College
Readiness Checklists
Parent Checklist
Each year:
Continue to talk to your child about their college plans as if they will
definitely go to college.
Keep an eye on your childs study habits and grades, staying involved in
their learning.
Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement or other challenging
classes.
Encourage your child to participate in enrichment activities that help them
build skills, learn about their strengths, and explore career interests. Focus
on quality of experiences.
Help your child develop independence by encouraging them to take
responsibility for balancing homework with other activities.
Junior and Senior year:
Talk to your child about the schools they are considering. Ask why those
schools appeal to them, and help them clarify their goals and priorities.
Continue checking in with your child to see if theyve added any colleges to
their list.
Attend college fairs with your child, but encourage your child to do the
talking.
As able, take your child to visit college campuses.
Review your financial situation and make sure your child is applying for
scholarships. Research options to pay for college.
Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees
children.
(Adapted from http://studentaid.ed.gov)
Freshman & Sophomore Year
Checklist
(click for
PDF)
Career & Personal Development:
Start a personal achievement portfolio and keep it updated.
Attend community and cultural events.
Take an interest inventory to learn about your strengths and how they match
with career options. Free inventories are available online through Check out a
College and Workforce Explorer. Sophomore year, re-take or take a different
interest inventory to see how your interests have changed or grown more
specific.
Get involved in activities that help you explore your interests and make new
friends.
Attend career information events to see what career options exist and
interest you.
Plan to use your summer wisely, such as volunteering, working, or taking a
summer course.
Academic Preparation:
Do your best in school.
Keep your options open by taking the most challenging and interesting
classes that you can.
Learn and practice managing your time wisely.
Build strong study habits.
College Planning Activities:
Learn about the different types of colleges and what degrees they offer.
Use the Internet or resources in the counseling office to get more
information about college in general as well as specific colleges.
Visit a local college campus to get a taste of what college is all about.
Most offer free events open to the community year round.
Talk to your parents, teachers or other adults about your college and career
plans.
Sophomore year, start to research college majors and career options in more
depth.\
(Adapted from
http://studentaid.ed.gov and
www.independence.wa.gov)
Junior Year Checklist
(click
for PDF)
September:
Continue to keep your options open by taking the most challenging and
interesting classes that you can.
Continue to update your personal achievement portfolio.
Read and act on important college and testing information that comes from
the counseling office.
Start your resume - you will need it to get letters of recommendation and
apply for many scholarships.
Stay involved in extra-curricular activities, and take on a formal or
informal leadership role.
October:
Sign up for and take the PSAT it will help you know how you will
perform on the SAT, gets you familiar with the SAT format, and qualifies you
for the National Merit Scholarship competition.
Attend college fairs and information nights announced in the bulletin.
Consider purchasing a computer program or study guide to help you study for
the SAT and/or ACT. Start studying about 20 minutes three times a week. At a
minimum, check out the SAT Question of the Day.
Attend college visits at SCS during lunch.
Start to brainstorm what you want in a college.
Choose 5-10 colleges that meet your needs/wants, and request information
from them.
November:
Make an appointment with your school counselor to discuss college and
career options.
Continue to study for the SAT and/or ACT.
Give thanks to God for His many blessings!
Read all of the information you receive in the mail from your top colleges.
Continue to attend college visits at SCS during lunch.
Continue to attend college fairs and information nights announced in the
bulletin.
Continue to consider possible college majors, and make sure your top
colleges offer the programs you want.
December:
When your school counselor shares your PSAT results with your class, use
the information you learned to continue studying for the SAT.
Start to look and apply for scholarship opportunities open to Juniors.
Consider visiting college campuses if you travel out of town during the
holidays. If you stay in town, explore the option of visiting a local college.
Have a restful and joyous Christmas break!
January:
Happy New Year!
Continue studying for the SAT and/or ACT.
Narrow down your choices of colleges and/or universities, and consider
visiting. At the least, explore their website thoroughly and check into
whether you can do a virtual campus tour.
Prepare for any college visits.
Study for finals.
February:
Check the bulletin for information about local college open houses and
tours.
If you have decided to visit a college, call and make arrangements.
Continue studying for the SAT and/or ACT.
Start to research options to pay for college.
Register to take the SAT and/or ACT in May or June.
March:
If you are taking an AP course, check with your teacher about signing up
for the May test.
Continue studying for the SAT and/or ACT.
Work to narrow down your list of preferred colleges to five. Make sure to
have one or two solid Plan B options.
Start thinking about adults that you might ask to write letters of
recommendation for you (church or community members, teachers, coaches, etc.).
Start talking to them about your college goals.
April:
Step up studying for the SAT and/or ACT.
Start researching and applying for summer internships, jobs or volunteer
opportunities related to your career interests.
May:
Take the SAT and/or ACT if you signed up for it this month.
Start planning for your Senior year courses. Select classes that will help
you meet college entrance requirements and further explore your career
interests.
June:
Study for finals.
School's out! Happy vacation!!
Visit college campuses.
Take the SAT and/or ACT if you signed up for it this month.
If needed, continue studying for the SAT and/or ACT. Register to retake the
test(s) in October or November.
July and August:
Continue to visit college campuses.
Request applications from your top colleges.
Start working on your college application personal statements/essays.
If you are super motivated, get a head start on the Senior Year Checklist!
