Senior Academic Timeline

Senior Timeline

12th GRADE TIME LINE

September

Check transcripts for accuracy
Determine if schools you will apply to need official copies of your transcript at time of application.
Review and note all college admissions requirements and deadlines.
Check with the financial aid offices of all of the colleges and universities you are applying to and confirm the priority filing deadlines for financial aid applications (March 2nd for CSU, UC, and California Community Colleges, but possibly as early as mid-January or February 1st for some independent colleges and universities).
Register for Oct/Nov/Dec SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and Oct/Dec ACT tests.
Work on rough drafts of applications.
Give recommendation forms to appropriate individuals.

October

Register for Dec SAT and ACT tests.
Take SAT and ACT tests.
Submit early decision/early action applications.
Begin working on UC and CSU applications (CSU applications can be submitted beginning in October).
Check with each campus' housing services to determine if your housing application is due at the time you submit your general application for admission.
Research scholarship opportunities throughout entire senior year.
If necessary, obtain supplemental financial aid applications for the colleges you’d like to attend.
CSS/PROFILE available online (application for non-government financial aid at many private colleges and universities).
Students interested in military careers should sign up for the ASVAB test in the counseling office with Mrs. Beecher.

November

Submit college applications for UC and CSU (deadline is Nov. 30th).
Take SAT tests.
Send transcripts and test scores to colleges.
Check with each campus' housing services to determine if your housing application is due at the time you submit your general application for admission.
Get a PIN for yourself and another for a parent (so you can sign your FAFSA online -www.fafsa.ed.gov
Give your Social Security Number to your counselor in the Counseling Center so she can send in your GPA for a Cal Grant (free money for college!).
Take the ASVAB test.
Create college web portal accounts to receive important information about next steps in the admissions process.

December

Visit the FAFSA Web site www.fafsa.ed.gov to become familiar with content.
Take SAT and ACT tests.
Make sure your official SAT and ACT scores were sent to the colleges you've applied to.
Submit remaining college applications if appropriate.
Help your parents gather documents necessary for completing FAFSA (see “Getting Started/Before You Apply" in the Help section at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Make sure your counselor has your Social Security Number for the Cal Grant.
Check college web portal accounts for important to-do lists.

January

Continue submitting college applications if appropriate.
Complete, make copies, and submit FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st and before priority deadlines (March 2nd for UC, CSU, and CA Community Colleges) even if you haven’t been notified about your acceptance status.
Attend EHS Financial Aid Night to get help with financial aid and the FAFSA.
If you need more help with the FAFSA, attend a “Cash for College Workshop”www.californiacashforcollege.org
Encourage parents to complete taxes to facilitate completion of FAFSA, but provide estimated figures if necessary.
Contact college admissions offices to be sure they’ve received all necessary application materials.
Complete CSS/PROFILE if necessary and submit by priority deadline.
Apply to MSJC and other community colleges.
Continue to check college web portal accounts.
Local Scholarships - See Mrs. Beecher in the Counseling Center (and check Career Center Website).

February (Financial Aid Awareness Month!)

Complete, print copies, and submit FAFSA online.
Continue submitting college applications if appropriate.
Submit Local Scholarship applications to Mrs. Beecher in the Counseling Center.
Take math and English assessments for Community Colleges.
If you’ve received your Student Aid Report (SAR) after submitting a FAFSA, make any needed corrections and return it for processing.
Contact the financial aid offices of the schools you're applying to and make sure you have submitted all necessary information. Ask the financial aid offices how you should proceed if you have made corrections on your SAR.
Check college web portal accounts.

March – April

March 2nd is the deadline to submit Cal Grant and FAFSA forms for students seeking a Cal Grant.
You should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) shortly after submitting your FAFSA. If you haven't received it after four weeks, call 1-800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243). Once you receive it, make any needed corrections online. Contact the financial aid offices of the schools to which you're applying and ask how you should proceed if you have made corrections on your SAR.
Review, compare, and respond to acceptance offers.
If placed on waitlist, contact school to reiterate interest.
Continue California Community College application, assessment, and orientation/counseling processes.
Check college web portal accounts for to-do lists and placement testing requirements (if applicable).
CSU-bound students: Make sure to register for ELM and EPT math and English placement tests (if required). To practice/study for these tests, go towww.csusuccess.org.
Make decision of which school you will attend and send in necessary deposits (deadline is often May 1st).

May

June – August

Contact registrar to have final transcripts sent to your college (deadline for many colleges to receive official final transcript is often by end of June).
Contact college to determine when tuition and housing fees are due and how much they will be.
Finalize housing plans.
Participate in summer orientation/advising programs for new students.

Subsequent Years

Remember that you must reapply for financial aid each year you are in college. Work with your school's financial aid office to arrange for financing for subsequent years. When you're at college, be sure to submit your FAFSA each year as soon as possible after January 1st and before priority deadlines.
Students attending a California Community College who missed the March 2nd Cal Grant deadline have until September 2nd to apply for the California Community College Cal Grant. As the number of awards in September is limited, students are encouraged not to miss the March 2nd deadline.)