Senior Year Timeline by Month:
Senior year is often an extremely busy time with schoolwork, activities, and special events. Be sure to stay on track with the college admissions process. Get organized, be aware of deadlines, and don’t procrastinate!
August- Finalize College Choice
___ During student registration days parents sign an Academic Release Form. This form must be on file before transcripts can be sent.
___ Review your high school schedule and Personal Plan of Study (ICAP) to ensure your senior year is starting off strong. Colleges are looking for the following:
___ Look for ways to gain career exposure. Check out one or two of the Explorer’s Posts. Career Exploring is sponsored by Heart of America Council.
___ If you are unsure of your A+ status, check with the A+ Coordinator to confirm your A+ program requirements.
___ Make a plan to take the appropriate test (ACT/SAT/ASVAB/etc..) for your college and career plans. If you are unsure which test is appropriate for you, please visit with your counselor.
___ The deadline to register for the September ACT is early August. Keep in mind that October is typically the last date to sit for the ACT or SAT and apply for early admission’s decisions. Colleges such as KU have a scholarship application deadline of November 1 and MU has a scholarship deadline of December 15.
___ Review your college search plans and start narrowing down your college/tech school list to 3-5 options. Plan to apply to 3-5 schools in early September so that you have time to research all of your financial aid options once you have been accepted. Applications generally are open or “live” after August 1st . Most colleges require online applications.
___ Start making your own personal admission’s plan. Will you apply to each college individually or will you be utilizing an application tool such as “Common Application” or “Universal College Application”, etc…
___ College bound athletes need to register for NCAA/NAIA Clearinghouse. Visit www.eligibilitycenter.org
___ If planning to graduate a semester early, you should have already discussed this with your counselor prior to the start of your senior year. Be aware of deadlines.
September-Apply to Colleges
___ Following the Senior presentation, Seniors will be called in for their Senior interview to discuss post-secondary plans.
___ If taking dual credit college classes, confirm with your teacher about the process and paperwork needed to earn college credit for the classes. Double check the “equivalency calculator” with the colleges you plan to attend to see if and how they accept your dual options or AP Credit Policy.
___ Research technical schools, unions, military branches, colleges and universities that are of interest to you.
___ Attend meetings with college admissions representatives who come to RPHS. Check the College Rep tab on RPSeniors.weebly.com for colleges that will be visiting RP. Sign up online or visit the Senior Office to get a pass for these college visits.
___ Find samples and tools for putting together your resume and information for letters of recommendations under the ‘College Planning and Admissions’ tab on the RPSeniors website.
___ Explore college admissions websites on the RPSeniors website to get an idea of admissions requirements. Select the Admissions tab for links to each college.
___ Attend local technical school & college admissions events, special hotel reception nights, and weekend visit day events. Pay attention to info from the RPHS Counseling Center and read the RPHS Senior Newsletter for dates and details.
___ Schedule and attend technical school or college visits, especially on days RPHS is not in session. If scheduling visits during regular school hours, please come to the Senior Office to obtain the College Visit paperwork or visit the ‘Forms’ link on the RPSeniors.weebly.com webpage. Seniors with a GPA above a 2.5 will receive “excused” absences for 2 college visits; all other visits will be verified.
College applications:
___ Apply to 3-5 colleges/schools of interest to you- Some schools have deadlines as early as November 1.
___ Familiarize yourself with “Rolling Admissions” and “Regular Decision” terminology.
___ Decide if “Early Decision,” “Early Action,” or “Single Choice Early Action” is an option you might pursue.
___ Decide whether or not the COMMON APPLICATION is an appropriate application option for you.
___ Once you finalize your college/tech school applications and submit them, have your transcript sent to those schools. Submit your transcript request online at: http://rpseniors.weebly.com/transcript-request-dual-credit--ap-information.html. Study for the ACT (www.actstudent.org) or the ASVAB (www.asvabtestbank.com)
