SEPTEMBER- Review SAT/ACT scores and decide if you need to retake either test
- If so, register for the SAT and/or ACT
- Review SAT and ACT material; take practice tests; take a course if available
- Go to FSA ID to register in the Federal financial aid system
- Download the FAFSA worksheet online
- Research colleges, universities, and other after-high-school options
- Check college application deadlines
- Check you transcript; be sure you admissions requirements for the colleges you you hope to attend
- Work on college admission and scholarship essays; proofread with your ASPIRE mentor
- Request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors
- Learn about the CSS Profile that colleges may require for financial aid and start working on it
- Start submitting college applications; pay attention to deadlines
- If you are applying to a college that uses the Common Application, start working on it
- If you are applying to a community college, start working on the Oregon Promise application for financial aid
- Create your account in OSAC, the portal to more than 500 scholarships and start working on the application
- Explore other scholarship opportunities
- Determine if you will be applying to any colleges by Early Decision or Early Admission, and check deadlines
- Undocumented students complete the ORSAA, the alternative to the FAFSA
- Complete the FAFSA; applications are accepted beginning on October 1
- Review Student Aid Report (SAR) and make corrections if needed; you will receive access information online after filing FAFSA
- Continue with items listed for September that have not yet been completed
NOVEMBER - Continue with all items listed above that have not yet been complete
JANUARY - Submit applications to at least 3 colleges
- Monitor your applications; make sure they have been received by the colleges to which you applied
- Make sure that mid-year transcripts are sent to those colleges
- Complete the Oregon Promise application if not already finished
- Apply for local, regional, and individual college scholarships
- Submit the OSAC application
- Track scholarship application deadlines
- Regularly check your email and OSAC Student Profile for notifications
FEBRUARY - Request high school transcript for OSAC scholarship application
- Be sure that OSAC application is submitted by February 15 Early Bird deadline. It should include your Personal Statement, Activities Chart, and transcript
- Check with colleges to make sure they have received all necessary information
- Complete Oregon Promise application if not already finished
- Complete any items from previous months that are not yet finished
- Check your email and OSAC Student Profile for notifications
MARCH - Final deadline for OSAC application is March 1
- Complete the ASPIRE senior exit survey
- Complete any items from previous months that are not yet finished
- Keep you grades up. Grades in the second half of your senior year do matter to colleges
- Check your email and OSAC Student Profile for notifications
APRIL - Keep you grades up
- If you are on a college wait list, let the college know if you are still interested
- Submit requested tax forms or other documentations to the college financial aid office
- Use the Students and Families section of the Oregon Student Aid website, or BigFuture, to compare financial aid offers
- Compare loan in a Loan Comparison Chart such as the one found at BigFuture
- Accept admission and financial aid offers from the college you will be attending
- Notify other schools of your decision
- Write thank-you notes to scholarship donors
- Take a placement test if you will be attending a community college
- Review sample student budgets with your ASPIRE mentor
- Check your email and OSAC Student Profile for notifications
MAY - Check deadlines for accepting financial aid awards
- Keep your grades up
- If you are on a college waiting list, inform the college that you are still interested
- Continue with the lists shown in previous months as needed
JUNE - Request that your year-end transcript be sent to the college you will be attending
- Respond to all mail and email from your selected college\
- Create an online school account
- Register for housing, orientation, and classes
- Tour your chosen campus
- Continue checking your OSAC account
JULY - Continue with all items listed for June as needed
- Determine what items you will need for dorm life at college
- Prepare for college: acquire needed supplies, begin packing
AUGUST - Same as July
- Many colleges have a freshman orientation week that begins before older students arrive on campus; be prepared to report to your college in August.
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