PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

A Student Timeline

12th Grade

Senior year is often an extremely busy time, with schoolwork, activities, and special events. Be sure to stay on track with the college admissions process. Get organized, be aware of deadlines, and don’t procrastinate.

Fall

Continue to visit schools. Fall is a great time to look at colleges because classes are in ses- sion and you are better able to meet and talk with students and professors. You may even be able to sit in on a class or two.

Finalize your college list. Use the information you’ve gathered from visits, interviews, and your own research to decide which schools you will apply to. Its okay to apply to colleges that you think will be more difficult to get into. But it’s also important to put a few safety schools (where you’re sure you’ll get in) on your list. Talk to counselors, teachers, and parents about your final choices. Stay on track with your grades and extracurricular activities. Colleges will look at what you’ve done in your senior year, so stay focused on doing well in your classes and maintaining a com- mitment to other activities. Take standardized tests. Register for and take the ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Tests as neces-

sary. Be sure you have requested (either by mail or online) that your test scores be sent to the colleges of your choice. Keep track of deadlines. You’ll be filling out lots of forms this year, so it’s important to know what form is due when. Make a calendar showing the application deadlines for admission, finan- cial aid, and scholarships.

Ask for letters of recommendation. Give recommendation forms to the teachers you have cho- sen, along with stamped, addressed envelopes so your teachers can send them directly to the colleges. Be sure to fill out your name and address and the school name on each form. Discuss your goals and ambitions with your teachers so they’ll be more pre- pared to write about you.

counselor. Your counselor can help you stay on track with admissions requirements. Make sure they know which colleges you want transcripts, score reports, and letters sent to. Give your counselors any necessary forms much earlier than the actual deadlines so they’ll have time to send the forms in.

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