12th Grade Post Secondary Planning “To Do”
All 12th grade planning steps are shown. High School Planning steps are highlighted.
(Adapted from CollegeInColorado.org)
FALL SEMESTER |
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Keep
studying! |
See 11th Grade Planning List for Tips |
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Start or continue searching for scholarship
opportunities. |
See the Scholarship Section of the EHS Web Page |
· Talk to your counselor about possibilities for concurrent enrollment (taking college-credit courses while you're still in high school). Apply before October end. |
Concurrent Enrollment Opportunities Concurrent Enrollment Student Worksheet |
· Think about questions to ask when you are meeting with college admittance personnel and advisers |
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Save your money! |
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August |
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· Register to take the ACT again before final college application information is due in order to improve scores |
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· Research Specific College Application Requirements and The Common Application to decide what are the requirements and which application process you want to pursue. |
Talk with your school counselor for more details. The Common Application Link can be found under the Counseling Resources Tab. |
· Make a checklist of specific college application requirements that can be checked off as they are completed. |
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·
Some colleges require the CSS/PROFILE, a supplemental
financial aid form, in addition to the FAFSA. |
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· Make sure that you have applied for the Colorado Opportunity Fund which provides for instate tuition. |
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· Start working on scholarship opportunities. |
See the Scholarship Section of the EHS Web Page |
September |
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· Check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into the colleges that interest you. (If you have not yet selected colleges, the Higher Education Admission Requirements are a good place to start to make sure you have a choice of schools, both two-year and four-year. Talk with your counselor and update your coursework plan as necessary.) |
Higher Education Admission Requirements
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· Register for the October/November SAT I, SAT II and ACT tests if you plan to take them. |
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·
Get a jump-start on College Application Month; make sure
you meet the requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the
colleges to which you want to apply. |
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·
Most early decision and early action applications are
due between October 1 and November 1. |
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October -- College Application Month |
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· Take the Career Cluster Survey and explore careers in your favorite cluster. · Explore programs and majors for careers that interest you. · Find colleges that offer your programs/major. · Take virtual campus tours. · Use the School Finder. · Do Side-by-Side Comparisons of schools.
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College Application Month Activities Log into Naviance and use the Naviance Quick Guide on the Counseling Resources Web Page to explore colleges matches and comparisons |
·
Make a final list of schools that interest you and
keep a file of or update your calendar with deadlines and required admission
items for each school. |
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· Order Official Transcripts to be sent to each college you have selected. Transcripts are sent directly from your school to the colleges. Make sure your counselor understands the date by which each college must receive your transcript. |
Official Transcripts can be ordered through the registrar located in the counseling office. |
· Create a resume to give to people who will be writing you letters of recommendation |
Sample Resume (specific to support people who will be writing letters of recommendation for you) |
· Distribute Recommendation Letter Requests |
Recommendation Letter Request List Sample Recommendation Request Letter |
· Continue to work on your application essays and review the application procedures for the colleges you plan to apply to. |
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· Create a thank you note for the teachers, employers and others who helped you with your applications. |
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· Review each of your colleges' Materials Checklist. Check off each item to ensure that you have completed that requirement. |
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· Complete an application for each of your colleges, using the materials you have prepared during the month. |
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· Make sure that your ACT scores are sent to all of your colleges (you may send your scores to more colleges even if you did not register them at the time you took the test). |
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· Congratulations, you've worked hard! If you are not quite done with all your applications, use next week to complete them. |
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November |
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You can continue to submit college admission
applications. |
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Be sure to consult with your school counselor about
scholarship opportunities. |
See the Scholarship Section of the EHS Web Page |
· Work on your scholarship applications, and mail according to deadlines. |
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· Check with the financial aid office of schools to which you are applying for specific information on scholarships and costs for tuition, fees, room and board, and any additional financial aid info they require. |
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December |
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Watch your mailbox if you submitted an early decision
application. |
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· If you haven't already done so, make sure your official test scores are being sent to the colleges to which you are applying. |
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· Schedule any remaining required interviews |
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Start thinking about how you're going to spend your
summer. Summer is a great time to earn extra money and gain work experience. |
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Spring Semester |
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January |
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Make sure your parents have completed their income
tax forms in anticipation of the financial aid applications. |
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· Complete and submit your college financial aid application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between January 1 and February 15. |
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·
Check for other financial aid options. |
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If you don't already have a good computer,
investigate purchasing one for college. |
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· Request that your high school send your official transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying. |
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· Contact the admissions office of the colleges to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you. |
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·
Keep an eye out for financial aid workshops and
seminars, for both you and your parents. |
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February |
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If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your
Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. |
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· Complete your scholarship applications |
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· Contact the financial aid office of the colleges to which you have applied to make sure your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you. |
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March/April |
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· You will probably hear from the colleges as to whether or not you are accepted by April 15. |
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Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and
scholarship offers. |
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When you choose a college that has accepted you, you
will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit for freshman tuition. |
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May |
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· Take IB External Exams for any Diploma Programme (DP) Courses that you have studied in high school. |
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Decision time! |
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· If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular college and have decided to wait for an opening, contact that college and let them know you are still very interested. |
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June |
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· Have your school send your final transcripts to the college you will be attending |
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· Contact your college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due, and how much they will cost. |
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Summer After Senior Year |
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· Participate in any summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen. |
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· Now that you know you will be attending college in the fall, it is a good idea to make sure you have student health insurance in case of any emergencies |
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