College Planning Timeline

Junior Year

September	Sign up for the PSAT.	www.collegeboard.com/psat
October	Take the PSAT.
November	Start your college search.	www.collegeboard.com/collegesearch
December	Start preparing for the SAT.	www.collegeboard.com/psatextra
January	Keep preparing for the SAT.	www.collegeboard.com/satprep
February	Register online for SAT or ACT.	www.collegeboard.com/sat
March	Talk about your after-high school plans with your family and your counselor or advisor. Check your college advisor’s office for announcements of college reps visiting the school. Visit colleges while they’re still in session. Start a college application file. Line up a summer job, internship, or course.
April	Study for May AP exams. Remind your family to keep copies of all tax returns.
May	May SAT and SAT Subject tests. Take AP exams. Study for finals.
June	Take the SAT or ACT. Throw yourself into your job, internship, or course — the more you make of it, the better your chances of getting a merit-based scholarship. Start thinking about your college essays. Prepare a list of colleges to visit during the summer and schedule appointments. Find out about financial aid available through church groups, labor unions, and other organizations.
July–August	Narrow your college list. Gather applications and financial aid information. Schedule college visits. Get a Social Security number if you don’t have one. Earn and save money for college.

Senior Year

September	Register for fall SAT / ACT tests. Be sure your courses meet requirements for high school graduation. Get letters of recommendation from teachers, employers, and others who know you well. See your counselor: discuss college, financial aid, and scholarships. Decide whether you should apply for an Early Decision / Early Action acceptance. Schedule college visits. Review deadlines for specific college programs and scholarships.
October	Make a final check and review of your school records. Meet Early Decision and Early Action application deadlines and start all other college applications. Complete CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, if required, at www.collegeboard.com/css. Work on application essays. Attend college nights and fairs. Work on applications; request transcripts be sent to the colleges to which you are applying. Schedule a planning conference with your college advisor. Review scholarships to which you plan to apply.
November	November SAT and SAT Subject Tests — Language Tests with Listening are only offered now. Send SAT scores online to meet application deadlines. Apply: you and one parent sign up for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov to file FAFSA online in January. Consult your college advisor and college catalogs for required Achievement Tests other than SAT or ACT. Attend financial aid workshops and seminars. Complete your admissions applications and essays, if required. Register for SAT / ACT tests if you have not yet done so. Check bulletin boards for financial aid workshops, scholarship announcements, and visits by college representatives.
December	Take December SAT and SAT Subject Tests if needed. Complete FAFSA worksheets at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Review college application due dates.
January	File the FAFSA if you have not yet done so. Complete the college's financial aid application form, if required. File your TAP Application online at the end of the FAFSA. Keep your college application folder up to date. Check bulletin boards for financial aid workshops, scholarship announcements, and visits by college representatives. Are all your college applications submitted? Any deadlines approaching for applications or scholarships?
February	Apply well before priority deadlines to receive the most financial aid for college Colleges may ask for your mid-year high school grade report Are you maintaining your folder of correspondence?
March	Look for a summer job, internship, or course. Colleges begin to send acceptance notices. File your completed (paper) Express TAP Application if you haven't already filed online. Register for AP exams. Check your financial aid status at your college or university. Check TAP status on www.hesc.org.
April	Review financial aid packages with your parents and advisor. Study for AP exams. Colleges send out financial aid packages to accepted students. If you are accepted by a college, you must make an enrollment decision, accept or refuse the financial aid offered, and send in the required housing and tuition deposits. Review your financial aid package with the college financial aid office.
May	Take AP exams and send scores to your final-choice college. Write thank-you notes to everyone who assisted you, including college advisors, counselors, teachers, secretaries. Notify the colleges which you decided not to attend. If you decline admission and have received an aid package, notify the college financial aid office so it can offer the award to another student. If you have to borrow money from the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) or Federal Direct Student Loan Program, you will have to sign a promissory note which guarantees you will repay the loan.
June	Send your final transcript to your college. Register for classes as soon as you can.
July–August	Notify your college advisor and the financial aid office of your college about any scholarships you've received. Use your summer job to help finance your education. Get ready for your first year of college!