Mark the dates of important events in a calendar. This will help you keep track of everything that is happening. Your senior year is going to be very busy, so it is especially important to be organized. Track your own application deadlines for your colleges. Each school sets its own due dates. Other things you should put in your calendar are any financial aid seminars, test dates, and scholarship deadlines.

Visit the campuses of the colleges you are interested in. If you have not yet visited the top colleges you’re considering, make arrangements to do so. Fall is an especially good time to visit a college since classes are in session. If you cannot visit a school, look online for virtual tours or college student forums.

See your school counselor. Be proactive. Check that the classes you picked for this year will help you get into college. Give yourself time to do things before they are due. Talk about the colleges you want to go to and what other things the school needs to send out, like your grades and test scores.

Bring a list with your name on it so your counselor can remember what you asked for. If you don’t have a counselor, try talking to your teachers, administrators, or coaches. You can even contact college admission officers for help.

Do your colleges expect an SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests? If so, take the exams by Dec. Make sure to request that your results are sent to the schools of your choice.

Get ready to fill out your financial aid documents by creating an FSA ID…you and your parent or guardian will each need FSA IDs to complete the FAFSA starting Oct 1. (If you are undocumented, complete the CA Dream Act instead of FAFSA). Some schools also require the CSS PROFILE. If your school does, file it online

After you file a FAFSA, you will get a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report tells you how much money your family is supposed to pay for your education. Check the report for mistakes and talk to your parents about the amount listed on the report.

The government randomly selects 30 percent of all FAFSA applications for verification. This means that colleges will ask you to submit additional documents. These documents include signed copies of your tax returns, your parents’/guardian’s tax returns, your W-2s and your parents’/guardian’s W-2s. If you are selected for verification, you should send these in as soon as possible.

Extra credit: If you have a first choice college, determine if you will apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). Most deadlines for ED and EA applications are usually in October or November, with decisions by December.

Extra credit: Your college essays are important and should be proofread by someone who can help you fix any mistakes. A teacher or parent would be a good choice. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your essays.

Extra credit: Get letters of recommendation from people who know you well and can say good things about you. If you haven’t asked for these letters yet, now is the time to start asking teachers and counselors for recommendation letters. Or, if you have already asked someone for a letter, follow up with that person to make sure you will receive it.

Make sure you finish and submit all of your college applications by Nov or Dec. Each school sets its own due dates. This means that you should mail in or submit your application online, as well as follow up with your school counselor to make sure they have everything that’s required, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores.

Extra credit: If you have been accepted Early Decision, you will need to withdraw your applications from all other schools. If you have been accepted Early Action, you can either choose to accept now or wait to receive responses from the other schools to which you applied.

Focus on getting good grades. Your grades will be used to help decide if you can go to college and how much money you will get for scholarships. Some colleges will request your grades in Jan, and all will require your final grades after you finish high school. A college or a scholarship may take back their offer if your grades drop significantly. Talk to your teachers if you need extra help.

Finish any scholarship submissions you have started and follow up on any scholarship opportunities. Also, check with the schools you are applying to and find out if they offer any special scholarships that you may qualify for. These can help reduce the cost of tuition.

Make sure to contact colleges to check if they received your application and all the necessary materials. You can call or email the admissions office, or in some cases you can check online. Make sure that each college received the necessary materials, for example: test scores, transcripts, application form, and recommendations.

Keep a list of log-ins and passwords for any college accounts you create. Log into these accounts regularly and monitor critical emails.

Some colleges want to see your grades from the first semester of your senior year, usually called a mid-year report. They do this to get an idea of how well you are doing in school. You should submit these reports to the colleges that request them.

By Mar or Apr, colleges will tell you if you’ve been admitted through mail or online. Make sure you read each decision document carefully, because sometimes they require you to do something. Before choosing a college to attend, compare financial aid offers from multiple schools. May 1 is the last day to decide which college to attend and pay the deposit. You cannot submit a deposit to more than one school.

When you are looking at different schools, compare the financial aid packages. This is important because it may be a lot of money. Go over each school’s package with your parents or guardian. If you have questions, talk to a financial-aid officer at the college. You can also talk to them if you think the package isn’t enough and you want to explore other financing plans. If you haven’t submitted your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application, submit it by Mar 2 to qualify for CA state aid. Applying for financial aid is free, and many students are surprised to find out what they’re eligible to receive.

Before you make your final decision about which college to go to, visit the campus. This will help you experience what it is like and make a more informed decision. If you haven’t already visited, make sure to do so before making your final choice.

Does attending a CA Community College seem like a better fit? Create an OpenCCC account to make sure this option is available.

Taking summer classes can help you be ready for college or get ahead in your school work. Some colleges even make it a requirement that you take summer classes before beginning your first semester there. You can talk to your high school counselor to find out what programs are available and how taking summer classes can help you.

May 1 is the last day to decide which college to attend and pay the deposit. Choose the college that is right for you. Tell the other schools that you are not coming to their school. This is an important step in helping to open up seats for other students who may be on a waitlist for those schools.

If CA Community College is a better fit, view their admission application requirements now.

If you are scheduled to take AP exams, focus on doing your best. Even if you have already decided on a school, a good score can get you college credit for the AP classes you took in high school.

