SENIOR TIMELINE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
 

1. Check your record to make sure you are on schedule to meet graduation requirements and meeting Regents requirements if you are interested in FHSU, K-State, KU, WSU, Emporia State, Pittsburgh State, & Washburn.

2. Students who are not interested in college should be seeing the counselor about (a) jobs (b) Armed Services, (c) other opportunities.

3. College bound students need to use the internet (USD388 homepage, Counselor section) and the resources in the guidance office to help develop a list of possible career choices and colleges or technical schools that have those programs.

4. Make an appointment to talk to Ms. Murphy to tell her your plans or to seek further assistance.

5. Discuss possible college majors and career choices with your parents and other family members.

6. Reduce your preliminary college list to approximately 5-8 colleges or schools. Write to each college's director of admission to request its catalog, application forms and financial aid information.

7. Create a complete checklist of test names and registration deadlines, fees, test dates, college application deadlines, financial aid applications and deadlines and other materials that you will need.

8. Many colleges have an application fee. This fee can be between $10 to $50. Often applications for admission must be completed before a school will consider you for scholarship or financial aid. If in doubt, call the school.

9. Determine whether an ACT or SAT is needed. If you took the test once, meet with Ms. Murphy to see whether you should retake the test.

10. Read and respond to the scholarship bulletin put out by the guidance office (also available on school web-site under counselor on the front page).

11. Put all information into a file folder for verification purposes.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

1. Read and respond to the scholarship bulletin put out by the guidance office.

2. After looking at different career options and different college and school offerings, narrow your list of schools or jobs to 3 or 4 and find out all you can about these.

3. Visit with college representative who come to Natoma and schedule a campus visit to a school to which you might apply or to which you have applied.

4. Plan to take or retake the OCT. or DEC. ACT test. The DEC. date is the last date to take this test and still qualify for a State of Kansas Scholarship.

5. Obtain college admission forms directly from college. Apply to 1-3 schools and get accepted.
Being accepted means that you are seriously considering the school and it saves you a "spot" in the program you select as your major area. It also allows the school to communicate directly to you and to consider you as a serious contender for scholarships and financial aid. It does not commit you!

6. For selective colleges using "early decision" admissions you must have applications in early (Kansas State for example is November 1st).

7. HAVE YOUR PARENTS PLAN ON HAVING THEIR INCOME TAX INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO USE EARLY IN THE YEAR (BY LATE FEBRUARY OR BEFORE)

8. Learn the DUE dates for admission, scholarships, and financial aid. Check the application carefully.

9. Make a list of people from whom to ask for letters of recommendations.

10. Inform Ms. Murphy of any transcripts you need. Allow her 1-2 days to get transcripts. Some will be required for scholarships. Most schools only ask for a final transcript after ALL grades are available in May.

11. Keep Ms. Murphy updated regarding your college, school or career plans. She can help you best if she knows what you need.

12. Colleges and schools will be looking at your overall grades up to and including this first semester.

Be sure to make good grades a priority. Your senior grades can be a criteria for admission or scholarship.
It may be the deciding factor.

DECEMBER

1. Take the December ACT, this is the last chance for it to count for scholarships.

2. Make a campus visit to a school of your choice. Ms. Murphy will help you set this up.

3. Complete any scholarship applications that may have early deadlines.

4. Apply for housing accommodations at schools to which you are considering attending.

5. Watch the bulletins from the guidance office for scholarships.

6. Apply to colleges if you have not done so.

7. Study for finals, this is the last set of grades to count for scholarships!!
 

JANUARY

1. Attend the financial aid meeting at the high school-both you and your parent(s) TBA.

2. Begin completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA). The FAFSA cannot be filed prior to Jan. 1st of the year you are attending college. Check with your college's financial aid office about when to file other forms.

3. Check deadlines for state government-sponsored student aid programs with Ms. Murphy and obtain the forms you need to apply. The State of Kansas Student Aid Application forms are available from Ms. Murphy.

4. Be sure you have applied to the schools to which you are now sending financial aid applications.

5. Register for the Feb. ACT test if you need a higher score to be admitted.

6. Men 18 years old or older must be registered for the selective service in order to receive financial aid.

FEBRUARY

1. Take the ACT Test if you have not already done so. It is too late to register for the February test, but you can register for the April test.

2. Check deadlines for financial aid at your school(s).

3. Keep working on your grades. Courses continue to count throughout your senior year.

4. Watch scholarship bulletins from Ms. Murphy’s office.

MARCH

1. Register for the April ACT .

2. Respond to any requests for information from college admission and financial aid offices. Accept any scholarship if you are considering attending the school from which it came.

3. If you are applying to more than one college begin prioritizing according to location, cost, and educational program.

4. Watch for local scholarships in your bulletin from Ms. Murphy.

APRIL

1. Take the April ACT Test.

2. Keep track of acceptances, denials, and financial aid awards. Do not forget to ACCEPT scholarships in writing.

3. Notify other colleges that have accepted you that you have selected another college.

4. Carefully read financial aid award notices from colleges. Call of write to the financial aid office if you have questions. Send in all paperwork by due dates.

MAY

1. It's still not too late to take the ACT and apply for admission to schools, but it may be too late to get some types of financial aid. You should still apply if you are interested.

2. Register for June ACT test by May.

3. Notify colleges to which you are accepted of your decision to attend. If you have been offered financial aid from the college you have decided to attend, make sure you accept the offer as instructed by your award letter. If you have received financial aid from other schools, make sure you let them know that you will not be attending.

4. Let Ms. Murphy know where to send your final transcript.

JUNE

1. Take the June ACT, if needed.

2. Make sure that you accept scholarship and any financial aid award from the college you decide to attend.

3. Attend orientation or early enrollment.

JULY

There is not much to do this month if you have followed the timeline.

AUGUST

Be sure you know when you are to enroll or when you are to arrive in your dorm.

Contact the school if you are unsure as to the dates and times.

** Special Note - You can still contact Ms. Murphy at the High School if you have questions while you are in attendance at your college/university/vo-tech, etc.

I am still more than happy to assist you, even though you are at college!