College Planning>

College Planning Schedule

August Prior To Your Senior Year

  • Request applications and information from colleges
  • Visit school campuses throughout the summer to help narrow down choices
  • Look into overnight or weekend college visitation programs
  • Take note of upcoming SAT and ACT registration and test dates

September

  • Receive college information at a senior class meeting
    • College Planning Calendar for Seniors
    • Instructions & Guidelines for Seniors regarding the College application process
    • College Application Checklist
  • Visit the Guidance office on campus to take advantage of the many useful resources
  • Make sure your family receives the monthly email newsletter from the guidance office
  • Mark your calendar for local college fairs and when admissions representatives visit campus – a complete list of admission rep visitations are on the bulletin board outside the guidance office and are posted online in the guidance section of LMS’s website
  • Schedule appointments with your counselor
  • Create a master list or calendar that includes:
    • SAT or ACT test dates, fees and registration deadlines
    • College application due dates
    • Financial aid application forms required and their deadlines
  • Visit websites for free test prep and practice exams for the SAT and ACT
  • Register for the SAT, SAT Subject or ACT
  • Visit college campuses – make sure you fill out an Educational Excuse Form 5 days prior to your visit if you are visiting on a school day – you may get this form from the main high school office or on the school’s website
  • Prepare to complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

October

  • Begin completing college applications and essays
  • Visit the Guidance Career Center on campus to take advantage of the many useful resources
  • Ask teachers and your school counselor to complete recommendation letters and forms – please give them at least 2 weeks to complete these forms
  • Request transcripts from the guidance office and letters of recommendations from teachers
  • Meet with your school counselor for your senior interview
  • Attend local college fairs in Lancaster County and surrounding public schools
  • Continue to meet with college admission representatives that come on campus – including Mennonite College Day
  • Attend financial aid & FAFSA seminars in the area, complete the FAFSA
  • Explore scholarship information online – check out the ‘resource’ page of LMS’s guidance website
  • If needed, take the SAT or ACT that you may have registered to take
  • Consider signing up to take AP exams if you are enrolled in an AP Course.

November

  • Complete college applications by Thanksgiving (some colleges have earlier deadlines)
  • Try to finalize your college choices
  • Give counselors and the guidance office 7-10 school days to send your transcript to colleges – even if you have applied online
  • Meet with college admission representatives that come on campus
  • Take the SAT or ACT that you may have registered to take – if needed

December

  • As you finish and send your applications and essays (before Christmas!), be sure to keep copies
  • Contact the college’s financial aid office to see what student aid programs exist on a state or campus level
  • Obtain any other financial aid forms that may be required by your target schools. Check with the financial aid offices to see if they have specific financial aid requirements and/or deadlines

January

  • Successfully complete your first semester courses
  • Continue a rigorous course selection for second semester – accepting colleges do look at the second semester senior classes and grades which will be on your final high school transcript

February

  • Submit all the necessary paperwork or applications for any private or outside scholarships you may have identified
  • Be sure you have submitted all required forms: the college admissions application, the FAFSA, any private scholarships, and any state or school-specific forms required for financial aid

March

  • Keep active in school – accepting colleges do look at the second semester senior classes and grades which will be on your final high school transcript
  • If you are enrolled in an AP course, ask your teacher about the AP test in May
    • Contact your college to see if they will accept your AP credit and to see what score is necessary to receive college credit

April

  • You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April.
  • Make a final enrollment decision and submit enrollment deposit, if requested
  • If a school accepted you but you will not be attending, notify the school of your decision not to attend

May

  • Successfully complete second semester classes
  • Request the guidance office to send your final high school transcript to the college you are attending
  • Take any AP exams you signed up to take

June & July

  • Participate in commencement!
  • Complete any remaining student aid forms
  • Plan for college orientation, transportation and housing for the fall
  • If you have not done so, request the guidance office to send your final high school transcript to the college you are attending