College Planning

• Work hard to get good grades.
• Start a notebook that contains the following information:
  • Colleges you might be interested in
  • High School Curriculum requirements
  • Important dates and deadlines
• Start researching college websites and take notes.  Talk with current students and alumni of these colleges.
• Develop good study habits.  Aim for at least two hours of study each weeknight.
• Inquire about scholarships that are available (not all scholarships are just for Seniors).  Check our website for scholarship opportunities.
• Begin to identify your areas of academic strengths, as well as particular interest and passion.
• During the summer months, participate in workshops, community and enrichment programs.
• Work on your Community Service hours.  Aim to incorporate professions that interest you while earning Community Service hours.

Summer

June 

• Be active; get a job, internship or pursue a passion        

July - August

• Talk with family about your college goals and college costs
• Start visiting college campuses 

Back To School

September

• Keep your grades up - admissions counselors look closely at your junior year grades    

October

• Stay involved and take on leadership roles in your extra-curricular activities
• Prep for ACT or SAT, and review winter/spring test dates at actstudent.org and sat.collegeboard.org 

November

• Think about teachers/coaches/community members/employers you can ask for recommendations in near future  

December

• Meet with your school's college counselor to discuss your goals and make sure you're on track for graduation   

After Winter Break

January

• Research college admissions to determine if you need to register for and take SAT's.
  **NOTE:  All Michigan colleges accept ACT   

February

• Attend college fairs   

March

• Identify the factors in a college that are most important to you - location, cost, programs, public, private, religious affiliation, social environment, etc.   

April

• Visit convenient college campuses over Spring Break
• Ask teachers/coaches/community members/employers to write your recommendation in the fall   

May

• End junior year strong!

Summer

June

• Complete your Community Service!   

June - July

• Take part in activities that continue to enhance your college and scholarship applications; i.e. volunteering, jobs, passion pursuits   
• Tour Universities

August

• Gather application materials from colleges
• Get to work on admission essays   

Back To School As A Senior!

September

• Keep your grades up!  Colleges can rescind Admission Acceptance if grades slip.
• Take charge in your exta-curricular activities and continue to demonstrate leadership 

October

• Check-in with teachers/employers/community members/coaches you've asked for recommendations and provide them with materials and deadlines      
• Apply for FAFSA Apply here for FAFSA

November - December

• Order and send official ACT/SAT scores and your high school transcript to all colleges using Parchment. http://parchment.com
• Apply for financial aid pins
• Submit all application materials before deadlines  

December

• Confirm materials have been received by colleges, including letters of recommendation, official scores, transcripts, etc.   

After Winter Break

February

• Apply to any additional colleges you're still considering   

March

• Continue to keep up your grades as you wait to hear decisions from schools
• Apply for Local Scholarships  

April

• Visit colleges to which you've been accepted if you still need help making a decision  

May

• Keep an eye out for financial aid award letters around April and consider appealing if you have not been awarded a fair amount by a particular college.
• Decide on a college and send the Enrollment Confirmation Form no later than May 1