Financial Aid Timeline for High School Juniors

Find out more:

• Financial Aid Timeline
• For High School Juniors
• For High School Seniors

August

• Review your high school coursework and activity plans.
• Keep in mind that colleges often look for challenging coursework, a strong GPA and involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteer work or church.
• Learn your Social Security number. You will need it to apply for college and financial aid.

September

• Identify sources of college and career information at your school. Start looking through guidance publications, college catalogs and guidebooks.
• Put together a list of ten colleges that you would like to attend. Plan to apply to at least three to five schools.
• Talk to your parents and your high school counselor about where you want to go to school.
• Study and register for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).
• Obtain dates and locations of college fairs and parent nights in your local area.

October

• Take the PSAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Remember to take your calculator.
• Inquire about Advanced Placement (AP) or summer college courses that may be available to you.
• Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights.
• Research the colleges you're considering.

November

• Start looking into eligibility requirements for federal and private student loans.
• Call 1-800-4-FED-AID and ask for free copies of financial aid materials, including information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

December

• Look for your PSAT/NMSQT score report.
• Start planning to take the SAT I and/or SAT II exams, if necessary. You may also need to take the ACT. Check with the colleges to which you are applying and find out about specific testing requirements. Ask your high school counselor about registration deadlines.

January

• Read through the catalogs of the three to five schools that interest you the most.
• During your college visits, make sure to meet with an admissions representative and a financial aid officer to find out what types of aid are available.
• Attend financial aid nights if you have not already done so.

February

• Start seriously investigating private scholarships and other student aid programs. Ask your teachers and counselor if any local organizations offer free use of a scholarship search program.
• Register and study for the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams.

March

• Continue investigating outside funding sources.
• Register and study for the SAT and/or the ACT exams, if you have not already done so.

April

• Begin scheduling visits to each of the three to five schools that are on your final list. If appropriate, ask for an interview and/or an overnight stay.
• Consider taking the AP exams while information is fresh in your mind.
• Take an SAT prep course to help prepare for the upcoming test.
• Begin preparing essays for college admissions and scholarship applications.

May

• Take the SAT (I and II) and/or the ACT exams.
• In early to mid-May, take AP exams, which are given in high schools nationally.
• Mark a calendar with test dates and registration deadlines for the remaining SAT I and SAT II exams. You may take them during your senior year in high school.
• Continue compiling information to find out which organizations award scholarships to graduating seniors. You may have to begin applying the summer after your junior year.

June

• Take the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams if you have not done so already.
• Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer. This will help you to prepare for the SAT if you plan to take it in the fall.
• Obtain a summer job that might be related to your career interests.
• If it is possible, try to save some money from your summer job.
• If you travel this summer, consider scheduling a college visit.

Get ready for your senior year – view the calendar for seniors.

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