Detailed Senior Checklist

This page describes in detail the process for getting into 4-year colleges. Remember that you must complete your A-G requirements in order to go to a 4-year college. Visit Mr. Abarr to check whether you've met your A-G's, and if not, which courses you still need. The High School Planner at the CSU Mentor web site is also a good tool for checking your A-G progress.

• Meet with Mr. Abarr to talk about your college plans and review your transcripts. Hopefully you've been doing this since 9th grade! Remember, I'm in the College Center during both lunches and after school.

• Explore careers and college majors that interest you and then select colleges that match your goals. Visit the College and Career Center and complete a career interest survey, which is required for the Senior Portfolio.

• Develop a list of 5-10 colleges that are a good fit for you. Get started on your private college and UC applications right away! You should already be working on your personal statement and essays. The College Center has handouts on the UC personal statement.

• Write essays that focus on your unique experiences and how you learned and took positive steps when you faced challenges. This will help you stand out from the crowd.

• Update your resume or "brag sheet" – your list of accomplishments, involvements, and work experiences. You will need this to complete your applications and essays.

• Register for the SAT Test and ACT Plus Writing Test. You can get fee waivers in the College Center.

 

Remember to send your test scores to your favorite colleges! A lot of students forget to do this until later, which costs them money. For the SAT, CSU has a special code that sends scores to all 23 CSU campuses. The code is 3594.

You can take the SAT Reasoning OR Subject Test on any SAT test date, but you cannot take them both on the same day. You can take up to 3 Subject tests on the same day.

You can take the SAT Subject test in Spanish to satisfy your A-G foreign language requirement.

Some UC engineering and science departments require the Math Level II SAT Subject exam, along with at least 1 science exam.

• The UC & CSU applications are available online beginning October 1st. Be sure to apply to the EOP program along with your CSU application. EOP provides great services that will help you succeed, including summer bridge programs, tutoring, and priority registration.

• Ask your counselor, teachers, coaches, or employers for letters of recommendation for private colleges or scholarships. Letters of recommendation are not required for the UC or CSU. Give people plenty of time to meet the deadlines, and be sure to provide them with stamped and addressed envelopes.

• Attend University of California, California State University, and private college application workshops. Check the College Center for dates and times.

• Attend college preview days, college fairs, and admission workshops.

• Work hard at perfecting your college essays. Proofread them carefully for mistakes. Visit the College Center for handouts on the UC personal statement.

• Continue looking for scholarships! The College Center will continuously update a list of new scholarship opportunities.

• Keep working on UC & CSU applications. The deadline is November 30th. If you wait until the 29th, expect computer problems (slow or crashing website, etc.). Don't procrastinate!

• Follow up with your teachers to ensure that letters of recommendations for private colleges and scholarships are sent on time to meet the deadlines.

• UC & CSU Applications ARE DUE ON NOVEMBER 30TH. No exceptions, no excuses. The internet being slow or crashing is not an excuse. Don't procrastinate.

• Try to finish private and out-of-state college applications before winter break.

• Start working on financial aid during winter break. A recommended website is www.FAFSA4caster.ed.gov. This site will make it easier to complete your FAFSA later and will also give you a preview of the aid you may receive.

• Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st. Do your best to apply by priority financial aid deadlines (which usually fall in February, or by March 2nd at the latest).

• Attend a FAFSA workshop. The College Center will host at least two--stop by for dates and times.

• Check you Cal Grant status. LAUSD automatically uploads all your GPA data to the State of California so that your Cal Grant eligibility can be determined.

• Ask Mr. Abarr or your SLC counselor to send your grades to colleges that require them. Colleges like to see strong second semester grades--A's and B's!! No D’s or F’s are allowed during the senior year, especially for UC and private college admission.

• Most private colleges also require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. Don’t procrastinate—private colleges often have a FAFSA and CSS PROFILE deadline in January!

• Most CSU and UC priority financial aid deadlines fall at the end of February. Applications sent before priority financial aid deadlines will receive the most consideration. Complete the necessary aid forms, including FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid Profile, and keep copies of everything that you send.

• About 3 weeks after completing your online FAFSA you’ll receive your

Student Aid Report (SAR). Review it for accuracy.

• Continue looking for scholarships.

• March 2nd is the official Cal State and UC FAFSA and Cal Grant deadline (no exceptions!).

• University of California admissions decisions begin.

• If colleges request additional information, send it to them immediately.

• Let Mr. Abarr know when you've been accepted to a college or received financial aid or scholarships. (Turn in copies of all admission and scholarship letters.) This information will be used to plan awards ceremonies--you deserve to be recognized for your accomplishments!

• Send in any deposits or paperwork requested by colleges that you want to attend.

• Financial aid award letters will begin to arrive from each college. The letters will contain information regarding the specific types of aid being offered to you. See Mr. Abarr if you have questions!

• Try to visit the colleges that accepted you before making your decision. You will know if the campus is right for you – you will feel it.

• Make your choice. May 1st is the official reply date. Notify ALL colleges that admitted you whether you will attend or not.

• Make your choice. May 1st is the official reply date. You might lose your spot at your favorite college if you do not notify them by this deadline.

• Mail your 4-year college acceptance forms and housing forms. Be sure to meet deadlines! Popular dormitories often fill up fast!

• Research summer orientation programs. These are a great way to start college with momentum. They may help you get the best possible class schedule, which is important as a freshman.

• Have your final transcript sent to your college. This request can be made on your Senior Survey, which is required to participate in graduation.

• Finalize your summer orientation plans.

• Send Thank You notes to scholarship programs that have given to you.