___ Enroll in RPHS’s ACT Review class, if you need to improve your ACT score.
___ Visit the RP Seniors webpage for ACT resources http://rpseniors.weebly.com/act-information.html
___ Visit the Library Media Center for physical copies of prep resources and practice books.
___ Check your school email regularly for important announcements from the Counseling Center & Senior Office.
___ Read the RPHS Senior Newsletter, emailed to you at the beginning of every month.
___ Finalize your high school resume - add senior clubs, activities, honors, and awards. Have your ELA teacher or your counselors proofread and review for you. Samples and templates can be found on: http://rpseniors.weebly.com/college-admissions--planning-and-resumes.html
___ Make a list of teachers and others who know you and your abilities well, who will write letters of recommendation for you. Plan ahead and ask these individuals early. Give them a copy of your unofficial transcript and your high school resume. Two weeks advanced notice is standard etiquette.
___ Continue your involvement in clubs and activities. Try to gain a leadership position in one of these groups.
___ Attend the RPHS College Fair.
___ Attend the National College Fair when it comes to Kansas City
___ Investigate and apply for scholarships and other financial aid programs.
___ Sign up with www.fastweb.com and www.scholarships.com or other online scholarship providers.
___ Visit the “College Financial Aid” tab on the RP Seniors website and the “FAFSA Frenzy Info” tab.
___ Review the senior scholarships listed on the “Scholarship Apps” tab of the RP Seniors website.
___ Estimate your federal financial aid eligibility with the FAFSA4caster.
___ Continue to explore careers:
___ Visit with various career professionals and ask them about their education and training, find out detailed information about their jobs. Ask about shadowing opportunities and other opportunities to visit the job site.
___ Visit with your teachers to find out more information about various careers within the subject areas that they teach.
___ Shadow various career professionals.
___ Explore career options and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
October – Improve Test Scores If Needed
___ Make sure you created your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Parents must do the same.
___ Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can whether you think you qualify for aid or not. This is important for scholarship and financial aid programs, and many awards are on a “first come first serve basis.” The FAFSA is one of the requirements for the A+ program. The Missouri deadline for the FAFSA is: Feb 1st. GO TO: www.fafsa.ed.gov
___ Keep copies of all FAFSA information for your file.
___ November 1 is a major college application deadline for some colleges and universities. Plan ahead and make sure you are aware of your school’s deadlines.
___ Meet with your counselor for your “post-secondary planning senior conferences” if you didn’t meet in September.
___ If taking Advanced Placement courses, ensure that you have signed up for your exam and paid, to earn the weighted credit.
___ If you are a student athlete, attend the NCAA/NAIA parent and student workshops provided at RPHS.
___ Determine which test (ACT or SAT) is recommended for you to take, based on your future college plans. The October ACT/SAT is one of the last dates to test and qualify for “merit” money.
___ Continue to visit with college/technical school/military representatives that visit RPHS.
___ Continue to visit college campuses and or recruiters.
___ Narrow down your list of the colleges/schools you are interested in attending. Finalize and submit your college applications.
___ If planning to attend MCC, attend the MCC Mobile Enrollment meeting during school in October. This will be one of three meetings:
November-Application Deadlines
___ November 1 is a major college application deadline for some colleges and universities.
___ If graduating early, meet with your counselor to finalize your plans and requirements.
___ Register for the December ACT/SAT.
___ If high school alumni come home during the holidays, visit with them about their college experiences.
December-Application Deadlines
___ December 1st & 15th is another major college application deadline—make sure you know your deadlines.
January – February- File FAFSA Information
___ Plan, prepare, and take ACT/SAT in the spring. If you have already taken the ACT several times, visit with your counselor and your parents to decide if it is appropriate for you to take in the Spring.
___ Continue to apply for scholarships listed on the RP Seniors page under the Scholarships tab and in your Naviance account.
___ Don’t let ‘senioritis’ interfere with your post-secondary goals! Stay strong and work hard throughout the second semester.
March - April-Apply for Scholarships
___ In order to be eligible for state financial assistance, your FAFSA should be filed by Feb. 1!!
___ Keep applying for scholarships and other financial aid resources.
___ Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college such as housing, financial aid, etc. These deadlines make or break the ease of your transition into college and the workforce.
