8th Grade
- Find out what courses you should take in high school to best prepare you for college. Think about subject areas that interest you.
- Create a filing system. Be sure to set up a file where you can keep track of all the information from each school. Include the names of the administrators that you meet, especially in the financial aid office. Better still, file all your information in a computer, cell phone, or electronic notebook that you can easily access.
- Talk to a school counselor about your future, what colleges might best serve you and what they might cost. Work with your parents to establish a plan to finance college.
- Spend time in your library, researching four-year colleges, performing arts schools, community colleges, and alternative schools.
- Write to colleges for catalogs and brochures to get an idea of their offerings, admission requirements, and financial aid policies.
- Take the PSAT to prepare for college admission tests.
- Create your own personal databank of all the information that you may need to complete applications for colleges: scholarship applications, FAFSA, and any other form required pertaining to college.
- Attend college fairs, meet with college representatives who visit your school to talk about specific institutions.
- Make a list of colleges that interest you. Write for the admission and financial aid information.
- Talk to your counselor about your PSAT scores and their implications for your college career.
- Visit a library at school, in your community or at a nearby school to research lists of private scholarships for which you might qualify.
11th Grade (Spring)
- Develop a resume of high school activities and awards that you can update as necessary.
- If you haven’t taken any achievement tests like the SAT or ACT, and your college asks for achievement tests, then take them.
- Narrow your list of colleges and make plans to visit them. Write for an appointment at the admissions office. Allow time to talk to students and professors.
- Research scholarships online. Begin your offline and online search for possible scholarships that match your interests, skills, academics, and talents.
- Create a list of scholarship possibilities from your online and offline searches. Be sure to watch for deadlines for each. Retain the contact information for future use, including name of organization, eligibility, prizes, requirements, and deadlines.
- Write to private scholarships requesting information.
- Write several basic essays and be prepared to revise one at the last minute to meet a deadline for a scholarship application.
- Request admission and financial aid forms from the colleges to which you intend to apply.
- Review your career plans and decide which type of college is right for you—large or small, public or private, two-year or four-year. Contact the admissions office of each college in which you are interested to obtain information on admissions, scholarships and financial aid.
- Apply for private scholarships, government grants, and student loans.
- Make sure you are taking courses to meet the requirements of colleges for which you are applying.
- Think about your application essay. Talk to your counselor and English teacher about it.
- Attend college fairs and meet with college representatives.
- Watch the mail for college acceptance letters and financial aid award letters to determine the college and package that best that meets your needs.
- Request letters of recommendation from counselors, teachers, volunteer contacts, pastor, etc. Provide each person a copy of your resume to inform them of your high school work, employment, and activities. Send each a note of thanks for the letter.
- Sign up to retake the SAT/ACT to better your score. Order scores to be sent to possible colleges you plan to attend. Make sure your scores are sent to the colleges to which you may submit applications in the future.
- Compare the financial aid award letters received and watch for response deadlines. You must sign and return a copy of your financial aid award letter to receive financial aid. Also, once you have selected a college, notify the colleges you decide not to attend.
- Respond immediately to any request for more information or additional documents in your financial aid application.
- After you get letters of acceptance and financial aid awards, decide which college you will attend. Accept its offer by its deadline or the spot may go to someone else. Decline other offers in writing.
- Be sure your high school sends a transcript to colleges where you have applied.
- Work with your parents to collect financial information. Submit financial aid application as soon as possible after January 1. As soon as possible after January 1, complete the FAFSA and submit electronically or by mail.
- Review the financial aid package with your parents. Be sure you understand each kind of aid offered to you. Schedule an appointment with the school’s financial aid director if you have questions.
