Four-Year College Planning Calendar for Seniors

Fall

Start Your College Search

§                         Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, preferences, and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college.

§                         Jumpstart your college planning by reading about majors and careers.

§                         Use College Search to find colleges with the right characteristics.  Attend college fairs and meet with college reps when they visit our campus.

Pulling Your Applications Together

§                         Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 and review it with your counselor. Visit as many as possible.

§                         Make a master calendar and note:

§                                         SAT & ACT NOT Required for class of 2021 due to COVID 19 

§                                         College application due dates 

§                                         Required financial aid applications and their deadlines

§                                         Recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials

§                         Ask for letters of recommendation. Give each person your resume or letter of recommendation request.

§                         Write application essays and ask teachers, parents, and friends to read first drafts.

Applying Early Action or Early Decision?

§                         For early admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications in early November. Send your SAT® scores  to prospective colleges.

Get Financial Aid Info

§                         Attend Placer High's  Financial Aid Night in October

§                         Use Scholarship Search and check the Placer High Scholarship bulletin which is on the counseling page of our website.

Winter

Application Details

§                         Many of the private college applications are due between January 1 and February 15. Keep copies of everything you send to colleges.

§                         Be aware that some colleges request a “seventh semester transcript” which would include your grades for the fall term.

Financial Aid: Apply Early. Apply Right.

§                         You and your family should save this year's pay stubs to estimate income on aid forms that you'll file early next year.

§                         Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Men 18 or older must register for the selective service to receive federal financial aid. This can be done as part of the FAFSA.

§                         Priority financial aid deadline is March 2nd. To get the most attractive award package, apply by the priority date. Keep copies of everything you send.

Spring

When the Letters Start Rolling In

§                         You should get acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April.

§                         Use Compare Your Aid Awards to compare awards from different colleges. Questions? Talk to financial aid officers. Not enough aid? Ask if other financing plans are available.

May 1: Making Your Final Choice

§                         You must tell every college of your acceptance or rejection of offers of admission or financial aid. Send a deposit to the college you choose.

§                         Be sure to pay attention to due dates for student housing deposits

§                         Before graduation make arrangements to have your final high school transcript sent to your college.  You are not “officially accepted” until your final transcript is reviewed by your college.