___ If you submitted your FAFSA early, you should receive information about how to access your Student Aid Report (SAR) via email within 5-7 days or receive a paper version of your SAR within 3-4 weeks. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov or call FAFSA at 1-800-433-3243 for more details.
___ Contact each college financial aid 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.
___ Watch the mail or your email account for college acceptance and financial aid award notifications. Compare the financial aid awards you receive.
___ Check with the college/university you have chosen to attend about the details of accepting or declining your financial aid.
___ Go on a college visit – especially if you are finalizing your college plans. Spring break might be a great time to do this.
___ In April - if planning to attend MCC-Longview, plan to meet with MCC advisors to plan out your college schedule for summer and fall. This will be meeting number three, in the MCC Mobile Enrollment process. Visit the Counseling Center for dates and details.
___ Make your final college decision and send in your deposit by the deadline (if required).
___ If you have any questions about the A+ program, make an appointment with the A+ coordinator.
May-Apply for Scholarships
___ May 1 is typically the date you have to submit your enrollment deposit and confirm housing plans. Know your deadlines.
___ Complete the Senior Exit Survey at the end of the year. Include where you want your final transcript to be sent as well, what scholarships you have received as well as what your post-high school plans are.
___ Take Advanced Placement Exams in May. See your AP teacher for details.
___ Continue planning for college orientation events, enrollment activities, and housing.
___ Finalize summer school and job plans.
June
___ Send thank you notes to all those people who wrote letters of recommendation for you, helped you with your college applications, and to individuals/organizations who you received a scholarship.
___ Contact College Board for AP scores, and contact the college you took Dual Credit classes from for your college transcripts. This information is NOT included on your high school transcript. Visit the RPSeniors.weebly.com page for Dual Credit transcript information. Select the tab ‘Transcript Request’ tab and scroll down for the Dual Credit Transcript Request information.
___ Follow up with your college financial aid office to ensure they have all of the paperwork and forms needed
August- Finalize College Choice
___ During student registration days parents sign an Academic Release Form. This form must be on file before transcripts can be sent.
___ Review your high school schedule and Personal Plan of Study (ICAP) to ensure your senior year is starting off strong. Colleges are looking for the following:
- Challenging course work (Honors, AP, Dual Credit college classes)
- Strong GPA
- Involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteer work, community service.
___ Look for ways to gain career exposure. Check out one or two of the Explorer’s Posts. Career Exploring is sponsored by Heart of America Council.
___ If you are unsure of your A+ status, check with the A+ Coordinator to confirm your A+ program requirements.
___ Make a plan to take the appropriate test (ACT/SAT/ASVAB/etc..) for your college and career plans. If you are unsure which test is appropriate for you, please visit with your counselor.
___ The deadline to register for the September ACT is early August. Keep in mind that October is typically the last date to sit for the ACT or SAT and apply for early admission’s decisions. Colleges such as KU have a scholarship application deadline of November 1 and MU has a scholarship deadline of December 15.
___ Review your college search plans and start narrowing down your college/tech school list to 3-5 options. Plan to apply to 3-5 schools in early September so that you have time to research all of your financial aid options once you have been accepted. Applications generally are open or “live” after August 1st . Most colleges require online applications.
___ Start making your own personal admission’s plan. Will you apply to each college individually or will you be utilizing an application tool such as “Common Application” or “Universal College Application”, etc…
___ College bound athletes need to register for NCAA/NAIA Clearinghouse. Visit www.eligibilitycenter.org
___ If planning to graduate a semester early, you should have already discussed this with your counselor prior to the start of your senior year. Be aware of deadlines.
September-Apply to Colleges
___ Following the Senior presentation, Seniors will be called in for their Senior interview to discuss post-secondary plans.
___ If taking dual credit college classes, confirm with your teacher about the process and paperwork needed to earn college credit for the classes. Double check the “equivalency calculator” with the colleges you plan to attend to see if and how they accept your dual options or AP Credit Policy.
___ Research technical schools, unions, military branches, colleges and universities that are of interest to you.
___ Attend meetings with college admissions representatives who come to RPHS. Check the College Rep tab on RPSeniors.weebly.com for colleges that will be visiting RP. Sign up online or visit the Senior Office to get a pass for these college visits.
