Academic goals for the year:

• Make sure that you are on track to graduate and qualify for Bright Futures.

• Keep your grades up - they are still important! If applying to universities with January deadlines, know that your Guidance Counselor will be sending a mid-year transcript. In addition, if you are applying to Florida universities with rolling admissions policies and have not been accepted by January, it would be best to send your mid-term transcript, so make sure those senior grades demonstrate your academic commitment.

• You must have your final transcript sent to your final college choice, and they may rescind offers of admission if there is a severe drop in grades or if they see failing grades or dropped classes. In the case where you have a failing grade or are thinking of dropping a class, please contact me so that I can help you.

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Preparation for college applications:

• Please make an appointment with me asap so that we can go over your list of colleges and help you with your applications!

• Attend the college visits at your school and/or when they tour South Florida, especially for your top choice universities.

• If possible, visit the college campuses where you are interested in applying. If that's not possible, visit campuses virtually and participate in virtual admissions sessions, when available.

• College email: Consider creating a new (professional sounding) email, just for your college application process. Keep a list of the colleges applied to with your account information, user name, and password. 

 

Completing college applications:

Fill out your applications carefully, making lists in Word documents of your extracurriculars, leadership positions, jobs, and awards, listing them by importance. Make sure your application is complete and accurate.

• Essay: Start that college essay early! See me so that we can brainstorm ideas and get you started writing your essays. Just start writing!

• SAT/ACT: If you are not satisfied with your scores, retake the SAT or ACT as soon as possible, depending on your application deadlines.

• Please check each of your college portals online to make sure every application is complete: this includes your application, application fee or fee waiver, high school transcripts, ACT/SAT test scores (when applicable), essays (when applicable), letters of recommendation (when applicable) and any supplemental materials required.

• Deadlines: Keep track of what is missing, calling the school if a problem arises. Ensure that all components of your application have arrived before the deadline(s).

• Admission: Once your application is complete and submitted, check regularly for admission information (for those schools with rolling admissions). For those schools with admissions on a specific date and time – patience!

 

Financial Aid/Scholarships:

• Bright Futures: Complete the Bright Futures application (available starting in October of your senior year). 

• Some private universities require the CSS profile. Be sure to verify each college's CSS deadline so you can get it in on time.

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) fafsa.gov. in October as well. 

• Once you have applied for financial aid through FAFSA.gov, review your Student Aid Report so that you understand where you are financially in paying for college.

• When you have questions, call the college(s) about your financial aid report so they can answer any questions you have.

 

Scholarships:

• Need help with scholarships? Make an appointment with me, so that you don't waste your time.

• Remember that you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or to get on a scholarship website. 

 

College Decision is Made:

• Inform the university you will be attending, and make a tuition deposit to show your intent to go there - by May 1st.

• Apply for housing, and make that housing deposit, as soon as possible, given that it’s usually on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Sign up for orientation.

• Send your final high school transcript, any dual enrollment transcripts, and any AP or AICE scores you hope to transfer over.

 

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