Senior Year Check List
College Student
Encourage your parent to attend the college information session during Back-to-School night in September.
Select three teachers and one administrator to ask for written references. Be considerate of their time and ask early in September/October. Give teachers 10 weeks to complete your request. Remind teachers to send your request to your school counselor.
Take advantage of dual credit and do not forget the value of 4th year math.
Complete your Senior Information Sheet, your Transcript Release Form, and Secondary School Report from and return them to your counselor as soon as possible. A parent must sign the release form if you are under 18.
Work on your admissions application essay. If applying to multiple schools make sure to change the name of the college before sending off your essay.
If interested in the military plan to meet with recruiters who are visiting your school.
Meet with your counselor to review admission requirements for your college choices and compare to where you are on grades and test scores.
There is a fee of $1 per transcript. Please pay your bill promptly and have the correct amount of cash. A check will be accepted made payable to Amherst County High School. If you are a Central VA Governor’s School or Early College student, you should request that transcripts from those institutions also be sent directly to the colleges to which you are applying.
Immediately begin the application process for your “top 5” college choices. Plan to meet the early registration deadline (October/November depending on the college)
Attend College Day in September and obtain information from the colleges of your choice. Representatives from local colleges will be at ACHS. This is a great time to speak with your area colleges face to face.
Register to take the SAT and/or ACT in the fall.
In October work with family members to prepare and begin the FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Aid is given on a first-come/first-serve basis. More information will be provided at a later date.
Review and revise your graduation plan. How well are you doing to meet your goals?
Continue to be active in your classes, in your school, and in your community. Now is not the time to slack off. Set a goal of 15 community service hours, lead a project, and make a difference. This will not only improve you and your skills, it will look great on your resume’ and applications.
Review your high school transcripts with your counselor.
Plan to visit the colleges you are considering. Meet with the college admissions representatives during your visit. You want to be confident you are making a decision that is right for you. 40% of college freshman do not return to their college mostly due to the college not being a good fit or the college did not have desired program of studies.
Investigate scholarship opportunities through the colleges you are interested in, your parents’ employers, the school counseling office, and websites including fastweb.com. Other scholarships that come to the attention of the school counselors will be included in a monthly newsletter and placed in the Scholarship Corner of the Counseling Department.
First semester grades will be sent to the schools to which you have applied as soon as they are available. Double check with your counselor to be sure this is done.
It is very important that you meet all application deadlines! Make a calendar of key application and financial aid/scholarship deadlines. Your counselor needs a ten day minimum to process the counselor part of your application. This allows your counselor to do the best job on your behalf.
Sit back and wait for a decision from the colleges to which you have applied. Rolling admission colleges will notify you within a month. Regular decision colleges will wait until April.
Watch the mail for acceptance letters and financial aid award letters. Compare the financial aid packages.
Choose a college and send in a deposit by the deadline.
Contact the financial aid office at your chosen college to make certain your application is complete.
Take AP examinations. SOL tests, or other credential tests. Get plenty of sleep prior to the test and eat a good breakfast. Arrive a few minutes early to get settled.
Write thank you notes to the people who wrote you letters of recommendations.
If you have questions find a person to ask and get the answers you need.
Celebrate your high school graduation.