Walt Whitman High School

Senior Year

It's never too early to plan for the future!!

• Build strong skills by taking CHALLENGING COURSES
• STUDY hard and get excellent grades
• READ - to strengthen your vocabulary
• Become involved in CLUBS or INTRAMURALS
• INPUT school activities, honors, awards, activities, volunteer work, etc. into the RESUME TAB ON NAVIANCE
• Meet with your Guidance Counselor to FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF with GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS and available COURSES
• Make SUMMER plans - VOLUNTEER, attend SUMMER PROGRAMS

August:

Plan some college visits during the summer vacation - take a tour.

• If you are very interested in a particular school - set-up an interview.
• Do something productive over the summer.
• Continue to refine your college list.
• Research college websites and financial information as much as possible.
• Begin preparing for the college application process - start common application, finalize essays, finalize your activity sheet, athletic resumes, and assemble portfolios or audition tapes, if necessary.

September:

• Review your progress, college list, and transcript with your guidance counselor.
• Register and study for the SAT and ACT exams.
• Plan to visit colleges and set up interviews.
• Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting your school.
• Make a list of deadlines - testing, college admissions, and financial aid.
• Ask for two letters of recommendation, if you haven't already done so.
• Continue to prepare the college application - essays, activity resume, portfolios, etc.

October:

• Take the SAT and/or ACT, if necessary.
• Register and study for the December/January SAT exams if necessary.
• Have official SAT test scores sent by the testing center to the colleges on your list, if appropriate.
• Have official AP test scores sent by the testing center to the colleges on your list, if appropriate.
• File early decision/early action applications, if necessary.
• Continue to complete college applications.
• Attend college fairs.
• Find out and obtain the financial aid forms that your college requires and when they are due. (Some private colleges may require that you register for the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE at this time).
• FAFSA
  Begin to fill out the FAFSA online.

November:

• Take the SAT, if necessary.
• Have official SAT test scores sent by the testing center to the colleges on your list, if appropriate and you haven't already done so.
• Complete all college applications by Thanksgiving.
• Submit your FAFSA, if you haven't already done so.
• If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks after submitting (one week if submitted online). Review the SAR carefully and check for any inaccuracies. If necessary, make any corrections and return to the FAFSA processor.
• If you have not received your SAR four weeks after you submitted the FAFSA - contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (319)337-5665.

December:

• Take the SAT, if necessary.
• Review your post-secondary plans with your guidance counselor and make sure you have all your bases covered (at least one safety school).
• Make sure teacher recommendations are completed if required.

January:

• Keep working in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout your senior year.
• Complete income tax forms as early as possible for the FAFSA.

February:

• Have your mid-year grades sent to the colleges if required or if they will improve your application status.
• Complete scholarship applications.

March:

• You should be hearing decisions from colleges. Keep records of all correspondence.

April:

• Apply for local scholarships.
• Review your college acceptances and financial aid award packages to help in the decision-making process.
• Make your final decision and send in a deposit by the May 1st deadline.
• Check with the college you have chosen to attend about the details of signing and returning information and financial aid award letters.
• Notify other schools that you will not be attending.
• Watch for important deadlines at your chosen school (housing, financial aid, etc.)

May:

Take AP exams and send scores to your chosen college, if appropriate.

• Notify guidance of your final college decisions (transcripts will be sent verifying graduation).

June:

Finalize summer school or summer job plans.

CONGRATULATIONS!! You've made it through high school.

Some Final Notes:

• Accept the fact that you'll be in charge of your academic and personal life.
• What you do, when you do it and how things get done will be up to you.
• You'll have new responsibilities and challenges.
• Think about budgeting your time and establishing priorities.
• Take charge of the changes that lie ahead and eliminate or minimize pressures.
• Go forth with confidence and enthusiasm, willingness to adapt and determination to succeed academically and personally.

GOOD LUCK!!

College Resource Guide

What Can Parents Do:

• Continue to monitor academic progress.
• Make sure your child has taken and/or is registered to take the SAT and/or ACT in the fall.
• Continue to talk about college options with your child.
• Assist your child in completing college applications.
• Applications must be submitted at least TWO WEEKS before the college deadline.
• Try visit colleges that your child is interested in.
• FAFSA must be completed by all students seeking financial aid. The earliest you can submit the FAFSA is October 1st.
• Complete your and your child's income tax forms as soon as possible.
• Attend Financial Aid programs.
• Continue to look into scholarships. (Remember - 95% of scholarship money comes from the colleges).
• Once your child receives their college acceptance letters, compare financial award packages and help your child make an informed decision about which college to attend.
• Be proud of your child!!