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Keep studying!
You want to avoid "senioritis" — a drop in motivation and, consequently, grades, that is sometimes experienced by seniors. | |
| 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  |
Save your money!
It's a good idea to start planning for those unexpected costs of college. |
College Savings Calculator
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Some colleges require the CSS/PROFILE, a supplemental financial aid form, in addition to the FAFSA.
Find out if your schools will need this. | |
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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.) | HEAR Requirements  |
| Register for the October/November SAT I, SAT II and ACT tests if you plan to take them. | |
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.
Double-check their application deadlines. | |
Most early decision and early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1.
Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these options. | |
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| Take the Career Cluster Survey and explore programs and majors in your favorite cluster. | Career Cluster Survey |
| Explore schools that offer programs and majors of interest to you. | |
| Find colleges that offer your programs/major. | Explore Programs and Majors |
| Take virtual campus tours. | Explore Schools |
| Use the School Finder. | School Finder |
| Do Side-by-Side Comparisons of schools. | Compare Schools |
| Use the College Matching Assistant. | College Matching Assistant |
Make a final list of schools that interest you and keep a file of deadlines and required admission items for each school.
Many students like to have a "dream school" and a "safety school" as well as two or three others. |
Your Portfolio - Postsecondary Plans
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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 when each college must receive your transcript. | |
| Complete Screen 1 and 2 of the Practice Application | Practice Application |
| Win a $1,000 Scholarship! October 7; tell us how you chose your colleges and why you wish to attend them | CAM Website Prize page |
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| Get some guidance on how to request letters of recommendation. | How to Info on letters of recommendation |
Read How to Request  Letters of Recommendation and look at samples. | |
| Use the Checklist to prepare your request. | |
| Complete the "All About Me" worksheet . | |
| Review the College Materials Checklist for each of your colleges. | College Materials Checklist |
| Use the Resume Builder to create or update your resume. | Resume Builder |
| Distribute your letter of recommendation requests (make sure your recommenders understand by when they need to complete). | |
| Complete Screens 3, 4 & 5 of the Practice Application. | Practice Application |
| Win a $1,000 Scholarship! October 14; Send us your completed "All About Me" worksheet. | CAM Website Prize page ; |
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| Get some guidance on writing a great essay or personal statement | How to Info on essays and personal statements |
| Help on how to begin . | |
| Review the dos and don'ts of personal essays . | |
Check out sample essays  . | |
| Review the College Materials Checklist for each of your colleges to ensure you understand the focus or question to be addressed in your essay | College Materials Checklist |
| Prepare to start writing. | |
| Write each essay or personal statement to be included with application to each of your colleges. Give your essays to others (teachers, parents, friends) for feedback. | College Application Essay Tips |
| Talk to your parents about your colleges of choice. | |
| Complete Screen 6 of the Practice Application (you will need your parents' assistance unless you are not classified as a dependent). | Practice Application |
| Win a $1,000 Scholarship! October 21: Send us your best essay or personal statement. | CAM Website Prize page |
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| Create a thank you note for the teachers, employers and others who helped you with your applications. | Thank you letter builder |
| Review each of your colleges' Materials Checklist. Check off each item to ensure that you have completed that requirement. | College Materials Checklist |
| Complete an application for each of your colleges, using the materials you have prepared during the month. Apply online to Colorado schools through CollegeInColorado.org or use each college's online application. (If you use CIC.org, data will auto-populate from your practice application.) | Online applications |
| Review the "I Applied. Now What?" worksheet . | |
| Win a $1,000 Scholarship! October 28: Tell us about your next steps and how you will use CollegeInColorado.org to continue preparing for college (hint - look at your "I Applied. Now What?" worksheet). | CAM Website Prize page |
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).
Register for December or January SAT I or SAT II tests, if necessary. | ACT Scores |
| October 29: Congratulations, you've worked hard - Happy Halloween weekend! | |
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You can continue to submit college admission applications.
Be sure to check them over thoroughly! Having someone else review your application with you can help you catch any errors. | |
Be sure to consult with your school counselor about scholarship opportunities.
Not all scholarships are for top students and athletes. There may be a perfect scholarship for you — it's worth doing a little research. |
Scholarship Finder
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| Work on your scholarship applications, and mail according to deadlines. | |
| Check with the financial aid office of schools you are applying to 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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Watch your mailbox if you submitted an early decision application.
Early decision replies usually arrive between December 1 and 31. If you do get an acceptance, you should withdraw any other applications. | |
| If you haven't already done so, make sure your official test scores are being sent to the colleges to which you are applying. | |
| Schedule any remaining required interviews. | |
Start thinking about how you're going to spend your summer. Summer is a great time to earn extra money and gain work experience.
Ask your counselor about internships, and start researching the summer job market in your area. | |
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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.
Go to the FAFSA transfer module to file your FAFSA. | |
Check for other financial aid options.
In order to be considered for financial aid, you will need to submit a FAFSA, even if you have not yet been notified of your acceptance to the college(s) to which you applied. | |
If you don't already have a good computer, investigate purchasing one for college.
You or your parents can subsidize the cost of a computer for college in your student loans. | |
| Request that your high school send your official transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying. | |
Make sure your parents have completed their income tax forms in anticipation of the financial aid applications.
If you have to file taxes this year, do it as soon as possible. You'll need to do this for any financial aid forms. | |
| 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. | |
Keep an eye out for financial aid workshops and seminars, for both you and your parents.
There is a lot of help out there when you're looking for info on financial aid. |
Financial Aid Wizard
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If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks.
Make the necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor. | |
| Complete your scholarship applications. | |
| 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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| You will probably hear from the colleges as to whether or not you are accepted by April 15. | |
Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers.
These are all important things to consider when choosing a college. |
How to Select a College or University
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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.
This should ensure your place in the entering freshman class. | |
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| Take AP exams for any AP subjects you studied in high school. | |
Decision time!
You should decide on a college by May 1. Notify that school by mailing your commitment deposit check. Many schools require that your notification letter be postmarked by this date. |
How to Select a College or University
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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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| Have your school send your final transcripts to the college you will be attending. | |
| Contact your college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due, and how much they will cost. | |
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| Participate in any summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen. |
Explore Schools
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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. | |