Make an appointment with your counselor

• Talking about your plans for college and life after high school.

Request applications

• Narrow down your list of colleges. Obtain application forms from each college and check and note ALL deadlines in your calendar.

Plan visits and interview

• If you can, visit the schools you are seriously considering. Visit with college reps who come to Raymond Central. Mark the dates in your calendar.

Start thinking about application essays

• If you have a choice, choose a topic that you really care about. This will help ensure that your final essay with have depth and insight.

Register for tests

• Find out which test ~ SAT, ACT, etc. ~ the colleges you're considering require.

• Some test are offered several times a year. Obtain the final date each college needs the scores so you can choose the appropriate test dates.

• Deadlines for registering are generally several weeks before the test dates. Mark these deadlines on your calendar.

• Do you need to take the test more than once?

Start preparing for tests

• Work hard in school.

• Read.

• Short term preparation involves test-taking skills. Ask your counselor about practice tests, books and courses for this.

Ask teachers to write recommendations

• You an ask for recommendations from counselors, employers and others who know you well.

Explore sources of financial aid

• Start now. Many private sources of aid have early application deadlines.

Start on application essays

• It's important to start early if you're applying for early decision or early action. See the November section for writing tips.

Be certain you have a social security number. It's required on all applications.

Male students must register for selective service to be eligible for state and federal aid. No aid is given without doing so. Register on-line at www.sss.gov.

Review your high school graduation requirements. Remember the courses needed for high school graduation are not the same as those needed for college entrance. Review the college entrance requirements carefully to be certain you will meet them.

If you plan to play a sport in a Division I or Division II college, remember to complete the Clearinghouse form. See your counselor for more information.

Become familiar with this website as well as the Education Quest Foundation site, financial aid sites, and scholarship sites.

Registration deadline for the October 22 ACT test is September 16. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org. Raymond Central's school code is 280-445.

If taking a SAT or ACT test this month

• The night before the test:

  • Lay out your supplies - #2 pencils, calculator, admission ticket, photo ID, etc.

  • Go to bed early. Don't cram. It will only add stress.

• The morning of the test:

  • Get up early. Eat a good breakfast.

  • Get to the test in plenty of time.

• Be sure to have a map of your test location so you know how to get there and get there on time.

Fill out college applications

• Watch deadlines.

• Remember neatness matters. Photocopy each application and practice filling it out, make corrections, then copy everything neatly onto the original.

• Use a BLACK pen.

Apply for a FAFSA pin number. Both the student and parent will need a pin number to use in place of a signature.  The website is www.pin.ed.gov.

Registration deadline for the December 10 ACT test is November 4. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org. Raymond Central's school code is 280-445.

Complete applications and essays

• Be sure you've answered everything completely and accurately. If you don't understand a question, don't leave it blank. Ask your counselor for help.

• Be sincere in your essays. Consider asking your English teacher to read your essays and offer suggestions. Be sure the essays express your own ideas in language that's true to you.

• Put drafts of essays aside for a few days before you start revising.

• Look over everything carefully for spelling, grammar and neatness.

Submit applications

• Most applications can now be filled out on-line. You will be asked to submit some personal information and a fee. Request a transcript from Mrs. Brey to be send to your intended college. After your application is complete, submit it to your intended colleges before the deadline date indicated.

Attend financial aid workshops with your parent(s)

• Keep a lookout for announcements about these. Mark the dates on your calendar. Remember to tell your parent(s) about them well ahead of time.

• Most colleges will not change financial aid packages if you submit an ACT score after the December test. IF you're going to retake the ACT one last time, the registration deadline for the December 12 test is November 6. Apply on-line at www.actstudent.org. Our High School code is 280-445.

Registration deadline for the December 10 ACT test is November 4. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org. Raymond Central's school code is 280-445.

November 1, Education Quest will be visiting Raymond Central to discuss Financial Aid. Visit begins at 8:30am in the Mustang room.

Get the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• You must complete this form if you're applying for federal or state financial aid. www.fafsa.ed.gov

• Submit the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. You can't submit it before January 1.

Check that all application materials due have been submitted.

• Call each college and make sure all application forms, recommendations and any other paperwork that's due have been received. Remember college and high school office may close for the holidays. Check in with them early in the month, so there'll be time to take care of last minute details.

Expect early decision and early action replies

• Accepted? Congratulations! You may need to send a deposit and withdraw applications from other colleges.

• Deferred? Stay hopeful. You may be accepted later with regular decision applicants.

• Denied? Don't give up. This doesn't mean you're not smart or worthy. Remember, you still have other schools on your list.

Remember no one is available at school while we are on Christmas break. Any official transcript or recommendation needed by January 1 must be submitted before winter break.

