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Juniors and Seniors

Congratulations! As a junior or senior, you are well on your way to graduating from high school and attending college. Use these checklists to make sure you are not missing any details you will need to apply to colleges. From taking your PSAT’s and SAT’s, keeping up with your A-G requirements, to requesting your high school transcripts to be sent to the colleges and universities you apply to, these checklists will help you make sure that you’ve got everything taken care of. Good luck!

Junior’s College Admission Checklist

October

1. Sign up and take the PSAT. (Check with your high school counselor for date and location)
2. Have a counselor evaluate your records for college preparation.
3. Make sure you are taking the correct classes for college bound students (A-G requirements).
4. Attend the College Information Day on the U. C. Berkeley campus.

November

1. Network with other college bounders for information on college choices and opportunities.
2. Talk with family, counselors, friends about your college plans; and how they might assist you.
3. Keep a list of colleges and careers that might appeal to you.

December

1. Write to college admission offices for information, catalogs and visitation dates.
2. Plan college campus visits with your family or college bounders network.
3. Update skills and areas you’d like to use in a career.

January

1. Visit college campuses on semester break holidays.
2. Review your PSAT scores with your Math and English teachers.
3. Plan a strategy for getting the SAT I scores you want. (Your strategy could include review of test taking skills and practice of specific skills areas).

February & March

1. Register for the SAT I, SAT II, and ACT (ask your high school counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver).
2. Choose your top 5 colleges.
3. Plan visits, and collect information on each college.
4. Explore careers in more depth, collecting information by reading and talking to people using skills you’d like to use or develop.

April & May

1. Visit distant colleges during Easter break. (Some colleges can arrange for you to stay over-night in the dorms for your visit.)
2. Review your SAT I scores and GPA with your counselor to determine your eligibility.
3. Attend the East Bay College Connection at Saint Mary’s College.
4. Attend the Alameda County College Fair at CSU Hawyard

May – August

1. Continue to collect information on your top colleges and career choices.
2. Graduating seniors become college freshmen, and are a great source of information. Additionally, they may be open to assisting you in a campus visit in early fall.
3. Research and apply for scholarships.

With this preparation, you are bound to get into the college of your choice!

September

  1. Have a counselor evaluate your records for A-G requirements: 2015_College_requirements
  2. Make sure you are taking the correct classes for your college choices.
  3. Obtain college admission applications and housing information.
  4. Register to take admission tests (SAT I, ACT and SAT II ) for your college choice (ask your high school counselor if you qualify for a fee wavier).
  5. Begin preparing for financial aid procedures (Free Application for Federal Student Aid or CA Dream Act). Gather income tax records, family and your income figures. Familiarize yourself with types of financial aid and how to apply. Request forms from individual colleges.

October

  1. Attend the College Information Day event on the UC Berkeley campus.
  2.  Research scholarships and write for applications.
  3. Begin work on autobiographical essay for college applications see Step 7 here
  4. Take admissions tests
  5. File California State University Appication, opening date from 10/1-11/30. File the application online at CSU Mentor
  6. Apply for financial aid (fill out the FAFSA form for State and Federal aid or CA Dream Act for state and institution aid). SUBMIT YOUR FINANCIAL AID Application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act) BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND MARCH 2!!!
  7. Ensure that a Cal-Grant GPA form is filled out by your high school counselor and submitted by March 2nd.

November

  1. File University of California applications. Opening date is 11/1 and 11/30. File the application online at UC Pathways. Private schools have varying filing dates, so check with each individual school.
  2. Fill out preliminary transcript requests at registrar’s office, showing college work completed for prior years.
  3. Take admissions or achievement tests.
  4. Call and write EOP offices at your schools of interest to check deadlines for the EOP application process.

December

  1. Ask teachers and counselors to complete recommendations for you, if needed for scholarships and/or admissions. 
  2. Take admission tests.
  3. Apply for Scholarships.

January/February

  1. Make sure you are checking your college portals.
  2. Apply for scholarships.

March

  1. Submit all supplementary documents to colleges and financial aid institutions (i.e. copy of income tax forms, transcript). Make sure all materials have been forwarded to all the colleges you are applying to.
  2. Apply for scholarships.

April/May

  1. Admissions notifications usually come out in mid-April for private colleges and some UC’s. State universities usually notify in mid-May. Acceptance/denial notices continue through July.
  2. May 1 is the official reply date for private colleges.
  3. Request final transcripts to the college of your choice the last two weeks of school or immediately after.
  4. Apply for scholarships.

At all times

  1. Keep in contact with your counselor and college-going network.
  2. Carefully read all correspondence from colleges: KNOW YOUR DEADLINES!!
  3. Ask questions if you do not understand.
  4. Apply for Scholarships.

YOU CAN DO IT !!!

Resources
Steps to go to College
College Entrance Exams
Juniors and Seniors
Admission Requirements
Top College Resources Online
Printable Handouts
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