College​ ​Prep​ ​&​ ​Admission​ ​Checklist​ ​for​ ​HS​ ​Seniors  August  □​ ​Sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​ACT​ ​or​ ​SAT​ ​testing​ ​(if​ ​have​ ​not​ ​yet​ ​taken​ ​it​ ​or​ ​need​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​score);​ ​check​ ​for​ ​ACT/SAT​ ​test​ ​prep  materials​ ​and/or​ ​sessions​ ​(fee​ ​waivers​ ​may​ ​be​ ​available​ ​in​ ​the​ ​counselor’s​ ​office​ ​for​ ​those​ ​eligible)  □​ ​Narrow​ ​down​ ​the​ ​list​ ​of​ ​colleges​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​applying​ ​to​ ​(always​ ​have​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​college​ ​for​ ​a​ ​back-up  plan;​ ​between​ ​4​ ​and​ ​8​ ​schools​ ​are​ ​recommended​ ​if​ ​attending​ ​4-yr)  □​ ​Select​ ​schools​ ​who​ ​admit​ ​students​ ​with​ ​similar​ ​GPA,​ ​test​ ​scores,​ ​class​ ​rank,​ ​etc.​ ​Also​ ​look​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​the  school​ ​has​ ​the​ ​courses,​ ​activities,​ ​demographics,​ ​location,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​things​ ​important​ ​to​ ​you  □​ ​Research​ ​each​ ​school​ ​to​ ​help​ ​with​ ​your​ ​decision​ ​and​ ​to​ ​help​ ​formulate​ ​potential​ ​admissions​ ​essays  (collegeresults.org;​ ​ctcl.org;​ ​colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges;​ ​forbes.com/top-colleges)  □​ ​Look​ ​at​ ​application​ ​requirements​ ​and​ ​deadlines​ ​(applytexas.org;​ ​commonapp.org;​ ​or​ ​school​ ​specific​ ​website).  Keep​ ​track​ ​of​ ​deadlines​ ​by​ ​putting​ ​reminders​ ​in​ ​your​ ​phone​ ​or​ ​keeping​ ​a​ ​log​ ​of​ ​all​ ​deadlines​ ​and​ ​requirements​ ​(excel  spreadsheet,​ ​planner,​ ​journal,​ ​etc.)  □​ ​Complete​ ​student​ ​information​ ​sheet​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​information​ ​for​ ​counselor/teacher​ ​letters​ ​of​ ​recommendation 

September  □​ ​Begin​ ​applying​ ​for​ ​ADMISSION!​ ​(Inquire​ ​with​ ​college​ ​about​ ​application​ ​fee​ ​waivers)  □​ ​Create​ ​and/or​ ​update​ ​your​ ​résumé​ ​of​ ​activities​ ​and​ ​awards​ ​(see​ ​examples​ ​-​ ​resume​ ​should​ ​be​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​than​ ​one  to​ ​two​ ​pages;​ ​change​ ​headings​ ​and​ ​categories​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​your​ ​strengths).  □​ ​Check​ ​Transcript,​ ​Credits,​ ​and​ ​State​ ​Required​ ​testing​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​graduation​ ​requirements​ ​(TSI​ ​and​ ​STAAR)  □​ ​Make​ ​a​ ​copy​ ​of​ ​your​ ​“Unofficial”​ ​transcript​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​for​ ​your​ ​records  □​ ​Official​ ​Transcript​ ​requests​ ​through​ ​the​ ​registrar/counseling​ ​office​ ​and​ ​on​ ​the​ ​school​ ​website​ ​for​ ​applications  □​ ​Attend​ ​college​ ​visits 

October  □​ ​Continue​ ​admissions​ ​applications  □​ ​FAFSA​ ​(Free​ ​Application​ ​for​ ​Federal​ ​Student​ ​Aid​ ​at​ ​www.fafsa.gov)​ ​opens​ ​10/1.​ ​Apply​ ​for​ ​your​ ​FSA​ ​ID​ ​and  have​ ​one​ ​parent​ ​also​ ​obtain​ ​a​ ​FAFSA​ ​ID.​ ​Fill​ ​out​ ​the​ ​FASA.  □​ ​Attend​ ​college​ ​information​ ​nights​ ​and​ ​fairs​ ​at​ ​your​ ​school​ ​and​ ​in​ ​your​ ​area  □​ ​Visit​ ​with​ ​college​ ​representatives​ ​who​ ​visit​ ​your​ ​school  □​ ​Participate​ ​in​ ​college​ ​events​ ​and​ ​visitations  □​ ​Select​ ​teachers/counselors/employers​ ​to​ ​write​ ​letters​ ​of​ ​recommendation  □​ ​Visit​ ​the​ ​Counseling​ ​Center​ ​or​ ​Counselor’s​ ​page​ ​on​ ​the​ ​website​ ​for​ ​information​ ​on​ ​scholarships​ ​and​ ​lists  □​ ​Search​ ​for​ ​scholarships​ ​locally​ ​and​ ​online​ ​-​ ​scholarship​ ​sites​ ​(ex.:​ ​www.fastweb.com​ ​)  □​ ​Make​ ​a​ ​note​ ​of​ ​ALL​ ​DEADLINES​ ​for​ ​scholarships​ ​and​ ​keep​ ​track​ ​of​ ​this​ ​information 

