Preparing for school

Financial aid and college planning calendar

There's a lot to do before you start school. This calendar shows you, month by month, how to stay on track.

Our planning-for-college calendar starts with your junior year. If you are a senior, scroll down to next September, but read the junior year lists to make sure you've done the groundwork.

September (junior year)

  • Discuss college with your family: Talk about schools, finances, majors, your future.
  • Review your courses with your school guidance counselor.
  • Prepare a list of questions to ask school reps at college fairs.
  • Register for the PSAT.
  • Get and stay organized: Create files for applications and correspondence. Set up a calendar to track dates and deadlines.
  • Get a professional-sounding email address: Use something based on your name or hobby; nothing cutesy or eyebrow-raising.

October–November (junior year)

December (junior year)

  • Review your PSAT results with your counselor.
  • Talk with your college friends about their schools.
  • Take the SAT and ACT (at least once).

January (junior year)

February (junior year)

March (junior year)

  • Plan campus visits.
  • Generate a list of at least 10 institutions you could attend.
  • Contact the financial aid office for each college on your list to discuss payment options.
  • Keep up college discussions with your family and counselors.
  • Estimate how much various colleges will cost.

April–May (junior year)

Summer

September (senior year)

  • Discuss your classes, college plans, and test scores with your high school counselor.
  • Request college applications from the admissions office. Or, use College Answer's Online Application Search to see if your school's form is online.
  • Arrange campus visits.
  • Register for the October SAT/ACT, if necessary.
  • Continue to search for free money (scholarships and grants) and other ways to pay.
  • Run Sallie Mae's free scholarship search.
  • Submit a CSS/PROFILE, if required.
  • File copies of your applications and correspondence. Keep your calendar up-to-date: track important dates and deadlines.

October (senior year)

November (senior year)

  • Continue completing your college applications.
  • Determine which financial aid forms the colleges on your list require. When in doubt, contact the financial aid office.
  • Investigate state college information and programs.
  • Search for other ways to pay.
  • Get a jump on things by estimating your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

December (senior year)

January (senior year)

  • Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Some student aid programs award funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting too long to submit your FAFSA can be costly.
  • Fill out and submit required financial aid forms. Follow the instructions carefully and make copies.
  • If you have financial aid questions, contact your financial aid office.
  • Familiarize yourself with state financial aid deadlines. They can differ from federal and school deadlines.
  • Take advantage of education tax deductions and credits.

February–March (senior year)

  • College acceptance and financial aid award letters start coming in.
  • Watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully review it because a mistake could cause you to miss out on college funding.
  • If there are special circumstances affecting your family’s financial situation, discuss them with the financial aid office.
  • Don’t panic if you’re selected for verification. Just provide the documents they request.
  • Stay on top of financial aid deadlines.
  • Respond quickly to requests for additional documentation.

April (senior year)

  • Carefully analyze your award letters: Use College Answer's Online Award Analyzer.
  • Decide on a school and send your tuition deposit (most colleges require a response by May 1).
  • Notify the other colleges that you won't be attending. (Other students will be happy to take your spot.)
  • Register for Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if necessary.
  • Carefully follow the instructions in your acceptance letter. Along with important deadlines, these letters provide specific instructions on housing, financial aid, orientation, and more.
  • Continue to mark your calendar with important deadlines.

May (senior year)

  • Mail your official transcripts.
  • Respond quickly to requests and return necessary forms. When in doubt, contact the financial aid office.
  • Notify your financial aid office of additional funding you’ll get for college (scholarships and loans, etc.).
  • Learn about borrowing responsibly.
  • Consider a cosigner to help you get your student loan.
  • If you take out a student loan, borrow only what you absolutely need to cover the cost of your education. When it's time to repay, you'll have other financial obligations, too.
  • Save some of your graduation money for school.

June (senior year)

  • Respond to requests from the college you will be attending. Keep copies of everything you send.
  • Read and be familiar with your college catalog, website, and class schedules.
  • Ask friends who are home from college for advice.
  • Make travel arrangements, if necessary.
  • Send thank you notes or emails to those who helped you get into college.

July–August

  • Confirm housing arrangements and meal plans.
  • Finalize your college budget.
  • Apply for private student loans if more funding is needed.
  • Follow up and finalize private loan applications.
  • Notify the financial aid office of all scholarships and loans you will receive.
  • Consider taking out a renter's insurance policy.
  • Keep tracking numbers of any boxes you are shipping to school.
  • Open a bank account near campus.
  • Review your cell phone plan to limit roaming charges.
  • Contact your roommate and coordinate what to bring.
  • Review College Answer's Getting college advice to pick up a few freshmen tips from people around the country.
  • Attend orientation.
  • Pack and get ready for college!

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Take the right steps

Don't miss your schools' deadlines. Use our Application timeline.

Is money your primary concern? Follow our money-saving 1-2-3 approach to paying for collegeSM.

Listen to our 1-2-3 approach to paying for college podcast (MP3, 6.57MB).

Download our financial aid checklist


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