Student Planner Timeline

Ask your counselor for a copy of your transcript to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into your college(s) of choice. You can compare the courses you have entered in the High School Planner against the requirements of the colleges you are interested in attending by using the Planner Comparison tool.

Conduct a scholarship search and visit your high school career center or your counselor's office to obtain scholarship applications. Mark all deadlines on My Calendar.

Continue thinking about and writing essays to be included with your admissions and scholarship applications.

Register for and take the fall SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and/or ACT exams, if required by the colleges you plan to attend. Remember to have your scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges that have made your final list of schools.

If you are planning to attend a technical college or two-year school, ask your counselor about the Compass and Asset tests; you may not have to take the SAT or ACT. To learn about and prepare for the tests you need, visit the Test Prep section in the Student Planner.

Most early decision and early action applications are due by November. Review the guidelines set forth by the college regarding the early application process. Remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying. You can expect to receive early decision replies in December.

Take another look at your list of colleges and make sure that they still match your preferences. Make sure you meet the requirements for all the colleges to which you want to apply. Add or remove colleges from your My 411 as necessary.

In your My Calendar, record the application deadlines for each school to which you plan to apply. Submit applications, transcripts, test scores, and other admissions items well in advance of the deadlines.

If required, give recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counselor with stamped, college-addressed envelopes making certain that your portion of the forms are filled out completely and accurately. Give your forms to your teachers/counselor at least two weeks in advance of your deadlines. If you have entered all of your information in the High School Planner, provide a printout of the Planner Summary with your requests for recommendation letters.

Schedule any remaining required college interviews.

If you are an athlete, send your transcript to NCAA Clearinghouse for eligibility purposes.

Apply for a U.S. Department of Education PIN. You will need this to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in January. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to obtain your PIN. You will receive your PIN within a few days.

If required, register for Selective Service by going to www.sss.gov. Most male students between the ages of 18-25 must register for Selective Service in order to qualify for federal, state, and some institutional financial aid.

Make sure your parents have completed their income tax forms in anticipation of the financial aid applications.

Complete and submit your college financial aid applications and the FAFSA between January 1 and February 15, and check for other financial aid options. In order to be considered for financial aid, you will need to submit these forms even if you have not yet been notified of your acceptance to the college(s) to which you applied.

You can transfer data from your My 411 account directly into the online FAFSA using the FAFSA Transfer module in GAcollege411.

Once you have completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. Make the necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor as soon as possible in order to have your forms processed quickly.

If required, send mid-year reports to colleges to which you have already applied. Request that your high school send official transcripts along with your mid-year reports.

Search for summer enrichment programs in your field of interest. Consider taking a class, attending a camp, or getting a job that is related to your career goals.

Sign up for and take exams for any AP and other honors-level subjects you studied in high school.

Contact the admissions and financial aid office(s) of the college(s) to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you. You will probably hear from the colleges to which you have applied as to whether or not you are accepted by April 15.

Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid, and scholarship offers.

If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular college, and have decided to wait for an opening, contact that college and let them know you are still interested.

You should make a decision by May 1st as to which college you will be attending and notify the school by mailing your commitment deposit check. Many schools require that your notification letter be postmarked by this date. Inform other colleges to which you have applied of your decision to attend school elsewhere.

Have your school send your final transcripts to the college that you will be attending.

Submit payments to your college for tuition, room, and board.

Participate in summer enrichment activities that are related to your college major and career goals.

Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen.