If you are a High School student planning for college, then this page is made for you! We’ve prepared the following planning timeline to help make it easier for you to remember deadlines while navigating the exciting process of college exploration and admissions. This timeline should provide a helpful outline of the important steps you’ll need to complete over the course of your junior and senior years in high school to prepare yourself for college.
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JUNIORS |
SENIORS |
| AUG |
- Identify sources of college and career information at your school. Start looking through guidance publications, college catalogs, college web sites and guidebooks.
- Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in dual‐credit college courses.
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- Review your career plans and decide which type of school is right for you.
- Request admission information from colleges you are interested in.
- Narrow your college list to 3‐5 schools and make plans to visit each campus.Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in dual‐credit college courses.
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| SEPT |
- Compile a list of 8‐10 colleges you would like to attend. Plan to apply to at least 2‐3 colleges.
- Talk with your family, high school counselor and teachers about your college choices and plans.
- Study and register for the ACT and/or SAT test.
- Obtain dates and locations of college fairs in your area.
- Visit with your high school counselor about scholarship opportunities.
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- Find dates of ‘Senior Day’ events on campuses of the colleges you are most interested.
- Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting your school.
- Remember that you must take tests like the SAT/ACT at least six weeks before admissions deadlines for scores to be submitted to colleges.
- Begin asking teachers/guidance counselors/employers for letters of recommendation to include with your admissions and/or scholarship applications (when required).
- Contact your high school counselor about application to national, state and local scholarships.
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| OCT |
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- Attend college fairs in your area.
- Note application and scholarship deadlines for the 3‐5 schools you would like to attend.
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| NOV |
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- Begin preparing your college applications and scholarship forms. Read them carefully to determine what information is required and when the applications/forms are due.
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| DEC |
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- Apply for local, state and national scholarships in addition to scholarships at your top 3‐5 colleges.
- PARENTS: Save your year‐end payroll stub if it shows your earnings for the year. You may need it for financial aid eligibility reviews by schools.
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| JAN |
- Continue to research top 8‐10 schools and begin to narrow list down to 5‐6 schools.
- Find dates of ‘Junior Day’ events on campuses of the colleges you are most interested.
- Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in dual‐credit college courses.
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- Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in dual‐credit college courses.
- File parent and student(if student is employed) income tax returns as soon after January 1st as possible.
- Submit your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1st as possible.
- KEEP COPIES OF ALL FORMS YOU SUBMIT.
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| FEB |
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- Complete and submit the FAFSA if you have not already done so.
- Follow up with college(s) you are applying to and confirm that they have received your Admissions and Financial Aid/FAFSA applications/information.
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| MAR |
- Continue investigating scholarship sources.
- Study and register for the ACT and/or SAT test if you have not already done so. Find registration deadlines and test dates at http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html.
- Continue to check with your high school counselor about what you need to be doing to prepare for college.
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- Watch for Admissions and Financial Aid information from school(s) you have applied to. Keep all admissions and financial aid items received from each school in separate folders.
- Keep copies of all forms you submit to the financial aid office.
- Priority deadline for Labette Community College scholarships is April 1st.
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| APR |
- Continue to research top 8‐10 schools and begin to narrow list down to 3‐5 schools.
- Contact top 3‐5 colleges to schedule campus visits: meet with Admissions, Financial Aid and Faculty in department(s) in which you plan to major during your visit(s).
- Continue investigating scholarship sources.
- Study and register for the ACT and/or SAT test if you have not already done so. Find registration deadlines and test dates at http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html.
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- Watch your mailbox for college acceptance and financial aid award letters. Compare the financial aid awards you receive.
- Make your final decision and send in a deposit (when required) by the deadline (where applicable).
- Notify other college(s) that you will not be attending, as you have made plans to attend elsewhere.
- Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college (housing, financial aid, enrollment, etc…)
- Research housing options.
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| MAY |
- Continue to research top 8‐10 schools and begin to narrow list down to 3‐5 schools.
- Continue investigating scholarship sources.
- Study and register for the ACT and/or SAT test if you have not already done so. Find registration deadlines and test dates at http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html.
- Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in summer dual‐credit college courses.
- Finalize summer employment plans. Obtain a summer job that might be related to your career interests.
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- Request your high school transcript to be sent to your future college after graduation.
- Watch for enrollment information and/or contact your chosen college to make an appointment with your advisor to enroll for Summer/Fall courses.
- Finalize summer employment plans. Obtain a summer job that might be related to your career interests.
- Contact your high school counselor to ask about enrollment in summer dual‐credit college courses.
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| JUN |
- Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer.
- If possible, save some money from your summer job to pay for college costs.
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- Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer.
- If possible, save some money from your summer job to pay for college costs.
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