You've Got a Senior!

Work with your senior to make a list with all the important dates related to graduation, their FAFSA, college application, and scholarship deadlines. This helps ensure that you won’t miss any critical deadlines during application season.  

Helpful Tip:

Start by getting a planner or using an online calendar (via Gmail, for instance). Mark down all the important deadlines for applications, test dates, and financial aid to keep track of what needs to be done and when. 

The ACT helps your student know how ready they are for college and if they have subject areas they should work to improve to have the strongest application possible. Importantly, even a single point increase in their score can help them qualify them for better scholarships and merit aid opportunities.  

Check the ACT website below for upcoming test dates and consider test prep resources (PDF) to help them prepare for their strongest performance.  

Financial aid can significantly reduce the cost of college and make it more affordable. Help your senior apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA. 

Gather necessary financial documents and complete the FAFSA online together. Submitting the form early can increase the chances of receiving aid. You must complete the FAFSA if your student wants to be considered for work-study opportunities. 

My Journey is a series of FREE, live virtual events that are meant to guide students and families through college and career journeys. With information about admissions, finding scholarships, how to match interests to potential majors and/or careers, and more! With two events in the fall, My Journey is a ticket to success!

Click the link below to register for an open event, or sign-up to be notified when registration opens for the next live event. 

Encourage your senior to attend college fairs to learn about traditional 4-year colleges, technical colleges, and summer or gap-year programs. College fairs provide valuable information and networking opportunities. 

Help your student prepare a list of questions to ask representatives from different institutions. 

Together, research different post-secondary paths like vocational training, apprenticeships, service programs like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, and the military. Lay out the pros and cons of the different paths your student is interested in and discuss options.  

Encourage your senior to consider what aligns best with their interests and career goals. Exploring all options ensures your senior makes an informed decision about their future. 

Work with your senior to finalize their list of colleges to apply to, ensuring a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. A balanced college list increases the chances of acceptance and finding the right fit. 

Review the list of colleges with your senior and ensure it includes a variety of schools that match their academic profile and preferences. 

Helpful Tip:

Take everything into consideration with the final list. Your student may choose their dream school because of marching band or the comfort of campus. Support all of their choices, but be open about affordability and other factors. 

Ensure your senior requests transcripts and letters of recommendation to be sent to their chosen colleges. Transcripts and recommendations are essential components of the college application. 

Your student should contact their high school counselor to request official transcripts and ask their teachers or mentors for letters of recommendation well before application deadlines. 

Applying early can demonstrate interest and dedication to a college, but there are trade-offs. Be sure your student understands what they are committing to by pursuing early action/decision. Review requirements and make sure all materials are submitted by the respective deadlines.  

Consider creating a dedicated email address for all application communications. Help your senior organize their application materials.    

Help your senior calculate the cost of colleges they are accepted to or want to attend, considering tuition, room and board, and other expenses. Understanding the costs helps in making an informed decision about which college to attend based on affordability. 

Use financial aid calculators and/or expense worksheets to estimate the total cost of attendance. 

Assist your senior in researching and applying for scholarships to help fund their college education. Keep in mind that even small increases in your student’s ACT scores can have a big impact on scholarship and merit aid decisions. 

Look for scholarship opportunities through school counselors, college financial aid offices, local chambers of commerce, and online databases. Help your senior tailor their applications to each scholarship's criteria.

Be aware: reputable scholarship resources will never ask for money, so watch out for scams.  

Our partners at Collegewise are experts in guiding families through the college application process. With their “Why It's Okay For Your Student to Apply Undecided to College” resource (PDF), they can help you navigate conversations with your student around college majors and help everyone feel comfortable with declaring "I'm not sure yet!"

Prefer to watch a video instead? Check out the vlog link below!

It’s normal for your senior to feel a little burnt out around now, but it’s important for them to keep their momentum through the end of the year.

