- Review your career
plans and decide which type
of school is right for you.
- Visit some college campuses.
- Narrow your college list to 3 to 5 schools.
- Request catalogs and admissions information.
- Contact your high school counselor for registration materials and test dates for the SAT and/or the ACT.
- Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting your school.
- Make a list of all test names, dates, fees, registration deadlines, and deadlines for college admissions and financial aid applications.
- Remember that you must take tests like the SAT and ACT at least six weeks before the deadline for scores to be submitted to colleges.
- Begin asking teachers, guidance counselors, and employers for letters of recommendation to include with your admissions and/or scholarship applications.
- Take the SAT or ACT exam if necessary.
- Work on admissions application essays.
- Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights.
- Find out which financial aid applications your college choices require and when the forms are due.
- Some private universities may require that you register for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE™ at this time. (This determines your qualification for private school aid.)
- Take the SAT or ACT exam, if necessary.
- Obtain financial aid applications from your guidance office or college of choice. Read them carefully to determine what information is required and when the applications are due.
- Begin to prepare your college applications. Check with the colleges to find out when materials must be postmarked.
- Submit your completed FAFSA to the processor as soon after
January 1 as possible.
- Keep copies of all of the forms you submit.
- January is Financial Aid Awareness Month in some states. Look for special programs in your area.
- It's helpful to have your income tax returns prepared early, as schools may request them to prove eligibility for financial aid.
- Make sure your mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools to which you have applied.
- Mail your FAFSA if you have not already done
so.
- Research taking Advanced Placement (AP) or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.
- Rank your finalized list of colleges.
- February is Financial Aid Awareness Month in some states. Look for special programs in your area.
- Look for your Student
Aid Report (SAR) in the
mail. Your SAR contains federal financial aid
information.
- Submit your SAR and, if requested, your tax
forms to the financial aid office.
Contact each office to make
certain that your application
is complete. Find out what else
you need to do to establish
and maintain your eligibility
for financial aid.
- Keep copies of everything you submit to the financial aid office.
- If you have not received your SAR four
weeks after sending in your FAFSA,
contact the Federal Student
Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243.
- Watch the mail for college
acceptance and financial
aid award letters. Compare
the financial aid awards that
you receive.
- Make your final decision and send in a deposit by the deadline.
- Check with the college you've chosen about the details of signing and returning financial aid award letters.
- Notify the other schools that you will not be attending.
- Watch for important deadlines
(housing, financial
aid, etc.) at your chosen
college.
- Take AP examinations. These are given in high schools nationwide.
- If you need and are eligible
for a student or parent loan, call PNC Bank at 1-800-762-1001 for a loan application.
- Finalize summer school or summer job plans.
- 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).
Congratulations! You've made it. Now you're off to college.
For more information, send us
an email or contact our customer service
center to speak with an education
loan specialist at 1-800-762-1001, Monday through Thursday from 8am to 9pm and Friday from 8am to 6pm Eastern time.
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