Valentine J Brkich

A Monthly To-Do List For High School Seniors

to- do list for high school seniors

• SEPTEMBER

• Narrow down your wish list of colleges

• If you haven’t already done so or plan to retake them, register for the SAT or ACT

• Research various scholarship and financial aid opportunities

• Get involved—join clubs and groups, volunteer, and take on leadership roles where possible

• OCTOBER

• Finalize your list of schools and be aware of their admission requirements and application deadlines

• Research scholarships at the colleges on your list 

• Acquire letters of recommendations from your teachers 

• Retake the ACT/SAT (if necessary)

• NOVEMBER

• Make sure you’re on target for your colleges’ application deadlines,

• Take SAT Subject Tests (if necessary)

• Research outside scholarships

• DECEMBER

• Complete all college applications

• Start working with your parents on your FAFSA 

• Schedule visits to the colleges on your wish list

• Be sure to keep up with your current academic and extracurricular activities 

• JANUARY

• Complete the College Scholarship Service Profile and the FAFSA

• Continue to research/apply for scholarships

• Visit schools on your finalized wish list 

• FEBRUARY

• Work with your parents to make sure the FAFSA and other financial aid documents are submitted on time 

• Continue to research/apply for scholarships

• Meet with your high school counselor and make sure you are on track for graduation

• If you’ve already been accepted to a college(s), make plans to visit your potential new school(s)

• MARCH

• Review any financial aid scholarship offers you’ve received; continue to research/apply for scholarships

• If you’ve already been admitted to a school, submit your enrollment and housing forms/deposits

• APRIL

• Apply for student loans 

• Be sure to send in your enrollment and housing deposits by the deadlines 

• Once you select a college, notify any others you were accepted to

• Start to think about a summer job or taking a summer class

• MAY

• Make a to-do list of everything you need to do/complete for your chosen college, i.e., submitting housing forms, registering for orientation and classes, etc. 

• Secure a summer job or internship, or register for a summer class

• JUNE

•  Have your final high school transcript sent to your chosen school

• Make sure you’re submitting all the necessary forms/info to your college

• Register for the orientation program

• Find out who your roommate is and make contact with them

• Start making a list of all the things you’ll need to buy/pack for your dorm

• JUNE—AUGUST

• Have fun with your high school friends! Believe it or not, but this may be the last time you see many of them for years. Embrace this time and reflect on the past four years. But don’t worry—the next four years are sure to be amazing!