Helpful Tips: 

1. Help them keep a schedule and map out due dates for large final projects and assignments. Maintaining good grades and staying engaged can impact college admissions and scholarships.
2. Encourage your senior to stay organized and focused, especially as they balance schoolwork with college applications. Offer support and assistance with time management if needed.
   
   

Your student should regularly check the status of their college applications and respond to any requests for additional information. Staying on top of application status ensures that any missing materials are submitted promptly and keeps the process moving forward. 

Helpful Tip:

Help your senior set up a system to track their application status for each college. Remind them to check their email and application portals regularly for updates or requests from colleges. 

If possible, plan visits to the final colleges under consideration. Visiting campuses can provide valuable insights into the college environment and help your student visualize themselves at the school. 

Schedule visits to the colleges your senior is most interested in, if you haven't already. Use these visits to ask specific questions, tour the campus, and meet with current students or faculty. 

Jointly reviewing the financial aid packages your student is offered and comparing specific details ensures that your senior chooses a college that is both a good fit and affordable. 

Consider factors like the total cost, grants and scholarships offered, loan options, cost of living, and travel expenses. If the financial packages offered don’t align with your student’s dream schools, be sure to check if submitting increased ACT scores can improve scholarship offers and schedule your test accordingly.  

If applicable, help your senior with the steps to accept their financial aid package, ensuring they understand the terms and conditions. It might seem obvious, but accepting the financial aid package is a crucial step in securing funding for college. Make sure your student understands the terms of any loans or work-study programs included in the package. 

Helpful Tip:

Be as money smart as possible. If your student is accepting loans to pay for things outside of needs for college, remember that interest is paid on the amount of loan used, not just what's used for college expenses. 

Make a decision and submit the necessary enrollment deposit by the school’s deadline. Committing to a college by the deadline secures your senior's spot and allows them to start planning for their future at that institution. Not every college requires a deposit so be sure to check with the specific institution. 

Discuss the pros and cons of each college option with your senior. Ensure that they submit the enrollment deposit and any other required forms by the deadline. 

Help your student set up their official college email account and encourage them to check it regularly for important updates.  

Important Tip:

Many colleges communicate important information, such as housing assignments and orientation details, through the student's college email account.  

Colleges require the final transcript to confirm graduation and final grades before your senior can enroll. 

Make sure your senior contacts their high school to request that their final transcript be sent to the college they will be attending. Make sure this is done as soon as possible after graduation or let their counselor know the college they’ve decided on to have it ready to go. 

Schedule their college orientation date to get acclimated to their new campus!  

Orientation is an essential and required step in the transition to college, as it helps students learn about campus resources, meet peers, and register for classes. 

Take the time to focus on the culmination of their years of study and hard work. Celebrate this significant milestone and take time together to reflect on the end of one journey and the beginning of another. 

Whether it's a family gathering, a party with friends, or something else, make it a memorable occasion that marks the beginning of their exciting new chapter. 

Work with your student to update your calendar with registration dates and fee payment deadlines for their college to help stay organized. 

Work together to mark important dates, such as when to register for classes, pay tuition fees, and any orientation or move-in dates. 

Assist your senior in shopping for dorm or apartment essentials. 

Having the right supplies can make their dorm room feel more like home and ensure they have everything they need for a comfortable start to college life. 

Encourage your senior to watch this great video for helpful tips and advice on adjusting to college life. 

Get insights and strategies for navigating the transition ahead.

Attend college orientation together to learn more about their new school and meet fellow incoming students.  

Orientation is a crucial opportunity to learn about campus resources, services, and to start building their social network. Review materials provided by the college so you know what to expect.  

Move-in day can be both exciting and overwhelming — your support can help make the process smoother and less stressful. 

Plan ahead for move-in day by packing early and organizing items in a way that makes them easy to transport and unpack.  

Helpful Tip:

Signage on campus will help you navigate to your student's building and plenty of campus staff will be on-hand to help you unload and move-in!