College PlanningSeniors DeadlineAugust
· Sign up for the ACT (if you didn't take it as a junior, or if you aren't satisfied with your score, or if you've learned a lot since you first took it.) · Review ACT test results and retest if necessary August – December · Visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements · Consider taking courses at a local university or community college · Keep working hard all year; second semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility · Ask for personal references from teachers, school counselors, or employers early in the year or at least two weeks before application deadlines. Follow your school's procedure for requesting recommendations. · Visit with admissions counselors who come to your high school · Attend a college fair · Begin your college essay(s) · Apply for admission at the colleges you've chosen · Avoid common college application mistakes · Find out if you qualify for scholarships at each college you have applied to · Start the financial aid application process · See your school counselor for help finding financial aid and scholarships · If you need it, get help completing the FAFSA · Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR)—it should arrive four weeks after the FAFSA is filed January – May · Ask your guidance office in January to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. In May, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend. · Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll · Decide which college to attend, and notify the school of your decision · Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork · Notify schools you will not attend of your decision · Continue to look for scholarship opportunities · Keep track of important financial aid and scholarship deadlines · Compare financial aid packages from different schools · Sign and send in a promissory note if you are borrowing money · Notify your college about any outside scholarships you received 2-Year vs. 4-Year College
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2-year vs 4-year College
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College Visit
To make the most of your college visit, here are 36 questions that I'd recommend that you ask:
Academics
—How much time do students typically spend on homework?
—How much writing and reading are expected?
—What is the average class size of introductory classes?
—How widely used are teaching assistants on your campus?
—What is the average class size of upper-division courses?
Academic Perks
—What opportunities are there for undergraduate research?
—How many students participate in undergraduate research?
—Is there a culminating senior year experience?
—Do you have an honors college?
—Do you have a learning community or other freshman experience?
Financial Aid
—What is your average financial aid package?
—What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?
—What percentage of financial need does the school typically meet?
—What is the average merit award?
—What percentage of students receive college grants?
—What is the average college debt that students leave with?
—What work-study opportunities are there?
Graduation Track Record
—What is your four-year graduation rate?
—What is your five-year graduation rate?
—What does it take to graduate in four years?
—What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?
Academic Support
—What type of tutoring program do you have?
—How do you provide academic advice to students?
—Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?
—What kind of learning disability resources do you have?
Outside Opportunities
—How many students at the college get internships?
—What percentage of students study abroad?
—What type of career services do you have?
Student Life
—What kind of dorm choices are there?
—What percentage of student live on campus?
—How long are dorm accommodations guaranteed?
—How many students live on campus?
—Do most students go home on the weekend?
—What percentage of the study body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?
—What activities are offered to students?
—What clubs do you have on campus?
Academics
—How much time do students typically spend on homework?
—How much writing and reading are expected?
—What is the average class size of introductory classes?
—How widely used are teaching assistants on your campus?
—What is the average class size of upper-division courses?
Academic Perks
—What opportunities are there for undergraduate research?
—How many students participate in undergraduate research?
—Is there a culminating senior year experience?
—Do you have an honors college?
—Do you have a learning community or other freshman experience?
Financial Aid
—What is your average financial aid package?
—What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?
—What percentage of financial need does the school typically meet?
—What is the average merit award?
—What percentage of students receive college grants?
—What is the average college debt that students leave with?
—What work-study opportunities are there?
Graduation Track Record
—What is your four-year graduation rate?
—What is your five-year graduation rate?
—What does it take to graduate in four years?
—What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?
Academic Support
—What type of tutoring program do you have?
—How do you provide academic advice to students?
—Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?
—What kind of learning disability resources do you have?
Outside Opportunities
—How many students at the college get internships?
—What percentage of students study abroad?
—What type of career services do you have?
Student Life
—What kind of dorm choices are there?
—What percentage of student live on campus?
—How long are dorm accommodations guaranteed?
—How many students live on campus?
—Do most students go home on the weekend?
—What percentage of the study body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?
—What activities are offered to students?
—What clubs do you have on campus?