___ Find samples and tools for putting together your resume and information for letters of recommendations under the ‘College Planning and Admissions’ tab on the RPSeniors website.
___ Explore college admissions websites on the RPSeniors website to get an idea of admissions requirements. Select the Admissions tab for links to each college.
___ Attend local technical school & college admissions events, special hotel reception nights, and weekend visit day events. Pay attention to info from the RPHS Counseling Center and read the RPHS Senior Newsletter for dates and details.
___ Schedule and attend technical school or college visits, especially on days RPHS is not in session. If scheduling visits during regular school hours, please come to the Senior Office to obtain the College Visit paperwork or visit the ‘Forms’ link on the RPSeniors.weebly.com webpage. Seniors with a GPA above a 2.5 will receive “excused” absences for 2 college visits; all other visits will be verified.
College applications:
___ Apply to 3-5 colleges/schools of interest to you- Some schools have deadlines as early as November 1.
___ Familiarize yourself with “Rolling Admissions” and “Regular Decision” terminology.
___ Decide if “Early Decision,” “Early Action,” or “Single Choice Early Action” is an option you might pursue.
___ Decide whether or not the COMMON APPLICATION is an appropriate application option for you.
___ Once you finalize your college/tech school applications and submit them, have your transcript sent to those schools. Submit your transcript request online at: http://rpseniors.weebly.com/transcript-request-dual-credit--ap-information.html. Study for the ACT (www.actstudent.org) or the ASVAB (www.asvabtestbank.com)
___ Enroll in RPHS’s ACT Review class, if you need to improve your ACT score.
___ Visit the RP Seniors webpage for ACT resources http://rpseniors.weebly.com/act-information.html
___ Visit the Library Media Center for physical copies of prep resources and practice books.
___ Check your school email regularly for important announcements from the Counseling Center & Senior Office.
___ Read the RPHS Senior Newsletter, emailed to you at the beginning of every month.
___ Finalize your high school resume - add senior clubs, activities, honors, and awards. Have your ELA teacher or your counselors proofread and review for you. Samples and templates can be found on: http://rpseniors.weebly.com/college-admissions--planning-and-resumes.html
___ Make a list of teachers and others who know you and your abilities well, who will write letters of recommendation for you. Plan ahead and ask these individuals early. Give them a copy of your unofficial transcript and your high school resume. Two weeks advanced notice is standard etiquette.
___ Continue your involvement in clubs and activities. Try to gain a leadership position in one of these groups.
___ Attend the RPHS College Fair.
___ Attend the National College Fair when it comes to Kansas City
___ Investigate and apply for scholarships and other financial aid programs.
___ Sign up with www.fastweb.com and www.scholarships.com or other online scholarship providers.
___ Visit the “College Financial Aid” tab on the RP Seniors website and the “FAFSA Frenzy Info” tab.
___ Review the senior scholarships listed on the “Scholarship Apps” tab of the RP Seniors website.
___ Estimate your federal financial aid eligibility with the FAFSA4caster.
___ Continue to explore careers:
___ Visit with various career professionals and ask them about their education and training, find out detailed information about their jobs. Ask about shadowing opportunities and other opportunities to visit the job site.
___ Visit with your teachers to find out more information about various careers within the subject areas that they teach.
___ Shadow various career professionals.
___ Explore career options and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
October – Improve Test Scores If Needed
___ Make sure you created your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Parents must do the same.
___ Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can whether you think you qualify for aid or not. This is important for scholarship and financial aid programs, and many awards are on a “first come first serve basis.” The FAFSA is one of the requirements for the A+ program. The Missouri deadline for the FAFSA is: Feb 1st. GO TO: www.fafsa.ed.gov
___ Keep copies of all FAFSA information for your file.
___ November 1 is a major college application deadline for some colleges and universities. Plan ahead and make sure you are aware of your school’s deadlines.
___ Meet with your counselor for your “post-secondary planning senior conferences” if you didn’t meet in September.
___ If taking Advanced Placement courses, ensure that you have signed up for your exam and paid, to earn the weighted credit.
