Quick "October" Monthly Checklist

october task for HS seniors

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Use this checklist to review those tasks that should be completed by the start of October:

• Any idea that you want to do after high school? You need to start quickly to meet fall deadlines. Review our late-starter file to get started:
  see late starter file
• Finalize your list of colleges and review it with your HS counselor:
  use our college search directory to find your school
• Register for your college admission exams:
  SAT Exam
  ACT College Exam
• October is the Month for College Fairs and HS Visits by Schools. Check with your guidance office for schedules and interviews. Narrow your college selection into a grouping as you would your college application submissions.
• Decide if you are doing early admission. If yes, most colleges require your completed application by November (Nov 01 for most college - check your college for early submission deadlines).
• Continue working on your college admission application. Items required:
  1. College entrance exams:
     take these exams as soon as possible and arrange to have your scores sent to your college of choice
  2. College admission application:
     for early submission, you need to have your application ready to submit before the November 01 deadline for many schools. For regular submission, you still have time. But get your application in early. It will put you in a better "decisioning" position when you evaluate your options in the Spring.
  3. Essays:
     most college applications require 2-3 written essays. These essays are reviewed by the admissions committee. And in many cases, the essay can become the deciding factor on gaining admittance. So make sure your essays are creative and grammatically correct.
  4. High School Transcripts:
     arrange with your high school to forward required transcripts to select colleges. Note that everyone in your school will be making the same request So act early!
  5. Letters of recommendation:
     determine who can write your recommendations. Act now! Your high school will have other students who may ask the same person to write their recommendation. So getting your request in early might give you better remarks.
  6. Home Schooled:
     check with your college on what will be required since you will not be sending in "official" transcripts. Check this valuable resource for information: link to the amazon bookstore
  7. Other:
     check with your college admission's office regarding college admission requirements.
• You should consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP tests to test out of some college courses.
  
  About advanced placement program:
  the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
  collegeboard.org

Get Application Ready for Submission

october task for HS seniors

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Get your college entrance applications ready for submission. The earlier, the better. Don't delay. Deadlines are approaching fast.

• Early Admission:
  deadlines are in early November
• Regular Admission:
  deadlines are in January-February.

Be prepared to submit applications to these types of schools:

1. 2-3 schools that you could definitely get in
2. 4-5 schools that you could probably get in
3. 7-8 schools that you would like to get in

You should budget on how much you can afford for application submission. If the application submission costs for 16 or more schools is too much. Narrow your search to 3-3-3.

Write and Edit Your Essays

october task for HS seniors

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You need to finalize your college essays.

Remember that the essay is an important part of the application review. A good essay can become the decision factor that gets you accepted. So do a great job.

• Essay resource and editing services:
  use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
  EssayEdge.com
  
  Quick view: essay writing tips and samples

The college admission also requires 1-2 recommendations from teachers and/or community leaders. Give the person writing your recommendation plenty of time (about 3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).

Also provide them a short autobiography, a list of your outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college.

Please note that the teacher works with hundreds of students. So give them plenty of lead time.

Submit College Application

october task for HS seniors

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Many schools use the COMMON application form for application submission. The COMMON app saves you time from completing multiple application forms:

• see form at commonapp.org
  
  You can save the COMMON application form online until you are ready to submit it electronically to participating schools

Or get the application from your school — link to your college to submit your application form online or to request a application packet:
use our college search directory for your school's web site

Early Decision Note:
you need to decide if you are going to do early admission.

If so, you will need to have your application completed and ready to submit between October and November of your senior year

(November 01 due date for many colleges).

• The advantage of early decision is that you will know whether you have been accepted by early January.
• The disadvantage of early decision is that you may be legally bound to attend that school if you are accepted.

So decide on early decisions for schools that are your first choice.

What will be required upon submission

1. College Application Form
2. College Essays
3. College Exams
4. High School Transcripts: arrange with your high school on forwarding required transcripts to your selected colleges
5. Letters of recommendation: determine who can write your recommendations. Act now!
6. Other: check with your college admission's office

Begin Searching Scholarships

october task for HS seniors

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Begin searching for scholarships and other FREE money. Act fast! The best scholarships awards can go fast:

over $24.3 billion
worth of scholarships and grants in one location

Beware of potential scholarship scams:

There are unscrupulous web sites and email campaigns that are trying to get your money. A general rule to follow is,

"if they request money from you in order to get money, they are likely a scam ",

Detecting/reporting scholarship scams:
from the FTC: information about scholarship scams

Go to: November Calendar