Senior Spring Post-Secondary Planning Checklist!

Senior Spring Checklist! 

January
	Complete remaining college applications
	Complete FAFSA or alternative forms if you haven't done so already
	Follow up on your college applications.
	Begin activating college portals. Ask us how!
	Update personal statement with fall semester experiences
	Check College E-mails
FEBRUARY
	Apply to at least three scholarships
	Filling out and submitting verification forms if needed for FAFSA
	submit institutional scholarship application for each college
	Grade check with all teachers
MARCH
	Complete Next Steps for Technical College Pathway
	Compare costs of the schools you are considering
	Grade check with all teachers
APRIL
	Collect Financial Aid Packages
	Choose an official college or pathway
	submit student housing application
	Check College E-mails
	Grade check with all teachers
	Sign up for orientation
MAY
	Set up a one-on-one check in with PSSN
	Prepare for graduation

FAFSA and FSAID!

On Monday, October 1, many of you will be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!

Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error. 
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!

Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.

If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, there are other sources of $$$ for college. Colleges have institutional scholarships as well as their own forms for determining financial aid. LMK if you need more info!

Senior Fall Checklist!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the checklist below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. The application opens October 1!

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

YESS Senior Checklist!

Hey YESS Class of 2018!

Be sure to read through this list and make sure you are completing ALL of these items as soon as you can! The more you get done now, the easier your transition will be in the Fall. 

Congrats on everything you've accomplished thus far and JUST KEEP SWIMMING! 

SENIOR CHECKLIST 

____ Log into your college student portal regularly (for example, CCDConnect – every school is a little different). Look for red flags/ yellow caution signs that will tell you if you are missing any information or need to sign off on any documents, for example, financial aid documents.

____ Check your college email DAILY. You will get important information through that email account. You can change the settings in your student portal for your school email to be forwarded to your personal email. 

____ Carefully read any emails from FAFSA. You may be asked to provide tax verification and will need to request tax transcripts from the IRS. Let me know if you need more info!

____ Stay in contact with the financial aid office to make sure that your aid has been applied to your    account. You may also be able to check your college student portal for this information. If aid is not applied and you have not set up a payment plan, you may be dropped from your classes.

____ Take any required placement tests (for example, the Accuplacer).

____ If you are living on campus, be sure you’ve signed up for the residence halls and submitted a deposit.

____ Provide any information to health services, for example, immunization records. Many campuses will put a hold on your record if you have not submitted this information.

____ Sign up for campus health insurance or provide proof that you have health insurance to waive your health insurance fee.

____ Sign up for and attend orientation.

____ Get a college ID card

____ Meet with an academic advisor on campus.

____ Register for your classes.

____ Accept or follow up regarding Loans and Work-study.

____ Send school Official Final High School Transcript if requested by school.

____ Check in with external scholarship requirements (DSF, Institutional scholarships, etc..).

____ Authorize COF on your student portal.

____ Plan to buy/rent/borrow books (campus book store, Amazon, library).

____ Review On-Campus Support Services. Examples: Academic Services (Tutoring/Writing Center), Extracurricular Activities, Disability Center, Career Services, Transportation and Parking, TRIO, etc.

If you have questions/concerns please reach out ASAP to your YESS College Navigator, Emily at

(720) 446 9688 or Emily@yessinstitute.org

(Thanks to DUS for the original list)

Second Semester Senior!!!!

Hey Seniors, Congrats on making it through the FIRST semester of your Senior Year. 

ONE MORE TO GO! 

Here are some thoughts on making the most of your next few months of high school....

• Slow down! Take time to appreciate the people around you even the challenging ones! Think of all of the lessons you've learned and how you've changed over the last 4 years. 

• Stay FOCUSED! It's easy to get sidetracked. You are almost across that finish line...BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO FINISH. Your grades and attendance still matter.  

• Dream BIG! Imagine your dream future. Where will you live, what will you do and, most importantly, who will you choose to spend your time with especially your free time. Some people think we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with...Who are you?

• Apply for ALL the scholarships. Come on, you knew I was going to say that!!! :)

• Use a checklist like this one so you stay on top of your college admissions and financial aid requirements. Check that college email!!!! 

Please let me know if you have any questions as you continue on your Road to Success! 

Have fun out there! 

FAFSA Checklist!

On October 1st, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens for completion. Below is a list of the items you need to complete your application for FREE $$$$ for college including most technical schools (Emily Griffith Technical College).

Be sure to get these items together NOW so you are ready!

Here’s what you’ll need:

 Your Social Security card and driver’s license (if you have one).

Your parents income tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016 if you are a dependent (and you are unless declared otherwise). 

• If you are employed, bring your tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016! 

 Records and documentation of other nontaxable income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security income, veteran’s benefits, military or clergy allowances (if applicable). 

 Any additional applicable financial information, such as taxable work-study, assistant-ships, fellowships, grants and scholarship aid reported to the IRS, combat pay or special combat pay and cooperative education program earnings. 

 Records of any additional nontaxable income: Examples include: child support received, veterans’ non-education benefits, money received or paid on your behalf, etc. 

 Current bank and brokerage account statements, including records of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments (if applicable). 

 Business or investment farm records (if applicable). 

 Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances, such as anything that changed from last year or anything that distinguishes the family from the typical family in terms of unusual marital situations, living situations, separations, etc. Examples include: high non-reimbursed medical and/or dental expenses, unusually high dependent care costs (e.g., for a special needs child or an elderly parent), death, divorce, salary reductions, job loss and private K-12 tuition. 

 When filling out and submitting your FAFSA electronically, you’ll need an FSA ID to sign the form. If you don’t have one, you can create a FSA ID online. If you are applying as a dependent- again, you are unless declared otherwise – one parent is required to sign as well. To electronically fill out your FAFSA online, your parent should also apply for a FAFSA ID at the same site. 

 If you are a male, 25 years or younger, you must be registered with Selective Service. 

Check out this worksheet for further information.

(Checklist above pulled from the Fastweb site.) 

Senior Year 1st Semester Checklist!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the checklist below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

The Final Countdown

CLASS of 2017!

The end of your high school career is well within sight. STAY STRONG! I know the pull of Senioritis is present but USE THE FORCE! You've worked so hard to get to this point. Be sure to finish high school with your head up and your best foot forward! 

Use this tool to help you identify the best school for you based on financial aid. Have conversations with people who you trust and who know you well about your choice of school.

Pay attention to deadlines!!!! 

Put important dates on your calendar with reminders. I don't want you to miss your chance to attend your #1 school! 

Please use the checklist below to stay on track for your post-secondary plans!

____ Log into your college student portal regularly!  Look for red flags that will tell you if you are missing any information or need to sign off on any documents, for example, financial aid documents.

____ Check your college email daily.  You will get important notifications through that email account. Be sure to read them, respond as needed and delete or archive to keep your inbox clutter free.

____ Take any required placement tests (for example, the Accuplacer).

____ If you are living on campus, make sure that you have signed up for the residence halls and put down a deposit by the deadline.

____ Provide any information to health services, for example, immunization records. Many campuses will put a hold on your record if you have not submitted this information.

____ Sign up for campus health insurance or provide proof that you have health insurance.

____ Sign up for and attend Orientation! Keep track of any info and To Do Lists they may provide you. 

____ Stay in contact with the financial aid office to make sure that your aid has been applied to your account. You may also be able to check your college student portal for this information. If aid is not applied and you have not set up a payment plan, you may be dropped from your classes. 

As always, let me know if you have any questions!