Pre-College Calendar & ChecklistS

AUGUST

• Review your career plans and decide which type of school is right for you.

• Visit some college campuses.

• Narrow your college list to no more than five schools. (Research college catalogs/admissions info in your school's College/Career Center or online.)

• Pick up registration materials and test dates for the SAT and/or the ACT in the College/Career Center. Fee waivers are available.

• Pick up a list of useful web sites from your College/Career Center.

SEPTEMBER

• Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting your school.

• Make a list of test names, dates, fees and all deadlines for testing, college admissions, financial aid and scholarship applications.

• Remember that you must take tests like the SAT or ACT at least six weeks before the college admissions deadline for scores to be submitted to colleges.

• Begin asking teachers, guidance counselors and employers for letters of recommendation to include with your admissions/scholarship applications. Provide them with a brag sheet.

OCTOBER

• Retake the SAT or ACT exams, if necessary.

• Begin submitting your CSU applications at www.csumentor.com

• Work on admissions application essays/personal statements, if required.

• Visit your top school choices. Interview some students, faculty and staff there.

• Attend special programs such as college fairs and financial aid nights.

• Find out which financial aid applications your college choices require and when the forms are due. Calendar them.

• Some private universities may require that you register for the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE™ at this time. (This determines your qualification for private school aid.)

• Begin preparing your college applications. Check with the colleges to find out when materials must be submitted. Many are Nov. 1-30.

• Download the unofficial version of your transcript to your personal desktop for reference when completing applications!

• Begin working on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

(💡 Be sure to always file the FAFSA, even if you don’t think you’ll qualify. Colleges will take that into consideration when offering their own financial aid.)

NOVEMBER

• Take the SAT or ACT exam, if necessary. Take the SAT SUBJECT TESTS for UC/private college consideration. Consider retaking the SAT/ACT to improve your score.

• Begin submitting your UC applications at www.ucop.edu.

• Obtain financial aid applications from your guidance office or college of choice. Read them carefully to determine what information is required and when the applications are due.

• Complete a request for transcripts with your Naviance Family Connection, if required by the colleges to which you are applying.

DECEMBER

• Apply for your FSA ID at www.fsaid.ed.gov

• Apply for outside funding/scholarships.

• 👪 PARENTS: Save your year-end payroll stub if it shows your earnings for the year; you will need it for financial aid eligibility reviews by colleges.

JANUARY

• Submit/correct your completed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible.

• Turn in your “Local Scholarship Application” in the College/Career Center before the deadline!

• Submit applications to the colleges and universities that have January or February deadlines.

• KEEP COPIES OF ALL FORMS YOU SUBMIT.

• January is Financial Aid Awareness Month. Look for special programs in your area.

• 👪 PARENTS: It’s helpful to get your income tax returns prepared early as schools may request them to prove eligibility for financial aid.

FEBRUARY

• Check to see if your mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools to which you have applied.

• Research taking Advanced Placement (AP) or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.

• Rank your finalized list of colleges.

• Sign and return (with any necessary corrections) the Student Aid Report.

MARCH

• Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. Your SAR contains federal financial aid information. If you have not received your Student Aid Report four weeks after sending in your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.

• Sign and return (with any necessary corrections) the Student Aid Report.

• Submit tax forms to the financial aid office if requested. Contact each college to make certain that your application is complete. Find out what else you need to do to establish and maintain your eligibility for financial aid.

APRIL

• Watch the mail for college acceptance and financial aid award letters. Compare the financial aid awards you receive.

• Make your final college decision and send in a deposit by the deadline.

• Check with the college you’ve chosen about the details of signing and returning financial aid award letters.

• Notify the schools that you will not be attending.

• Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college (housing, financial aid, etc.).

MAY

• Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are given. Fee reductions are available.

• Study hard for those finals! All your grades still count for college admissions.

• Finalize summer school or summer job plans.

JUNE

• Watch for notices from your college. Submit all requested information immediately!