A roadmap for successfully navigating
your senior year and preparing for college

September to October:

• Check out eCHOICES -- If you're feeling overwhelmed, START HERE. This career and college search Web application is free (with the Mohonasen password) and has helped many students explore options and make informed choices about their future -- from choosing a career path to researching colleges and finding financial aid.
• Take (or re-take) the SAT and/or ACT College Entrance Exams -- The SAT is required by most colleges and most students take this extremely important exam as juniors. Many re-take it as seniors to try to improve their scores. Register for the October SAT by the September registration deadline. Registration materials can be picked up in the Counseling and Career Center, or you can register on-line at CollegeBoard.com. If one or more of the colleges you are applying to require the ACT exam, register for the October test by the September registration deadline. Registration materials can be picked up in the Counseling and Career Center. Remember: you must take tests like the SAT and ACT at least six weeks before scores can be submitted to colleges. Registration deadlines and test dates appear on Mohonasen's annual district calendar.
• Check on SAT/ACT scores  -- Does the college want your scores sent directly from the testing center? Ask your counselor for a form to send to the testing centers to accomplish just that. You will be charged a fee for every college that you ask the testing center(s) to notify.
• Senior Conference -- Each senior meets individually with his or her counselor to review graduation and course requirements and post-graduation plans. A college application timeline is formalized at this meeting. Parents are encouraged to call their teen's counselor in early September if they would like to attend.
• Senior Information Night -- Both students and parents should attend this hour-long presentation which focuses on the college application process. Look for the date on the district calendar.
• Parents -- Have you filled out the Parent Recommendation Letter and returned it to your teen's guidance counselor? Your recommendation letter will help counselors with their recommendation letters by giving them a bigger perspective on your teen's strengths, activities and unique accomplishments -- both in school and outside of school. 
• Start checking for scholarship applications -- Plan to visit the Counseling and Career Center at least once a week to check the scholarship board for announcements and application information. New scholarships come in at all different times during the year and they aren't just for the "straight A" students. Don't miss the boat; check in weekly.
• Meet with college representatives visiting Mohonasen -- The Counseling and Career Center can tell you which schools will be visiting Mohonasen and when. Ask for a pass to get out of class and ask the college representatives lots of questions! (Keep in mind you are responsible for making up any missed class work.)
• Visit some colleges -- If you haven't done this already, try to schedule some college visits this fall. Interview some students, faculty and staff, if possible. Check out our tips for visiting colleges and list of sample questions you can ask.
• Gather all application materials -- Get an application packet from every college you are thinking about applying to. Mohonasen's Counseling and Career Center keeps a good supply of applications to SUNY colleges, so just ask. If you're applying to an out-of-state or private college, you'll probably need to call or e-mail the admissions office to request the materials. Once you have all the application packets, read through them to get a feel for what's required and what's involved in applying. 
• Start your college application essay(s) early -- Most schools require essays as part of their application packet. Even if the essay is optional -- do it! It is the first "test" to see how much time you will spend on that college's application. Get the topic and start writing it early. Try to make your essay compelling and be sure it reflects your best effort. Give it lots of thought, edit, spell-check and ask for feedback from an English teacher, counselor, parent, etc.
• Finalize your college choices -- Decide on a minimum of three potential colleges. You should be thinking about some "reach" schools, "comfortable" choices and a "safety" school. This pertains to academic as well as financial considerations.
• Make a list; check it twice -- Make a checklist for each college you are going to apply to. Include all the pieces of information that need to be assembled (i.e., forms, recommendations, essays, transcripts, etc.) and all deadlines (including when the application must be postmarked by). This will help you break the application job into smaller parts. It will also help you stay organized, calm and on track. Print out a copy of the Counseling and Career Center's College Application Checklist: there's one designed for SUNY schools and another for private schools.
• Request recommendation letters -- NOW is the time to ask teachers (from your junior and senior years), guidance counselors, coaches and employers for letters of recommendation related to your activities and employment. These will be required for college applications. Ask for the recommendations in person and then follow up by providing them with a copy of Mohonasen's Recommendation Request Form. Be sure to write each person a thank you note.
• TRY TO FINISH YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF OCTOBER -- Even though many colleges have rolling admissions, the earlier you apply, the better your chances of getting accepted. Even if the college's official deadline is March 1st, it's better to get your application in to your counselor by November 1st. You'll be ahead of the game and able to shift your focus to financial aid applications, scholarships and simply enjoying your senior year. Unless you thrive on stress, there is no good reason to wait until the last minute to begin working on college applications. Look here for some more tips on the college application process.
• Parents: Plan now for a smoother financial aid application process --
  1. APPLY FOR YOUR FAFSA PIN NUMBER IN OCTOBER AND START GATHERING FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Virtually all colleges require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to apply for financial aid. Visit FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov and sign up for your personal pin number if you're going to submit the form on-line. This is also a good time to print out the worksheets for filling out the FAFSA so you'll know what's involved and can begin gathering the financial records. (The actual form cannot be submitted until after Jan. 1st but most colleges want it by February 1st so preparing now will reduce stress later.)
  2. FIND OUT IF THE COLLEGE(S) REQUIRE THE CSS/FINANCIAL AID PROFILE -- Some colleges (mostly private schools) require this special form which is essentially a supplement to the FAFSA. The College Board Web site has a list of the schools that require it, but it's always better to check with the college directly.
  3. CALL THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES TO FIND OUT IF THEY REQUIRE ANY OTHER SPECIAL FINANCIAL FORMS OF THEIR OWN. This is most common at private colleges. If they require specialized forms, ask them to mail them to you now.
  4. FIND OUT THE DEADLINES FOR ALL FINANCIAL AID FORMS NOW. 

