• Pre-College Checklist for Juniors

     

    August
    		September
    • Review your high school coursework & activity plans
    • Keep in mind that colleges look for the following:
      • challenging coursework
      • a strong GPA
      • involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteer work or church
    • Obtain a Social Security Number if you don't already have one.  You will need it to apply for college and financial aid.
    • Signup for Educaid's FREE monthly e-mail CollegeBound Newsletter at http://www.educaid.com

    • Identify sources of college & career information at your school.  Start looking through guidance publications, college catalogs and guidebooks
    • Put together a list of 10 colleges that you would like to attend.  Plan to apply to at least 3-5 schools.
    • Talk to your parents and your high school counselor about where you want to go to school.
    • Study & register for the Pre-SAT
    • Obtain dates and locations of college fairs & parent nights in your local area.
    October
    		November
    • Take the PSAT and national Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  Remember to take your calculator.
    • Inquire about Advanced Placement (AP) or summer college courses that may be available to you.
    • Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights

    • Start looking into eligibility requirements for federal and alternative student loans.  A good source of FREE, up-to-date information on low-cost student loans is Educaid.  Helpful customer service representatives at Educaid can be reached weekdays at 1-877-318-2368
    • Call (800) 4-FED-AIDand ask for free copies of financial aid materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    December
    		January
    • Your PSAT/NMSQT score report should arrive
    • Start planning to take the SAT I and/or SAT II exams, if necessary.  You may also need to take the ACT.  Check with the colleges you are applying to and find out specific testing requirements.  Ask your high school counselor about registration deadlines.

    • Go through the catalogs of the 3-5 schools that interest you most.
    • During your college visits, make sure you meet with an admissions representative and financial aid officer to find out what types of aid are available.
    • Attend financial aid nights, if you have not already done so.
    February
    		March
    • Start seriously investigating private scholarships and other student aid programs.  Ask your teachers and counselor if any local organizations offer free use of scholarship search program.
    • Go to http://www.scholarships.com to review scholarships available to you.
    • Register and study for the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams.

    • Continue investigating outside funding sources.
    • Register and study for SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams, if you have not already done so.
    • For more information on financial aid and answers to your questions, visit Educaid's website at http://www.educaid.com
    April
    		May
    • Begin scheduling visits to each of the 3-5 schools that are on your final list.  If appropriate, apply for an interview and/or an overnight visit.
    • consider taking the Advanced Placement (AP) exams while information is fresh in your mind.
    • Take an SAT prep course to help prepare for the upcoming test.
    • Begin preparing essays for college admissions and scholarship applications.

    • Take the SAT (II and II) and/or ACT exams.
    • Take Advanced Placement (AP) exams which are given in high schools nationally in early to mid-May.
    • Be aware of the test dates and registration deadlines for the remaining SAT (I and II) exams.  You may take them during your senior year in high school.
    • Continue compiling information to find out which organizations award scholarships to graduating seniors.  (You may have to begin applying the summer after your Junior year.)
    June
    • Take the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams if you did not take them last month.
    • Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer.  This will help you to prepare for the SAT, if you plan to take it in the fall.
    • Obtain a summer job that might be related to your career interests.
    • If possible, save some money from your summer job to pay for college costs.
    • If you travel this summer, consider scheduling a college visit.
    • Important numbers:
      • Educaid: 1-877-818-2368