Skip To Main Content

College Readiness

College Readiness Checklist

9th Grade

  • Know graduation requirements
  • Create a 4 year plan for high school
  • Start your child thinking about careers/take an inventory
  • Encourage extra-curricular activities
  • Save for college- 529 plans
  • Stress that study skills and grades are important!

10th Grade

  • Make sure student is in college prep courses
  • Take a foreign language
  • Take the PLAN
  • Are you interested in attending a US Military Academy? Research requirements
  • Attend College and Career Fairs
  • Participate in a school activity or volunteer effort
  • Tour college campuses when possible

11th Grade

Fall

  • Make lists of abilities, social/cultural preferences and personal qualities
  • Review high school courses and activities.
  • Explore internship opportunities
  • Take a Dual Enrollment or AP class sometime this year
  • Learn about colleges-check out western states participation in WUE
  • Attend the College Fair in September/October
  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT
  • Make a file of searches, tests and applications

Winter

  • Register for the SAT or ACT in the spring
  • Begin a search for financial aid sources- register with FastWeb Website
  • Research SAT subject tests
  • Register to take AP exams for current courses
  • Continue looking at colleges
  • Military Academies and Colleges-apply for summer programs

Spring

  • Visit local colleges-get a feel and use the score card!
  • Develop a list of 15-20 colleges that interest you
  • Make college visits over spring break
  • Meet with counselor to ensure you are on track for graduation
  • Take the ACT or SAT

Summer

  • If an athlete, register with NCAA clearinghouse
  • Work, volunteer or participate in a camp or summer program
  • Visit and tour college campuses
  • Create a resume/ complete personal profile form
  • Request application materials from colleges and check deadlines
  • Narrow your list to 5-10

Senior Year

Fall

  • Do a credit check and be sure you are in the right classes
  • Meet with your counselor
  • Meet with college reps visiting your school
  • Apply to 3-5 colleges (reach, math, and safety schools)
  • Create a master list or calendar: tests, applications and financial aid due dates, any other deadlines
  • Send test scores to the colleges
  • Take or Retake ACCUPLACER, ACT, or SAT if necessary
  • Attend College Fair in October
  • Apply to CA schools and early decision by Nov 1st
  • Finalize your college choices
  • Complete school specific scholarship applications
  • Prepare Early Decision, Early Action or other applications ASAP
  • Contact teachers and others for recommendations if you need. Give them your personal profile/resume!!! Provide a stamped envelope
  • For essays, write drafts and ask teachers to read them

Winter

  • No Senioritis Second semester grades count and are looked at
  • Apply for a FAFSA pin at www.pin.ed.gov
  • Parents complete taxes
  • Apply for housing
  • Schedule AP exams
  • Keep active in school!
  • Complete FAFSA by March 1st

Spring

  • Receive acceptance letters and financial aid packets
  • Notify college of your decision of admission and/or financial aid
  • Send your deposit to one college only
  • Wait-listed? Talk to admissions on how to strengthen your application
  • Request final transcript be sent
  • Schedule summer orientations/registrations
  • Set up college internet account
  • Graduate!

Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Do The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Starting October 1st! Have ready before you fill out the FAFSA: Tax & Financial Info

  1. Create your FSA ID:
    • Visit the Federal Student Aid website to create your account.
    • Enter your email
    • Create a username and password
    • Enter your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and challenge questions and answers
    • Confirm your cell phone and email address with the secure code sent to your phone and email
  2. Identity, Family + Other Info:
    • Both the parent and student need to create separate FSA IDs
    • Parent(s) and student’s full legal names
    • Parent(s) and student’s birth dates
    • Parent(s) and student’s Social Security Number (SSN), permanent resident card, green card, or I-94 (Note- if your parent doesn’t have a SSN you can still apply)
    • Parent(s) and student’s mobile phone numbers and emails (if available, cannot be the same)
    • List of schools the student is considering
    • Student’s driver’s license (if they have one)
    • Parent(s) marriage status and dates. If divorced, the month and year of the divorce.
    • Parent(s) and student’s federal tax return (If they have one)
    • Parent(s) and student’s W-2 and other records of income.
    • Annual amounts of untaxed income received in the household (SSI, Child Support, SNAP Benefits, etc.)
    • Bank statements and records of investments (the home you live in and retirement accounts are not counted here)
    • If your parent owns a business with more than 100 employees, or an investment farm, know the total value of the business.
  3. Complete the FAFSA

For more help with FAFSA and FAQ's go to: