While you may have considered the final semester of high school to be a time to kick back and have some fun, the reality is that you need to be preparing for your college career. Not convinced? Consider the following:
College Decisions
" Acceptance letters from colleges start arriving in March and April. If by the 15th of April you still haven't received a "congratulations" or "thank you for your application, but&" you need to contact the admissions office right away.
" If you join other students on a waitlist, it is in your best interest to contact the admission director and reiterate your desire to attend that school. If you find that you're not accepted you should contact your counselor immediately. The sooner you find out, the more options you will have, as not all colleges share the same deadline.
" Once you have decided on a college or university you need to contact the school right away to confirm your acceptance. Also make sure that you get your deposit in on time. Most college deadlines are May 1. Contact schools whose offer you're declining so that they may give your spot to somebody else.
" Don't forget to send out thank you letters to your application references and personally thank those who have helped you along the way including any counselors, teachers, etc.
Financial Decisions
" Schools usually send out financial aid documents in the spring. Carefully read the information to ensure there are no surprises. Once you've received information from all colleges, then you can compare awards.
" Record deadlines for getting your information in; you don't want to miss any opportunities. Keep in mind that money is limited.
Academic Preparation
" SAT test dates are approaching so take this time to test yourself.
" SAT scores become available online and by phone in April and May and are mailed by the end of each month.
" Regular registration for June SATs is May 2nd. Late registration is May 14th.
" Make sure you forward final transcripts to your choice colleges and universities. Strong second semester grades might make the difference.
" Study and review your work with your teacher and prepare yourself for the AP exams offered from May 5-9 and 12-16.
What are you waiting for? With academic, financial and college decisions at hand you need to get going, spring has sprung. Need help? Check out SchoolsInTheUSA.com's College Prep section.
