YAHOO - IT'S SENIOR YEAR!

THE SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR:

• Pre-College Programs
• College Visits 
• Narrow down Choices of: Post-Secondary Options, Colleges, Majors, Careers
• Double Check Your Senior Schedule & Your Graduation Requirements BMCHS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
• The Common Application opens Aug.1st: Common App

• Brainstorm Personal Essays & Common App Writing Prompts (even if you don't use the common app) Essay HELP!
• Complete Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Questionnaire and distribute to people who will write you great letters of recommendations.   
• Start Researching Scholarships & Keep Track of Possible Scholarships (HERE)

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR:

• • • Request an Unofficial Copy of Your Transcripts & Check for Accuracy
    • Visit Your School Counselor & Review Personal Plans & Timelines
      • Get a Counselor Information Sheet
    • Consider Your SAT/ACT Scores & Know What Your Top College Choices Average SAT/ACT Scores Are
      • Do You Need To Take Another Test? (SAT/ACT INFO)
    • Start to Gather & Decide on College Applications
      • Know your 3 Types of Applications: SAFETY / MATCH / REACH Schools
    • Complete Transcript Request Form for EVERY College Application (The Blue Form) *Even if you apply online!
    • Attend Financial Aid Night
    • Start Your FAFSA (Free Application For Student Aid)
    • CHANGES TO FAFSA PROCESS -INCLUDING START DATE

• • • • Fill Out A FAFSA
      • A PHEAA representative will be at McCort for a FAFSA workshop to assist parents & students with 
    • Start Getting Serious About Your College Essays

• Look for Open House Opportunities at Preferred Colleges & College Fairs
  • Seniors have 3 College Visits - USE 'EM!
• Know Which Colleges Admission Counselors are Coming to McCort - Talk to Them!
• Know Your Application Fees & Deadlines: Many Early/Priority Deadlines are Nov.1
  • Different Types of Admissions
• Politely Check in with Those Teachers/Coaches/Employers Writing Your LORs
  •  Make Sure the Guidance Office Gets Copies of Your LORs!
• Stay on Top of Your Senior Classwork!
  • Many Colleges Ask for a Mid-Year Report for Applicants - Make Sure Yours is Most Impressive!

  

• October Senior Workshop - Good Opportunity to Ask College Faculty & Students About All of the Thoughts/Questions Running Through Your Head (Admit it, They are!)
• Complete Your Senior Superlatives Form
  • Last Chance to Convince Everyone of What You are Most Likely To Do!
• Make Sure You Have Completed at Least One Application by Thanksgiving & Be Grateful!

BE EDUCATED ON FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES

PHEAA FINANCIAL AID STUDENT GUIDE

 WINTER OF SENIOR YEAR:

• Keep Scholarship Hunting & Many Scholarship Applications Should be Open & Due this Time of Year.
  • Community & Local Scholarship
  • Know the Scholarships/Awards at the Schools You Applied
• Athletes, If You Plan on Participating in Collegiate Athletics, You Need to be Certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to Compete at an NCAA Division I or II School
  • Eligibility Center
• Listen For Onsite Acceptance Days at McCort and Look For On Campus Acceptance Days at Colleges
• Gentlemen, You Must Register For Selective Services Within 30 Days of Your 18th Birthday.  You Can Register HERE
  
  • Please Note: The Guidance Office Will Provide The US Armed Services a Senior Class Listing, Which Provides All Senior Contact Information.  You May Request to Opt Out of Having Your Contact Information on This List by Sending a Written Request to The Guidance Office By December 1st.  
• All College Applications Should be Completed or Almost Done!  Remember that Many Schools Have January 1st Deadlines, but that DOES NOT MEAN You Should Wait Until December 31st to Apply!
  
  • ALL TRANSCRIPT/LORs/SCHOOL REPORTS/COUNSELOR REPORTS Requests Should be Turned into the Guidance Office 2 Weeks Before Christmas Break. 

• YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED! or You will be.  Keep Track of Your College Acceptance and Financial Award Letters of All of the Schools You Hear Back From.  
  • 2 Good Links to Help You Keep Track & Compare Award Letters:
    • Finaid.org Calculator
    • CollegeGold Award Compare
• ONE MORE TEST?!  
  • Some Programs/Majors (Nursing Typically) may Require a Standardized Entrance Exam like the TEAS - Be Aware of These Tests & Study Before Taking Them!

 

• It's Christmas Time - Get Involved in Your School Community!  
  • Be a Shopper for Your Family Christmas Project
  • Help with Breakfast with Santa
  • Volunteer to Help SAP with Christmas Giveaway
• CHRISTMAS BREAK - Great Time to Relax with Family & Friends, but it May Also be the Time to Complete College & Scholarship Applications if You Still Need to do so.  Scholarship Hunting Can Be Done Without Leaving Your Couch as Long as You Have Your Phone & Apps like Scholly or Scholarship.com

• Finish Strong - Many Schools will Want a Mid-Year Report.  All Colleges will Receive Your Final Transcript.  Major Drop Offs in Grade Could Cost You Award Money and/or Acceptance Altogether.
• Be Ready for AP Tests!

• • A Strong Performance on AP Tests can count for college credits 
  • Click TEST PREP 

STAY POSITIVE!

• It's almost over, Hang in there with a positive attitude.  More importantly, appreciate it.  The end of Senior year should be an exciting and joyful time!
• Cherish It!