In a lot of cases, a students Grade Point Average (GPA) is set at the beginning of senior year.  Check with your school to see if they update the GPA during the course of senior year.  If that is the case, that GPA is what is sent out to the colleges and there is no such thing as “boosting” the GPA during the year.  That doesn’t mean however, that senior grades don’t count because they do.  Colleges want to see that you have a challenging schedule and are performing well and. Colleges may request a copy of your report card which could be the deciding point of acceptance to that school.

 

Summer Prior to Senior Year

• Consider an internship for the summer or your senior year. Work with someone in a career area that you are considering.
• Find out about summer enrichment programs.
• Visit the colleges and/or trade or technical schools that you will apply to.
• Become familiar with different parts of college applications.
• Start writing and revising college essays.
• Make appointments for college interviews if they are recommended at the schools that you are considering.
• Develop a resume/personal references.
• Make an appointment with your parent/guardian with your counselor to discuss senior year post-secondary goals.
• Spend time in the college career center researching colleges.
• Seek part-time jobs that can be meaningful to future career plans.
• Look for Fall SAT prep programs.
• Know your GPA and Class Rank for your college search process.
• Register for the October SAT or ACT
• Check out Summer Bucket List via Fastweb.

Fall

• Review credit requirements with your counselor to ensure graduation.
• Consider Honors, Advanced Placement(AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses to add rigor to your transcript if you are recommended by your teacher and have good grades.
• First marking period grades are important for Fall college admissions.
• Make sure that you have applications for all colleges that you will apply to or review those on-line.
• Register for the fall SAT I, SAT II (Note: Students applying to college should have had taken the SAT at least 1 time in the Junior year and 1 time in the fall of the Senior year) Taking the SAT for the first time in December or January is late to be considered at  many schools!
• Meet with your counselor to advise additional schools to consider.
• Request an unofficial copy of your transcript to verify accuracy of courses taken, grades, and SAT scores.
• Seek out scholarships on file in the college career center,
• Familiarize yourself with our school’s transcript request procedures.
• Consider teachers(at least 2) to write a recommendation for you. Give them at least 2 weeks notice.
•  Take the ASVAB test in October if you are considering the armed services.
• Communicate with your counselor about every application you submit. They need to keep track of these and submit official transcripts.
• Complete applications for “rolling” admissions by Thanksgiving or Christmas break at the latest.  Although a deadline may be in February, schools offer scholarships for students that apply early if the student has a good combination of GPA and SAT scores.
• If you get accepted prior to December do NOT send in a deposit. Wait until you receive a financial aid award letter (typically in March/April) and can afford to attend.
• Early Decision (ED)/Early Action (EA) applications need to be completed by fall deadlines.
• Do NOT apply Early Decision if financial aid is an issue (which is it is for most of us).  If you get accepted to the school, you must withdraw all other applications and accept the financial aid package the school offers you.
• Attend “Portfolio Days” if you are considering Art programs.
• Attend Fall college career programs.
• Stay in contact with college admissions contacts: call them or e-mail them!
• Students applying to selective college/universities may have to complete the CSS/PROFILE for financial aid.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form registration begins October 1st.
• Attend the FAFSA Completion Night with your parents.

Winter

• Complete a resume if you are considering employment after graduation.
• Meet with College and Career Counselor for Employment Interviewing tips.
• Check the Job Board in the Guidance Office for Job opportunities.
• Boys 18 years old should register with the selective services. Financial Aid will not be administered until you do register!
• Attend job fairs.
•  
• Follow-up at the colleges where applications were sent to ensure a completed application needed for review or if you have not heard yet.
• Complete regular decision applications with February deadlines.

Spring

• Make sure you have received admissions letters to all colleges that you have applied to.
• Keep your grades up!  Colleges have the option of rescinding your offer if there is a dramatic decline in grades!
• Review and compare Financial Aid packages.  Visit your school counselor for advice.
• Maintain contact with Armed Services representatives.
• Seek and apply to Employment positions available.
• May 1st deadline college deposit is the national deposit deadline.  You do not have to commit to ANY college prior to that date.
• Attend orientation hosted by the school that you have selected (typically a one-day or weekend experience).
• Take your scholarship letters that you accepted and your college intent letter to your counselor.

June

• Bring an addressed and stamped envelope to mail the college where you will be attending so that your final transcript can be mailed.  Your counselor can also upload the transcript on Naviance (if your school uses it)
• Bring an addressed and stamped envelope for the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Send “Thank You” cards to anyone organizations that gave you scholarships.  That is a lost art these days!

---

Scholarships

Some National Scholarships:

10/30/2020 Cooke College Scholarship: https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/college-scholarship-program/

10/31/2020: Coca-Cola Scholarship: https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/ccsf

12/15/2020 Burger King Scholars Program: https://burgerking.scholarsapply.org/

01/05/2021 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-programs/ge-reagan-foundation-scholarship-program/

2/1/2021 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program: https://www.jackierobinson.org/our-programs/scholarship-program

2/25/2021 (According to 3rd party) McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/community/hacer.html

2/28/2021 CollegeBoard Opportunity Scholarship: https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/faq

Minority, Low-Income Student Scholarship:

The Gates Scholarship: https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship

Scholarships for Undocumented Students:

10/25/2020 Golden Doors Scholars: https://www.goldendoorscholars.org/apply-now

-Immigrants Rising: (Handbook filled with scholarships) https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/undergraduate-scholarships/

Students in Foster Care:

03/31/2021 Foster Care to Success (Opens 1/1/2021)

https://www.fc2success.org/our-programs/information-for-students/

Athletic Scholarships:

-NCAA: https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/ncaa-scholarships-and-grants

Scholarship Finding Websites:

College Board: https://studentsearch.collegeboard.org/

Scholar Snapp https://www.scholarsnapp.org

Fast Web: fastweb.com

Petersons: petersons.com

RaiseMe (Micro-Scholarships): https://www.raise.me

Scholly ($3.75/Month on annual plan)

General Financial Aid/Loan Information:

FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

American Education Services: http://www.aessuccess.org/

Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program: https://www.pa529.com/

PHEAA: https://www.pheaa.org/

PASFAA: https://www.pasfaa.org/

Click here to explore further!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 Nichole Renee