Outlining each step of the college search process

By Sally Wood

College Admission Recruitment Steps to Get Into Top College on List

Use this handy reference calendar to remind your students of milestones that they must meet to get into their college of choice.

Freshman Year

Fall Term

Plan ahead. Your students should schedule time to meet with their guidance counselor and plan a strategy of courses that will meet college entrance requirements.

Sophomore Year

September

Your students should speak with their guidance counselor about taking the PSAT/NMSQT and the PLAN in preparation for the SAT and ACT.

October

Your students should take the PSAT/NMSQT and/or PLAN. Sophomore-year PSAT/NMSQT scores will not count toward the National Merit Scholarship Competition, but it is good practice.

December

Receive results of PSAT/NMSQT and/or PLAN. They should consult with their guidance counselor to investigate ways to improve scores on standardized tests.

Junior Year

September

Map out a testing schedule for the coming year, including the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and/or ACT. Pick the test dates that will work with your students' schedules, taking into account family events, extracurricular activities, and holidays.
Have your students register for the October PSAT/NMSQT.
They should meet with their guidance counselor to review their course plan for the school year and plan their senior schedule.
Check your students' course transcript. Are they on track to complete all the credits required by schools they are interested in applying to?
Begin to establish criteria for the college search: Are your students interested in a small rural college or a large urban campus? Visit some local colleges to learn what they do and don't like.

October

They should take the PSAT/NMSQT. Scores are important, as they are used to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition and the National Achievement program; plus, it's good practice for the SAT.
Start doing a search for financial aid. Options include grants, loans, and scholarships.

December

Receive results of the PSAT/NMSQT. Your students should consult their guidance counselor to consider whether an SAT prep course would be a good investment.

February

They should contact the colleges they are interested in to find out if they prefer the ACT or the SAT.

Spring Break

Visit schools that interest them.

April

They should consider registering for the May and June SAT and ACT test dates; it's not too early to start testing.
They should re-evaluate their list of potential schools and eliminate those that no longer interest them.
Begin searching for financial aid.

May

If they're enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes, your students will take the appropriate AP tests.
They should continue to visit colleges. Call ahead and ask for appointments with the departments of financial aid and admissions, academic advisors, professors, and students.

Senior Year

September

Continue to research financial aid options.
Make sure your students have all applications required for financial aid and admission.
Check admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools they plan to apply to.
Have your students register for the fall ACT and/or SAT test dates as needed.
Your students should obtain letters of recommendation and plan college visits.

October

Have your students meet with their guidance counselor to review their final list of colleges.
File early decision applications if they have made a decision.
Your students should attend college fairs to further investigate the colleges where they would like to apply.
Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges on their short list.

November

They'll need to start writing and editing their application essays.
Have your students complete their college applications (make copies before mailing).

December

Mail all applications.
They should schedule their college admission interviews.

January

You students should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. They can file the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or request a paper form by calling (800) 4-FED-AID (433-3243). Have your students talk to their counselor about special forms your state might require.
Your students should request that their school send their grade reports/transcripts to the colleges they applied to.
Complete your income tax forms as soon as possible. Contact the colleges to see if they require any other forms. If so, your students should contact the schools' financial aid offices or their counselor.
They should contact the colleges and confirm that all application materials (transcripts, recommendations, and financial aid forms) have been received.

February

Your student will receive their Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks of completing the FAFSA online (longer for the paper application). Review the SAR, make any necessary corrections, and return it to the FAFSA processor. If they have not received their SAR and more than four weeks has passed, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Scholarship applications should be completed.

April

Review acceptances and compare financial aid packages.

May

By May 1, your students should make their decision about which college they will attend and send in their acceptance of the school's offer along with any other necessary paperwork.
Notify other prospective colleges that your students have selected another school.
If their first-choice college placed them on a waiting list, they should let them know that they are still interested in attending the school.

June

Your students should ask their counselor to forward their final transcript to the college of their choice and let them know of any additional financial aid they will receive. Finally, have them contact the school and determine when fees are due for tuition and room and board.

Sally Wood is a freelance writer and editor from Marionville, Missouri. She worked as a high school counselor in the Aurora R-VIII School District in Aurora, Missouri, from 1980-2000.

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