Senior (12^thGrade) Checklist

• Family Conversation: If you haven’t already, sit down with your child to talk about their goals for life after high school. Clarify why they want to go to college and what they hope to get out of the experience.
• College Budget Planning: Use the College Budget Calculator to review real costs and help your child understand your family’s financial situation.
• Schedule a Counselor Meeting: Encourage your child to meet with their school counselor early in the school year to discuss their goals and finalize their academic plan.
• Career & Major Exploration: Continue helping your child explore careers and college majors using The Career Factors for Students and other tools.
• College Credit: If available, explore dual enrollment or have your child take a college course through a local institution.
• College List: Help your child refine their college list to no more than 8 schools. No decisions yet—just narrowing.
• Resume Building: Guide your child in updating their college resume with academic, extracurricular, and volunteer accomplishments.
• Application Prep: Begin reviewing college applications together. Mark deadlines and requirements.
• Test Registration: If needed, register your child for the SAT/ACT through College Board or ACT.
• Academic Motivation: Remind your child that senior-year grades matter. Poor performance can hurt their chances for admission and scholarships.
• Financial Aid Awareness: Sign up for Tuition Fit to compare net prices and understand real college costs.
• Essay Writing: Encourage your child to begin working on personal statements and application essays. Use College Essay Guy for expert help.
• College Visits: Attend local college fairs, campus visits, or open houses. If in-person is not an option, explore with CampusTours.
• Recommendation Letters: Have your child request recommendation letters from teachers, coaches, and counselors early.

October

• Essay Finalization: Help your child complete their college essay(s) and review them for clarity and impact.
• Final College List: Narrow the college list to 6 or fewer schools.
• FAFSA Prep: Help your child apply for their FSA ID. File the FAFSA as soon as it opens (October 1). Review SimpliCollege’s guides on FAFSA completion and tips for parents.
• Application Deadlines: Confirm all requirements for each college. Create a calendar to manage deadlines.
• Scholarship Search: Assist in identifying scholarship opportunities through Scholarships.com, Going Merry, and school-based sources.
• College Info Nights: Attend financial aid nights and admissions sessions at your child’s school.
• Explore Alternatives: If your child isn’t sure about a traditional four-year path, look into trade schools, apprenticeships, and community college options.

November

• Early Applications: Review and finalize Early Action or Early Decision applications with your child. Double-check everything before submission.
• Follow-Up: Ensure your child’s counselor is sending transcripts and recommendation letters.
• Test Scores: Make sure SAT/ACT scores are sent to colleges as needed.

December

• Class Schedule Review: Have your child meet with their counselor to plan final semester classes.
• Final Testing: Register for the final round of SAT/ACT exams if applicable.
• Gratitude: Encourage your child to write thank-you notes to everyone who helped with applications.

January

• Midyear Transcripts: Ask your child’s school to send updated transcripts to colleges.
• Academic Focus: Reinforce the importance of finishing strong because final grades still matter!

February/March

• Financial Aid Offers: Begin reviewing college acceptance letters and financial aid offers. Use Tuition Fit to compare actual net prices.
• Appeals & Negotiations: If your financial situation has changed, help your child submit appeals or negotiate offers. Use SimpliCollege’s resources for guidance.
• Scholarship Plan: Help create a schedule to consistently apply for scholarships.
• Campus Visits: Revisit top-choice campuses, if possible, to support final decision-making.

April

• Final Cost Review: Sit down as a family to compare aid packages, college fit, and your financial reality. Use the College Budget Calculator to aid your decision.
• Special Circumstances: If applicable, help your child write a letter explaining any financial hardship.
• College Commitment: Once a decision is made, assist with submitting the deposit and confirming attendance (typically by May 1).
• Alternative Paths: If cost is prohibitive, consider starting at a community college or enrolling in a trade or certificate program.

May

• Waitlists: If waitlisted at a preferred school, call the admissions office for guidance.
• Final Transcripts: Request that your child’s final transcript be sent to the college they plan to attend.
• College Credit Transfers: If your child has earned college credits, make sure transcripts from those institutions are sent as well.

June - August

• Orientation: Register and attend new student orientation. Your child will likely select classes and meet future classmates.
• Financial Aid Tasks: Ensure all loose ends with financial aid are resolved.
• Health Insurance: Consider purchasing college health insurance through providers like GradGuard.
• Textbooks: Help your child research required textbooks early. Sites like Chegg Books often offer lower prices.
• Roommate Planning: Encourage your child to connect with their roommate and coordinate who’s bringing what.
• Financial Literacy: Go over budgeting basics with your child. Review SimpliCollege’s list of common financial mistakes.
• Student Loans: If loans are necessary, review options together using Sallie Mae to choose the best fit.