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES – MEET W/ COLLEGE REPS. Remember some of your best resources through this process include the admission office / admission counselor / financial aid office of the college to which you are applying. They are here to help guide applicants and students!
FILL OUT THE FAFSA ONCE IT OPENS 10/1. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens October 1 each year. Work with your parents to fill out the FAFSA in order to see if you qualify for any need-based aid. Many schools will require that you have a FAFSA on file in order to receive merit-based aid as well. *2023 UPDATE: Students of the Class of 2024 – The FASFA is receiving an “overhaul” and will not be available until December 2023!
CONTINUE TO VISIT COLLEGES AS DESIRED TO HELP INFORM YOUR COLLEGE CHOICE.
CONTINUE TO RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
CONTINUE WORKING HARD IN CLASS & REMAINING COMMITED TO EXTRACURRICULARS. You will need to demonstrate on your application your ability to finish senior year strong. You will need to list your level of involvement continuing into senior year on your applications. Your College Counselor will also send a mid-year report and a final report of your grades to each college/university on your list.
Fall / Winter:
START / CONTINUE WORK ON YOUR COMMON APP / OTHER APP ACCOUNTS: Many of the schools to which you will apply will be on the Common Application, opening August 1. Schools not on the Common App may also open their own application portal online, before or on this date.
ATTEND COLLEGE PLANNING CLASS & REMAIN IN COMMUNICATION with your College Counselor regarding any questions or need for help and guidance through your entire college admission process.
CHOOSE YOUR ADMISSION PLAN: For each school, you should choose whether you plan to apply Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. Early Action is the HLS College Counseling team’s suggestion. The dates and requirements may vary school to school, so double-check the details for each.
REQUEST YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR TO SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPT TO COLLEGES NOT ON THE COMMON APP.
WRITE / FINALIZE YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY(S): For the Common Application, you will need to write at least one personal essay. Additional essays may be required for some schools and specialized programs of interest to you within the school.
SEND YOUR ACT / SAT TEST SCORES 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE APPLICATION DUE DATE from your test account.
INVESITGATE & APPLY & / INTERVIEW FOR SCHOLARSHIPS & HONORS PROGRAMS AS REQUIRED. Many schools have separate applications and interviews for scholarships or honors programs. Check each school to which you applied, and complete all necessary components of the scholarship and honors applications as desired.
FINISH YOUR MAIN APPLICATIONS OCT. NOV. & DEC. The most common Early Action application deadlines are October 15, November 1, and December 1.
NOTIFY the HLS College Counseling team of your received admission decisions and merit scholarship awards as they come in – so we may support and guide you and / or celebrate with you! If you are deferred or waitlisted to one of your top pick schools express continued interest to the college.
Spring / Summer:
CONTINUE WORKING HARD IN CLASS & STAYING FAITHFUL TO YOUR EXTRACURRICULARS. Your College Counselor will send a mid-year report and a final report of your grades to each school on your list. Make sure you are keeping up with your classwork and modeling to your underclassmen the fulfillment of your responsibility to stay committed to the end!
COMPLETE SCHOLARSHIP & HONORS APLICATIONS & INTERVIEWS. Many schools have separate applications and interviews for scholarships and / or honors programs. Check each school to which you applied, and complete all necessary components of the scholarship and honors applications as desired.
APPLY FOR HOUSING. If you plan to live on campus, fill out the housing application on the school’s website. Often students apply for housing before making their decision in order to ensure priority housing options. You can cancel your housing if you choose not to go to that school (just remember to do this to avoid fees).
CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL. National Decision Day is May 1. As your acceptances roll in, talk with your parents, teachers, and College Counselor as you narrow down your decision.
GRADUATE AND HAVE A SAFE, JOYFUL, & PRODUCTIVE SUMMER geared toward helping you prepare to start your college career! See these resources from myoptions.org to help you do this!