If you have not already done so, visit the Education Quest Center in Lincoln.  They have scholarship searches, materials on all colleges, career programs, and the capability of helping you estimate your family financial need before you file the FAFSA. The EQC will also file you FAFSA electronically for you in January if you wish. (Do this. They're experts at this process! Plus, it's free.)

Registration deadline for the February 11, 2012 ACT test is January 13, 2012. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org. Raymond Central's school code is 280-445.

Submit the FAFSA

• Do this as soon after January 1 as you can. Your parent(s) should complete the tax returns as early as possible, since it's easier to fill out the FAFSA if you have that tax information. www.fafsa.ed.gov

Read

• Reading is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for success in college, regardless of what you think you might major in. Read as much as you can beyond what's assigned in class. Ask teachers and counselors for book lists.

Keep thinking about possible majors and careers.

• Do some soul-searching.

• Take an honest look at your interests, skills and personality.

• Don't limit yourself to fields that others expect you to go into. Follow your own heart. Explore all your interests.

• Learn as much as you can about careers that interest you. Read about them. Talk to people who work in your field of interest.

• Volunteer, get an internship or work part time in a field you're considering. You'll gain valuable insight and experience.

Apply for Pell grants as soon after January 1 as possible. February 1-15 may be more realistic since you will need all income information for both you and your parents from 2010. You will use the FAFSA website and plan on applying on line for speedier processing.

Continue applying for scholarships listed in the student bulletins and others you discover at from parent's work, web searches, organizations to which you belong.

Apply for local scholarships.

Registration deadline for the February 11, 2012 ACT test is January 13, 2012. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org. Raymond Central's school code is 280-445.

Keep working hard in school

• Avoid slacking off just because you've turned in your applications. Colleges pay attention to how you do up through final senior grades. So do many scholarship programs. Your final GPA and class rank are calculated in May. Colleges will want a copy of your final transcript which will include your last semesters grades.

List for information on Advanced Placement Program (AP*) exams

• These are given in a number of subjects. It is a good idea to take these if you've been taking AP courses. Also consider them if you haven't been taking AP courses, but are strong in a particular subject. High AP exam scores can earn you college credits. The exams usually take place in May.

Expect the Student Aid Report (SAR)

• You should receive this a few weeks after submitting the FAFSA. It will show your Expected Family Contribution. This information will also be forwarded to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA.

• Read the SAR carefully. If there are any errors, correct them and send the report back.

• If it's been more than 4 weeks since you submitted the FAFSA and you have not received the SAR, notify the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

Keep searching for financial aid opportunities

• Many local scholarships may not be available until now.

Visit colleges you've applied to, if needed

• Need to take a second look? Now is a good time. If possible, sit in on some classes and stay overnight.

Make sure colleges have received all supporting information

• Call each college admissions office. Make sure each college has receievd:

  • your midyear transcript

  • all needed test scores

  • all financial aid information

• IF anything is missing, send it right away.

Send any new material that may boost your chances

• If you've received any honors or awards or other significant accomplishments since you sent in your application, don't be shy about letting colleges know.

Living on campus? You need to be making housing reservations. You'll have lots of choices about the type of housing (male/female/coed/honors).

Get a head start on a summer job. Financial aid forms use a summer savings factor in the calculation. You are expected to have some money saved.

Expect admission decisions!

• Congratulation yourself on your acceptances. Way to go!

Decide which college to go to

• Consider all the pros and cons

• Get the opinions of your parent(s)

• When comparing financial aid offers, look at the kinds of aid offered (loans versus grants)

• Let your counseling or college planning office know of your final decision.

Reply to colleges

• Notify the college you choose of your decision. Send a deposit if needed. Watch deadlines and mark them on your calendar. Some colleges may require deposits by May 1.

• After making sure everything is in order with the college you choose to attend, write a polite letter to the colleges that you did not choose. Thank them for their offer. Do this promptly so they can offer admission to another student.

Apply for Perkins and/or Stafford and/or PLUS loans if you need them. The college financial aid office or your local bank will help you.

Thank teachers and others who wrote recommendations.

• Consider giving them a thank-you note or card.

Keep in touch with wait-list schools you would still like to attend.

• Consider writing a letter to express your enthusiasm for attending.

• Let the colleges know of significant recent achievements, such as high grades, awards or honors.

Make plans for the summer and beyond.

• Make good use of the summer. Consider taking a course that you can apply toward college.

• Explore volunteering, internship and job possibilities.

• Spend time with your family and friends.

• Forms regarding housing, roommates, course, etc., may start arriving from the college you'll be attending. Respond to all of these promptly.

Attend graduation practice.

Attend Graduation