University Timeline

Freshman Year

• Schedule an appointment with your school counselor to discuss career goals.
• Earn the best grades you can.
• Take the most challenging (but appropriate) courses you can.

Sophomore Year

• Stay in touch with your school counselor.
• If your school offers it, take the PSAT or PLAN in the fall.
• Get good grades.
• Continue to take the most challenging courses you can.
• Talk with you counselor, and schedule testing for the SAT and/or ACT.

Junior Year

Fall Semester

• Junior year grades are important; stay focused!
• Gather all the information you can about colleges.
• Talk with your parents about financing college.
• Continue to remain involved in activities; try to move into positions of responsibility or leadership.
• Take the SAT and/or ACT.
• Develop an initial list of colleges in which you show the most interest.

Spring Semester

• Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to begin the college process.
• Make some preliminary visits to colleges during fall and spring Previews.
• Attend as many college fairs as possible.
• Research colleges, collect and organize information.
• Reduce your college list to a list of colleges you would like to attend. A list of 10 is a good place to start.
• Contact admissions offices of colleges you are interested in, ask questions and get to know the admissions counselor.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

• Don't forget how important your grades continue to be: the first semester/ trimester is critical.
• Reduce College list to top 5.
• Get recommendations from teachers, counselors and other influential people in your life.
• Retake the SAT and/or ACT as many times as possible.
• Be certain of all deadlines for application, financial aid, housing, etc.
• Send applications to the top three schools on your list.
• Have your High School send transcripts to the colleges for which you applied.
• Remain involved in activities which you enjoy, assume leadership positions and more responsibility.

Spring Semester

• Early January, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and send to your top three schools.
• Take advantage of interviews when given the opportunity.
• Get involved with college life by attending as many events as possible.
• Wait for acceptance letter.
• Wait for financial aid award letter.
• Complete any aid-related forms. Sign and return the award letter by the requested deadlines.
• Call your Financial Aid Counselor to verify and answer questions.
• If accepted, complete housing applications and return dorm fees by requested deadlines.
• Send thank you notes to the persons that submitted personal recommendations for you.