November

• College applications should be completed and turned in to your high school counselor this month -- In the best case scenario, turn them in by November 1st. Your counselor will review each of your applications, look for any missing pieces, complete his or her portion and then mail the final application to the colleges for you. In the worst case scenario (read as "last minute mad dash") you'll need to give your counselor your completed applications at least two weeks before the college requires that it be postmarked and in the mail. Make sure each application has the College Application Checklist attached as the cover sheet before turning it in to your counselor. (Again: you can print out the forms here: SUNY Schools Application Checklist and/or Private Schools Application Checklist.)
• Attend special programs -- such as college fairs and Mohonasen's College Financial Aid Workshop for parents (generally scheduled in November; check the district calendar).
• Continue checking for scholarship applications every week in the Counseling and Career Center.

December

• If you're still applying to colleges, get those applications filled out and turned in to your counselors as soon as possible, allowing at least two weeks for processing. (Keep in mind counselors are on vacation over the Christmas recess; not reviewing college applications.) January 1 deadlines should be turned in to your counselor by December 1 at the latest.
• Parents: Save year-end payroll stubs that show your earnings for the year -- You may need it for financial aid eligibility reviews by schools and to estimate your taxes on the FAFSA form.
• Pick up the FAFSA form from the Counseling and Career Center -- Remember, FAFSA is the federal financial aid application form that colleges use as their formula for determining financial aid. If you haven't done so already, visit the FAFSA Web site (see notes above) to find out more.
• Take stock -- Review the list above. Are you on schedule? Have you skipped anything?

January

• January is financial aid month -- Parents should attend the Filling Out The FAFSA Workshop held at Mohonasen in early January.  Look for other special programs in the Capital District.
• Get your income tax returns prepared early -- Colleges may request them and you will need tax information to complete the FAFSA. Note: since some schools require the FAFSA by February 1st, and many employers don't give out W-2 forms until late in January, you can opt to estimate your taxes using the prior year's tax returns and this year's pay stubs. (See the FAFSA Web site for more details.)
• Complete the FAFSA form -- Submit the form as soon as possible after January 1st. Some schools require it as early as February 1st but be sure to submit it no later than March 1st. You improve your chances of receiving financial aid if you submit your forms early. Colleges are handing out aid as the applications come in -- and there IS a limit to how much they have to give. Get your application in late and all their available money may, quite simply, be gone.
• Remember to keep copies of all financial aid forms you submit.
• Apply for outside funding and scholarships -- Keep checking for scholarship applications in the Counseling and Career Center every week and explore other sources. For example, parents might belong to organizations or work in businesses that award scholarships. Ask around. Visit www.fastweb.com, the Internet's largest free scholarship search. Look around.

February and March

• Make sure your FAFSA has been filled out and mailed.
• Check on mid-year transcripts -- Did you tell your counselor which colleges want mid-year transcripts? Stop in the Counseling and Career Center and confirm that they were mailed.
• Watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR) -- This is one-page summary of the FAFSA information you submitted. It is sent to you to confirm the accuracy of all data one last time before it is forwarded to your colleges. Occasionally the SAR will note that information is missing or incomplete. In all cases, follow directions on the SAR and return it as quickly as possible. If you have not received your Student Aid Report within five weeks after sending in your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (301) 722- 9200. The report arrives by mail -- or by email if you filed the FAFSA electronically.
• Rank your college choices while you wait for responses to your applications.

April

• Watch the mail for college acceptance letters -- They typically start arriving in April.
• Compare financial aid packages from each college.
• It's time to select the college you're going to attend! You'll need to send in a deposit to the college you've chosen- no later than May 1st. Among other things, missing this deadline can negatively affect your campus housing options.

May and Beyond

• Notify the other schools -- Be sure to call the admissions and financial aid office of the colleges that you will not be attending.
• Watch for important deadlines at your college of choice -- These may include housing deposits, financial aid, and more.
• Register as an alumni -- Remember to register in Mohonasen's online alumni database. This site will help you keep in touch with classmates in the years ahead and keep you informed about any reunions that your class may be planning.
• Have a fun summer, and good luck in college!