After you have decided on a school, you will need to fill out and turn in some paperwork. The school will send you a package with information about things like classes, orientation, and housing. You will need to fill out any forms in the package and turn them in by the deadline. 

Make sure to send your high school transcript to the college you are attending. Many colleges require a final high school transcript. If this is the case, contact your high school counselor and ask them to send it in for you once it’s ready.

Thank your supporters for all the help they gave you during the college application process. Show your appreciation in person or with a formal letter. These same people may very well continue to support you in your life’s next chapter.

To prepare for your first year of college, sign up for orientation, figure out where you’ll be living, purchase items you’ll need, make travel plans if necessary, and schedule your first-semester courses.

If you haven’t submitted the FAFSA yet, Jun 30 is your last chance to qualify for federal aid.

Make sure you enjoy your time with your friends and family. Appreciate those around you and make the most of the time before you have to go back to school.

If you are planning to attend a CA Community College, view their application requirements at CCC Apply: https://home.cccapply.org/en/apply

Mark the dates of important events in a calendar. This will help you keep track of everything that is happening. Track your own application deadlines for your colleges. Each school sets its own due dates. Other things you should put in your calendar are any financial aid seminars, test dates, and scholarship deadlines.

Visit the campuses of the colleges you are interested in. If you have not yet visited the top colleges you’re considering, make arrangements to do so. If you cannot visit a school, look online for virtual tours or college student forums.

Does attending a CA Community College still seem like a good fit? Create an OpenCCC account to make sure this option is available.

See your school counselor. Be proactive. Check that the classes you picked for this year will help you get your high school diploma. Give yourself time to do things before they are due. Talk about the colleges you want to go to and what other things the school needs to send out, like your grades and test scores. Bring a list with your name on it so your counselor can remember what you asked for. If you don’t have a counselor, try talking to your teachers, administrators, or coaches. You can even contact college admission officers for help.

Get ready to fill out your financial aid documents by creating an FSA ID…you and your parent or guardian will each need FSA IDs to complete the FAFSA starting. (If you are undocumented, complete the CA Dream Act instead of FAFSA).

After you file a FAFSA, you will get a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report tells you how much money your family is supposed to pay for your education. Check the report for mistakes and talk to your parents about the amount listed on the report.

The government randomly selects 30 percent of all FAFSA applications for verification. This means that colleges will ask you to submit additional documents. These documents include signed copies of your tax returns, your parents’/guardian’s tax returns, your W-2s and your parents’/guardian’s W-2s. If you are selected for verification, you should send these in as soon as possible.

Make sure you finish and submit all of your college applications on time. Each school sets its own due dates. This means that you should mail in or submit your application online, as well as follow up with your school counselor to make sure they have everything that’s required, such as transcripts and test scores.

Focus on getting good grades. Your grades could be used to help decide how much money you will get for scholarships.

Finish any scholarship submissions you have started and follow up on any scholarship opportunities. Also, check with the schools you are applying to and find out if they offer any special scholarships that you may qualify for. These can help reduce the cost of tuition.

Make sure to contact colleges to check if they received your application and all the necessary materials. You can call or email the admissions office, or in some cases you can check online. Make sure that each college received the necessary materials, for example: test scores, transcripts, application form, and recommendations.

Colleges will tell you if you’ve been admitted through mail or online. Make sure you read each decision document carefully, because sometimes they require you to do something. Before choosing a college to attend, compare financial aid offers from multiple schools. Pay attention to the deadline for enrolling.

When you are looking at different schools, compare the financial aid packages. This is important because it may be a lot of money. Go over each school’s package with your parents or guardian. If you have questions, talk to a financial-aid officer at the college. You can also talk to them if you think the package isn’t enough and you want to explore other financing plans.

If you haven’t submitted your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application, submit it as soon as possible. Applying for financial aid is free, and many students are surprised to find out what they’re eligible to receive.

Before you make your final decision about which college to go to, visit the campus. This will help you experience what it is like and make a more informed decision. If you haven’t already visited, make sure to do so before making your final choice.

Taking summer classes can help you be ready for college or get ahead in your school work. Some colleges even make it a requirement that you take summer classes before beginning your first semester there. You can talk to your high school counselor to find out what programs are available and how taking summer classes can help you.

After you have decided on a school, you will need to fill out and turn in some paperwork. The school will send you a package with information about things like classes, orientation, and housing. You will need to fill out any forms in the package and turn them in by the deadline.

Make sure to send your high school transcript to the college you are attending. Many colleges require a final high school transcript. If this is the case, contact your high school counselor and ask them to send it in for you once it’s ready.

Thank your supporters for all the help they gave you during the college application process. Show your appreciation in person or with a formal letter. These same people may very well continue to support you in your life’s next chapter.

To prepare for your first year of college, sign up for orientation, figure out where you’ll be living, purchase items you’ll need, make travel plans if necessary, and schedule your first-semester courses.

If you haven’t already done it, you should apply for financial aid by submitting the FAFSA, even if you don’t think you qualify. There are lots of options out there — get every penny you deserve.

Make sure you enjoy your time with your friends and family. Appreciate those around you and make the most of the time before you have to go back to school.