A Fall Get-Into-College Plan for Senior Year

1. Meet with your counselor 

Beginning of senior year is a good time to meet with your high school guidance counselor or other college prep professional to discuss your college plans. Here are some things to discuss with your counselor at the beginning of senior year:

• Your College List. Get your counselor’s input on colleges that might be a good match for you and be sure to mention any colleges you’re interested in or curious about. Your counselor should have a good view of your strengths and your chances at the colleges you are considering and might also suggest additional colleges that might be a good match. Start searching for colleges now with CollegeData’s College Search.
• Your Application Essay. Discuss your essay ideas, drafts, and revision strategies with your counselor. If you wrote a first draft over the summer, you can build on your counselor’s feedback by considering these additional tips: 7 Ways to Improve Your College Essay for ways to revise your first draft. If you haven’t started your essay yet, take a look at 6 Steps to Start Your College Essay.

• Application Fee Waivers. Fees for college applications and SAT and ACT tests can add up quickly. Ask your counselor how to qualify and apply for application fee waivers. For more information, see Getting College Application Fees Waived.

2. Create a college admissions Calendar

You will have lots of deadlines to manage senior year, including deadlines for:

• College Applications
• Essays
• Financial Aid Applications
• Scholarships
• Letters of Recommendation
• Admissions Tests
• College Interviews
• Any deadlines your counselor might set, such as deadlines for your college list, personal goals, or essay drafts.

A calendar – whether it’s a hard-copy calendar posted on your wall, an Excel or Google spreadsheet, or an app on your phone – can help you keep track of your college admissions tasks and deadlines. Any calendar you create should include deadlines for your personal essay and supplemental essays, if the colleges you are applying to require them. Be sure also to include enough time to review and revise your essay(s) and to follow up with teachers and counselors about recommendations.

3. COMPLETE And Submit financial aid applicationS

It’s important to apply for financial aid as early as possible because some colleges award financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Be sure to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), as soon as possible after it becomes available, usually on October 1. Equally important is the College Board’s CSS Profile, which is an online application used by many (mostly private) colleges and universities and scholarship programs to award financial aid from sources outside of the federal government.

Remember that different colleges have different deadlines for completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile, so be sure to verify these deadlines for each college on your list, as well as the deadline to qualify for financial aid from your state. You can find federal and state financial aid deadlines here.

4. Take the SAT or the ACT again if you want to Try to improve your scores

Depending on your application deadlines, you should have at least one more chance to take the ACT or SAT in the fall of your senior year, although be sure to check with the colleges to which you are applying for the last SAT and ACT they will accept for early decision, early action, and regular admission. If you miss the test deadlines, consider looking at test-optional colleges.

6. Ask for recommendation letters 

Be sure to ask for recommendation letters well in advance of their due date so that you give your teachers, guidance counselors and other recommenders enough time to write your recommendation letter. Remember, your teachers and counselors are busy people who are writing recommendations for other students. To make it easier for them, write down all your accomplishments and academic achievements in a college resume format. Don’t forget to follow up with your recommenders at least once before the letter is due to make sure they have everything they need.

7. Complete and submit early applications

Some early action or early decision deadlines occur as early as October 1. Make sure you’ve considered the pros and cons of applying early and understand the different types of early admission programs.

8. Schedule an interview

Some colleges require or recommend an in-person or online interview with someone from the admissions office or a member of the alumni community.  Even if they are not required for admission, interviews can be a great opportunity for you to learn more about what it's like to attend a particular school and a way to stand out to the admissions office. 

9. Demonstrate Interest Where It Matters

Some colleges pay attention to “demonstrated interest” (how much a student shows sincere interest in attending the college) and some don’t. You can find out if demonstrated interest matters to a college by checking the admissions tab of its college profile, which you’ll find by using College Search.

How can you demonstrate interest in a college?

• Participate in interviews with admissions staff or alumni
• Contact admission staff with questions
• Visit the campus or attend an online tour
• Attend a fly-in program
• Attend online webinars or in-person events
• Schedule meetings through the admissions office with professors and current students.

Demonstrating sincere interest in a college and putting forth the effort to learn more about its community and unique academic opportunities shows that you are serious about your education and also helps you learn more about the college and whether or not it’s a good fit for you.

The fall of senior year can be hectic, especially when you're applying to college. We hope this checklist will help you stay on track and reach your high school and college goals. Good luck!