___ If you are a student athlete, attend the NCAA/NAIA parent and student workshops provided at RPHS.
___ Determine which test (ACT or SAT) is recommended for you to take, based on your future college plans. The October ACT/SAT is one of the last dates to test and qualify for “merit” money.
___ Continue to visit with college/technical school/military representatives that visit RPHS.
___ Continue to visit college campuses and or recruiters.
___ Narrow down your list of the colleges/schools you are interested in attending. Finalize and submit your college applications.
___ If planning to attend MCC, attend the MCC Mobile Enrollment meeting during school in October. This will be one of three meetings:
- Fall-Mobile Application: MCC-Longview will be at RP to facilitate the MCC application www.mcckc.edu/apply
- Winter-Mobile Testing–Students will take the AccuPlacer placement test at RPHS. Students must be accepted to MCC prior to testing.
- Spring-Mobile Enrollment– Students will meet with MCC advisors to select summer/fall classes. Students must be accepted and have either an AccuPlacer or an ACT score on record to participate. This may be a field trip to the Longview campus.
November-Application Deadlines
___ November 1 is a major college application deadline for some colleges and universities.
___ If graduating early, meet with your counselor to finalize your plans and requirements.
___ Register for the December ACT/SAT.
___ If high school alumni come home during the holidays, visit with them about their college experiences.
December-Application Deadlines
___ December 1st & 15th is another major college application deadline—make sure you know your deadlines.
January – February- File FAFSA Information
___ Plan, prepare, and take ACT/SAT in the spring. If you have already taken the ACT several times, visit with your counselor and your parents to decide if it is appropriate for you to take in the Spring.
___ Continue to apply for scholarships listed on the RP Seniors page under the Scholarships tab and in your Naviance account.
___ Don’t let ‘senioritis’ interfere with your post-secondary goals! Stay strong and work hard throughout the second semester.
March - April-Apply for Scholarships
___ In order to be eligible for state financial assistance, your FAFSA should be filed by Feb. 1!!
___ Keep applying for scholarships and other financial aid resources.
___ Watch for important deadlines at your chosen college such as housing, financial aid, etc. These deadlines make or break the ease of your transition into college and the workforce.
___ If you submitted your FAFSA early, you should receive information about how to access your Student Aid Report (SAR) via email within 5-7 days or receive a paper version of your SAR within 3-4 weeks. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov or call FAFSA at 1-800-433-3243 for more details.
___ Contact each college financial aid 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.
___ Watch the mail or your email account for college acceptance and financial aid award notifications. Compare the financial aid awards you receive.
___ Check with the college/university you have chosen to attend about the details of accepting or declining your financial aid.
___ Go on a college visit – especially if you are finalizing your college plans. Spring break might be a great time to do this.
___ In April - if planning to attend MCC-Longview, plan to meet with MCC advisors to plan out your college schedule for summer and fall. This will be meeting number three, in the MCC Mobile Enrollment process. Visit the Counseling Center for dates and details.
___ Make your final college decision and send in your deposit by the deadline (if required).
___ If you have any questions about the A+ program, make an appointment with the A+ coordinator.
May-Apply for Scholarships
___ May 1 is typically the date you have to submit your enrollment deposit and confirm housing plans. Know your deadlines.
___ Complete the Senior Exit Survey at the end of the year. Include where you want your final transcript to be sent as well, what scholarships you have received as well as what your post-high school plans are.
___ Take Advanced Placement Exams in May. See your AP teacher for details.
___ Continue planning for college orientation events, enrollment activities, and housing.
___ Finalize summer school and job plans.
June
___ Send thank you notes to all those people who wrote letters of recommendation for you, helped you with your college applications, and to individuals/organizations who you received a scholarship.
___ Contact College Board for AP scores, and contact the college you took Dual Credit classes from for your college transcripts. This information is NOT included on your high school transcript. Visit the RPSeniors.weebly.com page for Dual Credit transcript information. Select the tab ‘Transcript Request’ tab and scroll down for the Dual Credit Transcript Request information.
___ Follow up with your college financial aid office to ensure they have all of the paperwork and forms needed