Senior College Timeline

Application process:

1. Complete school's application.  If applying on-line, be sure to print a copy for your records.  In addition, be sure to print forms which need to be completed by your counselor.
2. Fill out form to request high school transcripts. Must fill out transcript release for each school you are applying to.  These forms can be found in the Counseling Center.
3. Give application, transcript request form and transcript fee ($5 for each transcript) to your school counselor.
4. Letters of recommendation may be necessary.  Give the person you ask at least 2 weeks to complete these letters.  Compose a resume' of activities, interests, and accomplishments for the person you have asked to write a recommendation.  These recommendations may be sent with or without the application, depending on the school.

August

• If pursuing an athletic scholarship, complete an NCAA form available in the Registrar's Office.

September

• Register for the ACT and/or SAT if you have not yet taken them, or if you think you can improve your score.
• The Counseling Center will have Illinois college and university paper applications by the end of the month; for most other colleges you will need to request applications from the particular college.  There is a limited supply of out-of-state college applications in the Counseling Center.  Many colleges and universities offer on-line applications, see Illinois college website links for hyper-links to Illinois colleges and universities.
• Analyze application instructions to find out information required and deadline dates.
• Internet scholarship searches may be accessed through www.isac-online.org
• Complete CSS/Profile financial aid form - appropriate for selected schools only.

October

• If applying early decision, acquire and complete the necessary forms.
• Apply to Illinois public universities.
• Obtain Scholarship Bulletin #1 in the Counseling Center.  This is published monthly through April.
• Attend College Fair at College of DuPage.  Several hundred colleges and universities from around the country are represented at the fair.  There is also a college fair the following weekend at Navy Pier.
• Register for the SAT II test of the colleges to which you are applying recommend or require them.
• Schedule college campus visits.

November

• Apply early to colleges that have rolling admissions policies.
• Use Thanksgiving as a target date for completion of college applications.

December

• Ask for the appropriate financial aid form- FAFSA, CSS/Profile .
• Continue to investigate sources of financial aid.

January

• Prepare for semester final exams.  These grades are important to colleges considering your applications.
• Mail application for Federal Aid (FAFSA), CSS/Profile, or other individual college financial aid form as soon after January 1 as possible.  These forms require current tax information.  The FAFSA forms may now be completed on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

February

• Complete common applications for local scholarships.
• Visit colleges in which you are interested.

March

• Turn in common application for local scholarships by March 1.

April

• As soon as you have decided which college's offer of admissions to accept, notify them.  Advise all other colleges to which you have been accepted of your decision.  In most instances you have until May 1 to accept.

May

• Fill out a request for your final transcript to be sent to the college you will be attending in the Fall.