Senior Year Checklist
(click
for PDF)
September:
If you havent already, narrow down your list of preferred colleges to
five and request applications. Make sure to have one or two solid Plan B
options.
Start a calendar with all college admissions and financial aid deadlines,
and other important college dates.
Start a file that includes all of your correspondence with your top
colleges.
If needed, register to retake the SAT and/or ACT, or for SAT I and SAT II
tests in October or November. Continue studying.
If applying for early decision, check with the college admissions office for
special application deadlines and information.
Update your resume from Junior year.
Review your Senior year courses. Make sure that you picked classes that
would prepare you for your college and career goals.
Check the Scholarship Board and research other scholarships. Apply for as
many scholarships as is realistic. Continue to do this throughout the year.
Check in with your school counselor on where you are at with the college
application process.
Read and act on important college information that comes from the counseling
office throughout the school year.
Start and/or continue working on your college application(s).
October:
Attend college fairs and information nights announced in the bulletin.
Attend college visits at SCS during lunch. Parents are welcome to attend.
If needed/registered, take the SAT and/or ACT, or the SAT I and SAT II
tests.
Ask people for recommendations (church or community members, teachers,
coaches, etc.), providing them with a copy of your resume so that they can
make their recommendation as specific and personal as possible.
Give the school counselor a minimum of one week to complete the "Secondary
School Report" section of your college application forms. If a letter is
required, remember to check in with the school counselor a minimum of two
weeks before the letter is due.
Read all of the information you receive from your top colleges, and make
sure that you respond to any requests for information by the deadlines.
Continue to apply for scholarships.
Continue to consider possible college majors, and make sure your top
colleges offer the programs you want.
Talk to your top colleges about financial aid forms and processes.
Ask teachers to help you review your personal statement/essay for college
applications.
November:
Attend college visits at SCS during lunch. Parents are welcome to attend.
If you are planning to apply to a highly selective college, consider
submitting your application this month. Submit other college applications as
due.
If needed/registered, take the SAT and/or ACT, or the SAT I and SAT II
tests.
If necessary, register to re-take the SAT and/or ACT in December.
Continue to apply for scholarships.
Give God thanks for His blessings in your life and that you have choices
about your future!
December:
Keep paying attention to college deadlines and submitting application and
financial aid materials as they are due.
Students and parents - request a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
pin online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Save December pay stubs and collect W-2s from any jobs worked last year to
complete the FAFSA. Talk to your parents about saving theirs too.
If needed, take the final SAT and/or ACT test.
When you schedule second semester classes, remember to schedule challenging
ones that meet college entrance requirements and also relate to your career
goals. Also remember that your final semester does count - colleges and
universities look closely at it.
Continue to apply for scholarships.
Have a restful break. Merry Christmas!
January:
Happy New Year!
Work with your parents to fill out the FAFSA online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov on January 1, or as
soon after as possible. The earlier you submit your FAFSA, the earlier you get
financial aid award letters from colleges where you have submitted
applications.
Keep paying attention to college deadlines and submitting application and
financial aid materials as they are due.
Contact all colleges you applied to, making sure that your application was
received and is complete.
Continue to apply for scholarships.
As you begin receiving acceptance letters, make copies and give them to your
school counselor for the "Look Who's Going to College" wall.
Study for finals.
February:
Keep paying attention to college deadlines and submitting application and
financial aid materials as they are due.
Continue contacting all colleges you applied to, making sure that your
application was received and is complete.
Mail end-of-semester transcripts to colleges you have already applied to.
When you get your Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA, make sure your
colleges of choice are listed. If your SAR asks for additional information, or
if you need to make any corrections, do so ASAP.
Continue applying for scholarships.
March:
Continue contacting all colleges you applied to, making sure that your
application was received and is complete.
Although your college applications are in the mail, remember that high
school isn't over yet! Your last semester's grades are important to colleges
you have been accepted to, so keep studying.
Review financial aid award letters from all colleges you were accepted to.
If you didn't get enough aid or have questions about the aid that a school has
offered you, call the colleges financial aid office. They can tell you about
your options. You can also research other options to pay for college.
Apply for any final scholarships.
April:
If you haven't heard from a college or university by now about your
acceptance status, you should be hearing this month. If you did not get
accepted at any of the colleges you applied for, talk to your school counselor
about your options there are still options!
Continue to review financial aid award letters from all colleges you were
accepted to. If you didn't get enough aid or have questions about the aid that
a school has offered you, call the colleges financial aid office. They can
tell you about your options. You can also research other options to pay for
college.
Work with your parents to choose what college you will attend, paying
attention to any deadlines. When you make your decision, send a thank you
letter of acceptance and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools
require this notification and deposit by May 1. Write letters to other schools
that accepted you to thank them and let them know that you will not be
attending their school.
Start to research on- or off-campus housing options at your college, paying
attention to deadlines and deposit requirements.
Start researching and applying for summer internships, jobs or volunteer
opportunities related to your career interests.
May - August
Respond to all letters from your college by the due dates.
Study for finals in June.
Congratulations, graduate! May God richly bless you on your new adventure!
("I will instruct you and teach you in the way you will go; I will guide you
with my eye". Psalm 32:8)
Finalize summer school, job and/or volunteer plans.
If living on-campus, double-check your campus housing arrangements. This
includes calling your college roommate and shopping for dorm room essentials.
Participate in any Freshman orientation programs at your college.
Take any required college placement tests.
Save money for college expenses.
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