College Checklist
College Timeline
- Do I want to stay in New York, or attend an out of state college?
- Does the school have more than one major that interests me?
- What student support services are available on campus?
- What is the cost of attendance?
- Do they offer any scholarships/give adequate financial aid?
6. Finalize college list by mid November!! At this point you should have your set list of colleges that you intend to apply to!
- Also note that the FAFSA/TAP are FREE applications, meaning you should not be charged to complete them. If when filling this out online you are asked to provide a credit card number to be charged a processing fee, IT IS A SCAM, DO NOT ENTER YOUR INFORMATION.
November/ December – Apply and Submit Applications
January/February – Apply for Financial Aid
1. Complete FAFSA/TAP if you have not already done so!!!
2. Complete the CSS Profile – Some, not all, private colleges require this application to determine if you qualify for additional grants and scholarships. Unlike the FAFSA, this application does have fees attached to it. Be sure to check if any of your colleges require this, as submitting it is time sensitive, and once the deadline has passed, they will not accept any late submissions. Check the link below to see if your colleges require it: https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv
March/April – Decision Time
1. Compare award letters – go over and review ALL financial aid award letters your colleges send you. After looking these over, you might find that certain colleges are more affordable than you initially thought.
2. Get as much information as possible. Now that you have begun hearing back from schools, you want to make sure that you are making the best possible choice for your needs and aspirations. Do not be afraid to ask questions and speak with an admissions rep, or a representative from the program of study you are interested in. Make sure you have all the necessary facts before making a final decision.
3. Review your acceptance letters – distinguish the pros and cons of each offer. Determine which school is providing you with the best opportunities to learn, grow and be successful. What may be important to you in a college may not be the case for another student, and that is okay! Remember, this decision is about you.
May/June
1. Time to Commit! – The national deadline to commit and send a deposit to your chosen college is MAY 1ST. In order to ensure you have a seat, you MUST send your intent to enroll by this date!
If you are dorming – make sure you are aware of your college’s deadline to submit your housing deposit – missing that deadline could mean not having a spot in a dorm!
2. Accept your financial aid - Simply getting your financial aid award letter does not mean the money automatically appears. You need to accept the offer (either online or through mail), and if you are taking out any loans, you will need to complete online counseling that explains the rules/legal terms/rights regarding the loans.
3. Update your TAP application – Unlike FAFSA, the TAP application only allows you to list one school at a time. Once you know which college you are attending, make sure that college is listed on your TAP application so if you receive any aid, it goes to the right institution.
4. Submit necessary documents to your college – verification forms, your immunization records, your final transcript, etc. Colleges MUST have all these forms in order to process you and allow you to register for classes.
5. Schedule and take entrance exams - every college has different policies around this – keep an eye on your email and mail at home to see if you need to sit for one. If you do, and it falls on a school day, be sure to let the office know so we can excuse your absence.
6. Register for freshman orientation – each college has its own policy regarding this. Again, keep an eye on your email and mail at home for updates on this. Freshman orientation is MANDATORY, so do not make any summer trip plans until you know what dates you need to be at your college.