November  □​ ​Check​ ​to​ ​see​ ​when​ ​financial​ ​aid​ ​applications​ ​are​ ​due​ ​at​ ​the​ ​colleges​ ​you​ ​are​ ​applying​ ​(FAFSA,​ ​scholarships, 

etc.).​ ​Note​ ​these​ ​deadlines​ ​and​ ​pay​ ​close​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​them.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​these​ ​are​ ​completed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​deadline.  □​ ​Begin​ ​applying​ ​for​ ​College​ ​Scholarships​ ​directly​ ​through​ ​their​ ​websites​ ​where​ ​applicable​ ​(some​ ​Colleges​ ​use​ ​the  admissions​ ​application​ ​for​ ​scholarships​ ​and​ ​some​ ​colleges​ ​have​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​application) 

December  □​ ​Fill​ ​out​ ​the​ ​FAFSA​ ​(www.fafsa.gov)​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​if​ ​not​ ​already​ ​done  □​ ​Sign​ ​up​ ​to​ ​retake​ ​the​ ​ACT/SAT​ ​for​ ​higher​ ​score​ ​if​ ​needed.  □​ ​Attend​ ​a​ ​financial​ ​aid​ ​night​ ​at​ ​your​ ​school​ ​or​ ​in​ ​the​ ​community​ ​where​ ​available  □​ ​Continue​ ​working​ ​on​ ​outside​ ​scholarship​ ​applications​ ​and​ ​re-check​ ​deadlines 

January  □​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​Scholarship​ ​Applications  □​ ​Check​ ​to​ ​see​ ​if​ ​college/university​ ​has​ ​checklist​ ​of​ ​tasks​ ​requiring​ ​completion.​ ​Strictly​ ​follow​ ​any​ ​deadlines.  □​ ​Request​ ​a​ ​semester​ ​transcript  □​ ​Check​ ​RRHS​ ​counselor​ ​website​ ​for​ ​most​ ​current​ ​news​ ​and​ ​information 

February  □​ ​Take​ ​any​ ​TSI​ ​tests​ ​still​ ​needed​ ​(Texas​ ​colleges)  □​ ​Fight​ ​senioritis!​ ​Your​ ​grades​ ​still​ ​count!  □​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​scholarship​ ​applications.  □​ ​Visit​ ​with​ ​military​ ​recruiters  □​ ​Finish​ ​up​ ​college​ ​visits 

March  □​ ​Complete​ ​any​ ​college​ ​visits​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​help​ ​you​ ​make​ ​a​ ​final​ ​decision​ ​(some​ ​schools​ ​will​ ​help​ ​with​ ​expenses  related​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​and​ ​campus​ ​visits;​ ​check​ ​with​ ​the​ ​admissions​ ​office)  □​ ​Review​ ​financial​ ​aid​ ​awards​ ​(these​ ​are​ ​usually​ ​delivered​ ​in​ ​March​ ​and​ ​April,​ ​may​ ​be​ ​earlier​ ​this​ ​year)​ ​from​ ​each  college/university​ ​accepted  □​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​scholarship​ ​applications.  APRIL  □​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​scholarship​ ​applications.  □​ ​Job​ ​opportunities​ ​and​ ​work​ ​study​ ​opportunities​ ​–​ ​awareness​ ​and​ ​preparations  □​ ​Get​ ​meningitis​ ​vaccination 

May  □​ ​May​ ​1st​ ​-​ ​Deadline​ ​to​ ​notify​ ​college/university​ ​of​ ​choice​ ​of​ ​attendance​ ​decision​ ​(Deposits​ ​are​ ​usually​ ​due​ ​at​ ​this  time​ ​where​ ​required)  □​ ​Requests​ ​dual​ ​credit​ ​transcripts​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​to​ ​college/university​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​attending  □​ ​Notify​ ​counselor’s​ ​office​ ​where​ ​to​ ​send​ ​final​ ​transcript 

□​ ​Sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​housing​ ​(or​ ​complete​ ​waiver​ ​if​ ​living​ ​off-campus)  □​ ​Sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​new​ ​student​ ​orientation  □​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​all​ ​admissions​ ​paperwork​ ​is​ ​complete       

Now​ ​relax​ ​a​ ​little!!​ ​Congratulations!!!​ ​You​ ​did​ ​it!!!!