FOR SENIORS

COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
FOR SENIORS

Your senior year is here! This year you will finalize your college choice, complete admission applications, scholarship essays, and financial aid information, and keep track of important deadlines. During your senior year, build your resume by keeping your grades up and participating in extracurricular activities, athletics, and volunteering. Colleges will check in and request final grades and like to see that you are a well-rounded student.

Your senior year of college planning will be filled with many details and paperwork. It is essential that you keep your parents involved with your milestones and deadlines.

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HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS 

Take a look at this quick video which gives you the highlights of the college planning timeline for your senior year.  Whether you have a jumpstart from your junior year or are just getting started, this information will help you stay on track.

 

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FALL | SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

You are off to a great start building your academic skills, joining extracurricular activities, and maybe trying out a new sport. Now it's time to get serious about planning and preparing for college.

SEPTEMBER

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RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

If you still need to ask your teachers, mentors, or employers for a recommendation letter last year - Now is the time.

STAY ORGANIZED

Use a calendar to keep track of admissions and financial aid deadlines.

COLLEGE ESSAY

You can begin drafting your college essays. You may have more than one, so give yourself time to complete them before the deadlines.

COMMUNICATE

Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your timeline and plan.

Keep your parents in the loop! They should know all the important deadlines!

EARLY ADMISSIONS

Start preparing college applications for early admissions.

OCTOBER

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FINANCIAL AID

Keep your parents in the loop! They should know all the important deadlines!

BOOK APPOINTMENT WITH COLLEGE PLANNING CENTER

Submit your FAFSA, CSS Profile, and any additional forms required.   Free completion assistance is available at the College Planning Center.

SAT REGISTRATIONS

Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your timeline and plan.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Send early decision and early action applications by the deadline. Begin to send in regular admission applications. Keep copies of everything!

COLLEGE ESSAYS

Set aside time to draft, edit, and re-write your college essay.

NOVEMBER

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SCHOLARSHIPS

Start checking with the guidance office regularly for new scholarship opportunities.

Search for free scholarships at RISCHOLARSHIPS.ORG

Enter to win a $2,000 KNOWLEDGE FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Continue submitting applications.  Ensure your test scores will be sent to the colleges you are applying to.

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

Consider attending a financial aid night, usually sponsored by your high school.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES

If you are applying to URI and wish to be considered for the Merit Scholarship, your admissions application must be received by Dec. 1.

If you are applying to RIC and wish to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship, your admissions application must be received by Dec. 15.

WINTER | SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

DECEMBER

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TEST SCORES

Make sure to send and confirm receipt of your test scores to desired colleges if applying for regular decision.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Your college applications should be submitted before winter vacation.

EARLY DECISION

You should have an answer if you applied to an early decision. If you have yet to hear, call the admission office.

JANUARY

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HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS

Ask your high school to send transcripts of your first semester grades to your college selections.

FEBRUARY

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COLLEGE CHOICES

If you have not decided on a favorite school, arrange a second visit to those you are most interested in. Talk to students and faculty and sit in on a class.

SPRING | SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

MARCH

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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Monitor your applications to ensure all materials are sent and received on time.

RISCHOLARSHIP.ORG

Create an account at rischolarship.org to search for outside scholarships and grants.

APRIL

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FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTERS

Review your financial aid award letter with your parents. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions for each type of aid offered. Contact COLLEGEPLANNINGCENTER.ORG for help.

PICK A COLLEGE

Decide on the college you will attend and send your tuition deposit. Inform other colleges that accepted you of your enrollment decision. Other students will want your spot! Be sure to respond by May 1.

COLLEGE ADMISSION WAITLIST

If your first choice college places you on the waiting list, do not lose all hope. Contact the college admission office to let them know you are still very interested and keep the college updated on your activities.

COLLEGE HOUSING & MEAL PLAN

If you want to live on campus, complete a housing/meal application and send it along with any necessary deposits.

MAY

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COLLEGE EXPENSES

Work with your parents to establish a tuition, books, supplies, and living expenses budget.

SUMMER | SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

JUNE

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COLLEGE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

Carefully read anything received from your college, especially a request for additional information and documents.

FINAL TRANSCRIPT

Request a copy of your final transcript to the college you will attend. Notify the college financial aid office of any private scholarships you will receive. Find out when tuition, room, board, etc. payment will be due, and start considering ways to cover the final cost.

SUMMER JOB & VOLUNTEERING

Apply for a summer job or consider volunteering at a community service agency. Plan to save a portion of your earnings for college.

JULY

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BALANCE DUE

Expect to receive your bill from the college in the early part of this month. If you have a balance due, make arrangements to make payment by the due date.

AUGUST

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INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Contact your roommate to introduce yourselves and plan who is bringing what. Prevent duplication and spend extra money by deciding on major room items like TV, refrigerator, area rug, etc.

YOU MADE IT!

Start looking forward to a great college experience.

THE COLLEGE PLANNING CENTER

Tips from our College Planning Experts.

TOOLS & RESOURCES

KNOWLEDGE FOR COLLEGE
ENTER TO WIN $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Visit our Knowledge for College Scholarship page to learn more and enter today!

EVENTS
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A free service offered by RISLA's College Planning Center.

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Look for hundreds of hard-to-find local scholarships.

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THE COLLEGE PLANNING CENTER SUCCESS STORIES

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THIS SERVICE WAS AMAZING!

This service was amazing! It took all of the stress and uncertainty out of completing the FAFSA and CSS for my son's college process. I was even able to submit the forms early. I would recommend the RISLA College Planning Center to any family who is assisting their child in the college process. They have also let me know that they can help review costs to attend and financial aid packages when the acceptance letters come in. I am so happy that we found this service. I feel like I would have been very overwhelmed without it.

Kelly L.
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THEY WILL HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I am so grateful to this organization. My kids and I have been working with The College Planning Center since 2018. The staff has gotten us through the whole process - researching colleges, applying for aid, and finally reviewing offers. I can’t say enough great things about them.
 
Thank you for all you do.
 
Kristen R.
PARENT
INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR FAFSA PLANNING!

The RI College Planning Center has been invaluable in helping me navigate the FAFSA process for the past 4 years. Every state should have a resource like this.

 

Margo K.
PARENT
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