If you remember one of my recent posts for Juniors about getting ready for college, through their Junior year of high school.
Now for those of you reaching your last and final year of high school, surely senioritis has started to settle in? Are you getting excited for your last year? You are the “big man/women” on campus now. This is it. Your final days are approaching and as fast as this summer has already gone, your senior year will go just as quick.
But for most of you, this might be the first year you start making some pretty serious decisions. The first time that your research and our decision-making will affect the rest of your life. This might be the first time for many of you to get so damn much mail!
This is it. This year you will have to do more work outside high school class, to better prepare yourself for college. Much of what you do in high school will reflect automatically on where you go to college, and the type of degree and career you choose.
I’d like to provide you with a list of steps for high schools seniors to seriously consider following throughout your senior year in high school. This list is from my own research and definitely for your own use, but I think I have everything covered for you to consider and take the step to step approach in preparing for college.
If you follow these steps, I guarantee you will feel so much better by the end of your senior year. Check it out and get back to me on it.
September- 1.meet with college admissions representatives visiting your school. 2.make a calendar of key financial aid and application deadline dates. 3.ask teachers, counselors community people and anyone else you know that could provide a good recommendation letter for you
October- 1.take the SAT or ACT if necessary. 2.work on admissions applications essays, if necessary. 3.revisit your top school choices (4-5) and talk with other people familiar with these schools. 4.continue to seek and apply for scholarships available. The biggest purpose for my running this blog is to provide you all with an all-in-one 5.site that has everything careers, college…and cash! Especially scholarships. In fact a lot of my posts have to do with various scholarship websites that are available. Below is a list of most of those scholarship sites, and lists of scholarships I found and received from other readers.
Check these out for your information:
STEPS TO TAKE WHEN APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP?
MONEY AND SCHOLARSHIP FINDING TIPS
NEW LIST OF RECOMMENDED SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITES
THE LEFT HANDED SHOVEL IN SCHOLARSHIPS
COLLEGE FINANCING TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
LIST #3 OF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR COLLEGE
LIST #2 OF AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE & CAREERS
NEW LIST OF CURRENT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
November- 1.take the SAT or ACT if necessary. 2.obtain financial aid applications and other necessary information from your colleges of choice (3-4). 3.start preparing your college applications 4.continue searching for scholarships still available
December- 1.gather whatever data needed for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). 2.continue searching for scholarships still available.
January- 1.start gathering all necessary financial information, including tax information for your FAFSA forms. Most of these are due in March or after. 2.continue searching for scholarships still available.
February- 1.Check to see if your mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools which you have applied to (3-4). 2.plan for or look into AP exams or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. 3.continue searching for scholarship. They are STILL out there!
March- 1.FAFSA forms are due in many states. Check out an article I posted back a while ago that shows the deadline dates for all FAFSA, especially by state. 2.look out for financial aid paperwork, Student Aid Report, or any other documentation or letters that look “official.” Chances are, they are. 3.continue searching for scholarships that are still available.
April- 1.keep your eyes open for the mail for scholarship award letters or financial aid reports. Compare all financial aid packages and see which one is best for you., Avoid private loans as much as possible. Try to go to college for free. That’s a great goal. 2.choose a school and send in a deposit (if necessary) by the deadline. 3.contact your financial aid office at your chosen school to make certain your application is complete. **Be sure to follow by your states deadline dates**
May- 1.take any necessary AP exams or entrance exams. 2.write thank yous to people who wrote you letters of recommendation. 3.your done with high school!!
Now there is much more to this list. I’m giving you the basics here, but the very important things for you to consider. As long as your focus on a few things throughout your year.
And that is…
1.To do everything by deadline dates
2.Have a few college choices
3.Know what you want to do
4.Always look for scholarships
If you can keep these in mind, plus focusing more detail on how you choose the college that is a right fit for you.
Your Success is My Success,
Keith Lipke
Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Hope Chest. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college.
Image above comes from: http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tunnel.jpg
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