Senior College Checklist

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Take the interest inventory, career search and skills assessment on www.kansascareerpipeline.org if you’re still not sure what you want to do after graduation. Get the batch codes from your counselor and then discuss results with your counselor.
Meet with your counselor to update your post graduation plan, review transcript, credits and Board of Regents curriculum if you’re working towards that.
Check with your counselor often to see if there are new scholarships available.
If you’re involved in sports and want to participate in athletics at a Division I or II college, you should register with the NCAA Clearinghouse after completing the 11^th grade. Registration is available online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. If you plan to play for an NAIA school, register at www.playnaia.org.
Stay involved in school activities (sports, clubs). Volunteer for leadership opportunities.
Check your grades often and turn in your work on time; this is your last opportunity to raise your grade point average for college applications and scholarships. Be at school EVERYDAY!
Listen to announcements, read the newsletter sent home and keep the handouts that counselors bring to your classes about scholarships and college visits.
Continue volunteering in your community by doing service for others. This can include: Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers/Sisters, Nursing Homes, shovel snow/mow lawns, help out neighbors (remember, this is for free, no payment involved). This will help you on your scholarship applications.
Contact and visit the colleges you’ve narrowed down to (3-5). Schedule a campus tour and visit with financial aid, admissions and academic advisors in the majors you’re interested in.
Participate in career fairs. TALK to business professionals and ask questions about what they had to do to get where they are and what they like/dislike about their jobs. Job shadow!
Register & take the ACT early! If you haven’t already, register online at www.actstudent.org (use high school code 171-865).
Do some ACT practice tests online so you’re ready when you take the test. Visit www.actonlineprep.com for free practice tests or see your counselor. Make sure test scores are sent to the schools you are interested in.
Continue adding to the file folder you started freshman year. That includes transcripts, awards/honors, school and community activities you’re involved in, recommendation letters from teachers/community members, any correspondence from colleges/tech schools, dates of volunteer service, etc. Use this information for your resume and scholarship applications.
Fill out the FAFSA after January 1^st of your senior year (www.fafsa.ed.gov) Watch the deadline it is due (usually by March). Get a PIN for applying for federal aid online at www.pin.ed.gov.
Make copies of everything you send (applications, scholarships, etc).
Fill out scholarship applications on time.
Ask teachers (current and past)/community members/ministers/family friends to fill out recommendations for you in a timely manner. Give them a LOT of time to do so. Give them a copy of your resume to help them along with an addressed envelope to whom it goes to (if it’s not a local scholarship).
Attend the financial aid/senior meetings.
Have a teacher or parent who is knowledgeable about writing to read your admission essays and applications for any errors.
Apply to colleges. WATCH DEADLINES of colleges for applying and financial aid. Some schools are as early as October 1^st of senior year.