Senior Year Checklist

• Be sure that you are continuing a schedule with courses of rigor and do not become overcommitted (i.e., too many clubs, sports, jobs, etc.).
• Continue researching your Top 10 colleges and/or careers with the purpose of narrowing down to a Top 3–5.
• Visit colleges of interest and attend college fairs.
• Determine if you are applying for an “impacted major,” which may require higher admission standards.
• Fill out college applications early! Some colleges need applications in by October 1st for certain housing and scholarship options.
• Narrow your list of potential colleges to 1–2 “stretch schools” where you might be on the lower GPA and SAT®/ACT® score average, 1–2 “strong match schools” where you meet the schools’ average GPA and SAT/ACT average, and 1 “fallback school” that you are certain you will get into.
• Examine college applications and record application deadlines in your agenda/planner.
• Determine application options (early decision, early action, or regular decision).
• Update your résumé.
• Ask for an unofficial transcript.
• Compute final GPA to be submitted on applications.
• Ask select teachers/counselors/others to write letters of recommendation.
• Keep your grades up and stay in challenging courses! 75% of revoked acceptances are because seniors do poorly in classes or take too light of a load!