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Senior Year Calendar
June-AugustYour senior year actually starts now! Summer is the perfect time to visit colleges, vocational schools and apprenticeship programs with family and friends. Take time to think about what you want to do after high school and discuss it with family and friends! If you are not satisfied with your ACT scores then this is the time to take an ACT preparation course or just study on your own prior to fall test dates.
How does your resume look? Have you started your list of extracurricular activities? Who will write you recommendation letters?September_______ Are you in the correct classes to fulfill your graduation requirements? Are you taking classes that will best prepare you for your next steps?_______ Are you interested in college athletics? You need to register with NCAA_______ Update/Complete resume, extracurricular activity list, scholarship essay, and request recommendation letters_______ Begin searching for free money (scholarships and grants). Do scholarship searches on line and complete applications as needed.
_______ Watch for scholarships made available through the counseling office via emails, posters, classroom announcements
Check out the scholarship poster board, review the scholarships online, do a scholarship search and ask the counselor for a list of upcoming scholarship
______ Create an account with ACT, Call customer service with ACT and link your state scores to your account to share with schools.
_______ Register for and take the ACT or SAT if not completed in 11th grade or student wishes to improve score of previously taken test. Ask if you are eligible for fee waivers.
ACT: www.actstudent.org
SAT: www.collegeboard.com
________Discuss your classes, college plans, and test scores with your high school counselor, teachers, and guardians.
________Arrange campus visits to colleges, apprenticeships, businesses, and vocational schools
________Attend College Fair (Mid - September)
________STAY ORGANIZED: File copies of applications and correspondence. Keep your calendar up-to-date tracking important dates and deadlines. Track logins and passwords. Start a binder just for planning and keeping records!
_______ Create FSA ID
October
_______ Attend FAFSA night at the school with your parents
________You can start applying to schools; discuss benefits of waiting until MT College Application Week in November
_______ Verify that your transcripts are accurate - Always be checking your transcript and its accuracy
_______ Have you asked for letters of recommendation? Ask three mentors, coaches, employers, teachers, etc for a letter; Give them a copy of your resume to help them write a good letter for you!
_______ Candidates for early school admissions should complete college applications. You may also want to investigate the pros and cons and get a feel for what kind of timeline you may have to meet to apply early.
_______ Contact the selected college or university for any special financial aid, scholarship and application instructions if you plan to participate in a school’s early decision program.
November
________ MT College Application Week - Free or Waived admission fees
________ Deadline for early admittance decision is often November 1st or 15th
________ Parents you may want to check with your accountant about how best to finance your child's education. FAFSA is based on this year's tax information but is filled out after January 1st and best before February 15th to give your child the best opportunity for specific funds.
________ Continue to watch monthly scholarship deadlines and complete all that apply to you
December
_______ Complete school applications ideally by December 1st and FAFSA
_______ Attend the financial aid workshop sponsored by the school with your parents
_______ Look carefully at all the forms required by the selected schools and the application deadlines. You should have received specific information from the selected colleges. Be sure to submit applications before due dates. Pay attention to your emails and read each one carefully.
_______ STAY ORGANIZED: Remember to keep copies of applications and correspondence. Continue to track important dates and deadlines on your calendar.
January
_______ Check your graduation progress after semester ends - MSU Scholarships require 7th semester transcript
_______ If you are applying for the Montana University Systems Honor Scholarship have the completed packet to the HS counselor by February 15th._______ Check with the financial aid office about scholarship programs unique to each institution.February-March
_______ Carefully check financial aid letters received from colleges and make financial decision
_______ Attend college visit days at college campuses to help you become informed and familiar with the post-secondary school you are interested in attending
______ If you plan to live on campus at any school of your choice now is the time to find the dorm application, usually online, and submit it. Normally there is a fee, so you will want to discuss and plan this with your guardians.______ Advanced Placement Exam options; see Ms. Robbins and sign upApril
_______ Make a decision with your the financial aid packet you received; complete the online loan counseling through FAFSA and sign any required documents before the deadlines!
_______ Evaluate student loan lenders and take time to understand student loans.______ Notify the other colleges that you won’t be attending
_______ Carefully follow the directions 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
_______ Ms. Robbins will mail transcripts to your post-secondary school of choice
_______ You will receive your immunization records and extra transcripts; do not lose these_______ Register for freshman orientation at your college of choice
_______ Respond quickly to requests and return necessary forms – when in doubt contact the financial aid office.
_______ Notify your financial aid office of any additional funding you’ll be receiving to pay for college (scholarships and loans, etc.) that will be sent directly to the school
______ Write thank you's to all scholarship committees that awarded you financial support
______ Keep a copy of all scholarships you received so you know when and how you are to receive the financial support; this should be kept in your binder started in SeptemberSummer
_______ Attend Orientation. This may not be mandatory, but is extremely important to attend if possible. Attending orientation often allows you to register for classes earlier, meet with an academic advisor, learn where all the student service centers and important buildings are, and meet other students in your classes.
_______ Complete any college financial aid info received. If you have questions, ask.
_______ Finalize your budget
_______ Still need money for college? Remember every dollar you don’t borrow is a dollar you don’t have to repay. Learn how to borrow responsibly. Borrow only what you absolutely need to cover the cost of your education. Why? When it’s time to repay, you’ll have other financial obligations – like rent, car payments, and other living expenses.
_______ Send thank you notes to individuals who have helped you in any way.
Financial Aid
Scholarships. Apply to the Financial Aid Office at the selected college or university. Each institution has a variety of scholarships that are granted annually.
Military Scholarships. 1, 2, 3, and 4-year scholarships are available. These vary depending on the length and type of scholarship.Locally Sponsored Scholarships. See Ms. Robbins and the website for scholarship options.
Student Loans. Various loans including Stafford and Perkins are available. Generally, repayment, including interest, begins after a student graduates or leaves school.
Parent Loans. Repayment, including interest, begins within 60 days of the day the loan is disbursed. Loan applications are obtained from the college financial aid officer or from a participating lender.
Grants. Pell Education Opportunity Grants may be awarded in the financial aid award if need is shown.
Work Study. College work-study is often included as part of the financial award.