Senior Year Timeline
What is the Common Application?The Common App is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once. The writing section includes the personal essay as well as any writing supplements required by individual colleges. |
Print out a PDF of the Senior College Application Timeline 2020 09
August
__ Draft your personal statement/essay.
__ Keep track of scholarships that you may qualify for.
__ Find out if you qualify for a fee waiver for the SAT and/or ACT
__ Register for SAT or ACT— if you need to take it for a first or second time.
__ If you are an athlete who might play Division I or II in college, register with NCAA
__ Start filling out The Common Application
September
__ Attend college visits at TSA.
__ Attend the college fair with TSA juniors.
| Review the PowerPoint presentation of 2020 Senior Parent Night Fall
or grab a snack and watch the 56-minute video of the 9/15/20 event. |
__ Make sure your parents attend the college information night at TSA.
__ Set up evaluative interviews at the schools you are applying to that offer them.
__ Include all college application deadlines on a calendar that you reference regularly.
__ If you are applying to a program that requires auditions, check the audition schedule and
keep track of dates on a calendar.
__ If your application requires a portfolio meet with a faculty member for feedback and/or
consider attending Portfolio Day in Boston.
__ Meet with an adult at school to proof and give feedback on your personal statement/essay.
__ Check the requirements at each college you are applying to for recommendation letters.
__ Write down the requirements at each college you are applying to for recommendation
letters.
__ Check and write down all requirements at each college you are applying to.
__ Request recommendation letters on Naviance (include your essay topic, deadline, a note of
thanks)
__ Request recommendation letters in person.
__ Review your transcript with your parents and advisor.
__ Check the TSA newsletter for updates on scholarships, college visits, and more.
__ Send thank you notes/correspondence with admissions representatives you have met at
colleges you are interested in applying to.
October
__ Complete and submit the FAFSA, VT State Grant, and, if required by your schools, The CSS
Profile
__ Decide if you will be applying early to any schools (usually Nov 1 deadline).
__ Narrow down your list of schools that you are applying to in Naviance.
__ Be sure that your list includes “safety”, “probable” and “reach” schools.
__ Make sure you communicate your deadlines to your counselor and your recommendation
letter writers.
__ Request that test scores be sent to colleges on your application list (through the college board
or ACT)
__ If you are applying to test-optional schools, meet with Ellen to discuss if you should send
scores.
__ Request transcript for each school you are applying to (on Naviance).
__ Review your applications, activities with a TSA counselor/teach and parents to make sure
they are accurate and complete.
__ Make sure to sign the FERPA waiver.
__ Check the TSA newsletter for updates on scholarships, college visits, and more.
November
__ If you completed a FAFSA you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within 4
weeks. Review and check for inaccuracies.
__ Attend a VSAC “Paying for College” night (www.vsac.org)
__ Check to see if the colleges to which you are applying require any forms besides the
FAFSA.
__ Know your deadlines and keep working on applications.
__ Keep your counselor up to date on your thoughts and plans.
December
__ Keep looking/applying for scholarships—get your college paid for!
__ Check the TSA newsletter for updates on scholarships, college visits, and more.
January
__ Submit all applications with a January due date.
__ Check the TSA newsletter for updates on scholarships, college visits, and more.
__ Keep working in your classes. Grades and courses continue to count throughout your
senior year!
February
__ Complete scholarship applications. You may be eligible for more than you think!
__ Check to make sure your mid-year transcripts were sent by your counselor.
March
__ Stay focused and keep studying—only a few more months to go!
April
__ Review your acceptances and financial aid awards.
__ Update Naviance with your acceptances, denials, waitlist, etc.
__ If you are positive you will not enroll at a college then notify them.
__ If you know what college you will attend send your deposit and follow instructions.
__ If you plan to defer, request it now!
May
__ Update Naviance with your choice of college.
June
__ Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you will be receiving
__ Know when the payment for tuition, room & board, meal plans, etc. is due.
__ Keep your grades up and get excited about graduation!
__Write thank you cards to the people who wrote your recommendation letters.
Print out a PDF of the Senior College Application Timeline 2020 09