September
  • Discuss your classes, college plans, and test scores with your high school counselor. You should have a list of colleges (usually between 5 and 10) to be reviewed with your guidance counselor.
  • Request college applications from the admissions office of colleges you are applying to.
  • Arrange campus visits to colleges you have not seen yet. If you are unable to visit a college, try www.ecampustours.com and www.youniversitytv.com for virtual, online tours.
  • Complete and turn in to your guidance counselor the Parent Recommendation and Evaluation sheet and the Student Brag Sheet.
  • Get some pointers on writing admissions essays and scholarship essays.
  • View sample essays and essay questions.
  • Continue to search for free money (scholarships and grants) and others ways to pay.
  • Submit a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, if required. Check with the colleges you are applying to.
  • Stay organized: File copies of applications and correspondence. Keep your calendar up-to-date tracking important dates and deadlines.
October
  • Find out the application-of-choice used by each college. You may be able to apply using the Common Application - www.commonapp.org
  • Ask for letters of recommendation. Most admissions and scholarship applications require these letters.
  • Attend college fairs and financial aid nights.
  • Candidates for early school admission (early decision, early action, early admission, etc.) should complete college applications. It's a good idea to investigate the pros and cons of this decision and to get familiar with the early admission timeline.
  • Determine what supplemental materials are needed for your applications and get them to your guidance counselor.
  • Begin writing personal essays for each application.
  • Submit personal essays to English teachers for critique and help with grammatical and spelling errors.
November
  • Continue completing your college applications.
  • Early decision deadline is often November 1 or 15.
  • Determine which financial aid forms the colleges on your list require-when in doubt contact the financial aid office.
  • Search for additional sources of financial aid.
  • Get a jump on things by estimating your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  • Rewrite, rewrite, and review your personal essays. Resubmit to English teacher if you need to.
  • Attend Senior College Planning night at McCann Tech with your parents.
December
  • Request transcripts from the guidance department secretary, Mrs. Skrocki. Please provide at least 24 hours for your transcript request to be processed.
  • Send transcripts to your selected schools-ask your counselor if you need help.
  • Complete school applications ideally by December 1. Most regular action applications are due between January 1 and February 15. Pay close attention to deadlines.
  • Understand the steps in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Instructions for completing the FAFSA http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html
  • Determine how to submit your FAFSA (paper or on the Web).
    **Important: Don't submit your FAFSA before January 1 or it will be returned not processed.
  • Take SAT or ACT again, if you need to increase your score.
  • Stay organized. Remember to keep copies of applications and correspondence. Continue to track important dates and deadlines on your calendar.
  • Stay in touch with your guidance counselor.
  • Attend Financial Aid night at McCann Tech with your parents.
January
  • Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Some student aid programs award funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting too long to submit your FAFSA could be costly.
  • Fill out and submit required financial aid forms. Follow instructions carefully and make copies.
  • When you have financial aid questions contact your financial aid office.
  • Familiarize yourself with state financial aid deadlines. They tend to differ from federal and institutional deadlines.
  • Contact colleges to make sure they have received all application material.
  • Send thank you notes to those who wrote recommendations for you.
February-March
  • College decisions start rolling in. Make sure to share your good news with your guidance counselor.
  • Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully examine the results. A mistake could cause you to miss out on college funding.
  • If there are special circumstances affecting your family's financial situation, be sure to discuss them with the financial aid office.
  • Don't panic if you're selected for verification. Just provide the college with the documents they need.
  • Stay on top of important financial aid deadlines.
  • Respond quickly to college requests for additional documentation.
  • College acceptance and financial award letters start rolling.
April
  • Carefully analyze your letters.
  • Make a decision and send your tuition deposit (most colleges require a response by May 1).
  • Notify the other colleges that you won't be attending (other students will be happy to take your spot).
  • Carefully follow the instructions in your acceptance letter. Along with important deadlines, these letters provide specific instructions on housing, financial aid, orientation, and more.
  • Continue to mark your calendar with important deadlines.
May/June
  • Respond quickly to requests and return necessary forms-when in doubt contact the financial aid office.
  • Notify your financial aid office of additional funding you'll receive to pay for college (scholarships and loans, etc.).
  • Take time to understand student loans and evaluate student loan lenders.
  • Learn about borrowing responsibly.
  • Send final transcript to college
  • Respond to requests from the college you will be attending. Keep copies of everything you send.
  • Read and be familiar with your college catalog and semester class schedule.
  • Talk with friends who are home from college.
  • Make travel arrangements, if necessary.
  • Send thank you notes or postcards to those who helped you get into college.
July-August
  • Register and attend a college orientation session.
  • Confirm housing arrangements and meal plans.
  • Finalize your college budget.
  • Notify the financial aid office of scholarships and loans you will receive.
  • Returned borrowed items, such as library books, rental videos, and things borrowed from friends.
  • Note tracking numbers of boxes you are shipping to school.
  • Open a bank account near campus.
  • Review your cell phone plan to limit roaming charges.
  • Contact your roommate and coordinate what to pack.
  • Good Luck!
(Portions of calendar from wiredscholar.com and collegeboard.com)