Scholarship and Financial Aid Information.

>> College Admissions Checklist

Junior Year

• Plan to take the PSAT and start preparing for the ACT or SAT.

• Start thinking about what colleges or universities you might want to attend.

• Meet with your guidance counselor to receive information on schools and financial aid.

• Take the ACT or SAT at least once your junior year to see where you stand in relation to other students.

Summer after Junior Year

• Request applications and brochures from your top colleges and universities.

• Visit college campuses and ask friends in college for advice.

Senior Year - Fall Semester

• Take the ACT or SAT as soon as possible.

• Organize all of your applications by creating files for your target schools.

• Make a list of all application requirements and deadlines.

• Start requesting letters of recommendation from teachers and community leaders.

• Consult your parents about the cost of college. Find out how much you can afford and explore financial aid options.

• Plan formal campus visits and start submitting admission and housing applications.

• Apply to scholarships from private organizations.

• Complete those college applications and get them sent in. Many applications are due by early January.

Senior Year - Spring Semester

• Make sure that all prospective colleges have received your applications.

• Gather your family's financial and tax records, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible.

• Check with your prospective colleges about additional financial aid application forms and requirements.

• Request that your grade point average (GPA) be calculated on a 4.0 scale. Many grants and scholarships will use this information to determine your eligibility.

• Compare all your admissions offers. Ask your guidance counselor to help you weigh your options.

• Make a decision! Most colleges ask you to choose your school by May 1.

• Double-check any final deadlines for housing, financial aid, etc.

Download a printable version of the college admissions checklist by clicking here. Adobe reader required. You can download the free reader here.

The National Institutes of Health's Office of Science Education and the Education Services Foundation (ESF) of Jackson, MS also have excellent information on college preparation. Please visit their websites at www.esfweb.com and www.science.education.nih.gov/.

 

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