College Planning Timeline for Seniors

College is right around the corner for seniors. Here’s a college planning timeline.

As high school students reach their senior year, they often feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. While they’re feeling high and mighty at the top of the food chain, they may also be grappling with what comes after graduation. Most of us have been there: Post-secondary planning can be daunting. 

Because college planning is a time-consuming and all-encompassing process, we’ve crafted a timeline to help educators and families guide seniors as they navigate college decisions.  

Summer (before senior year): Start before the school year

Remember when summer meant camp, lying by a pool, family vacations, and just plain relaxing? For rising seniors, summer can still encompass those things – but should also be  a continuation of college planning.

Fortunately, many districts incorporate college and career planning into curricula well before a student’s senior year, which prevents seniors from entering the fall blind to their post-secondary goals. 

That doesn’t mean students need to know exactly what school they want to attend and what their major is. In fact, the summer before senior year gives students ample time to research and reflect on what they want for their future. 

EDUCATOR TIP: Hold a meeting before summer break to remind and encourage rising seniors to take advantage of the time off. Many students and families may not know best practices for preparing for the fall, so it’s helpful to equip them with this information ahead of time.

Campus tours

Oftentimes, students start visiting college campuses before their junior year. By the summer of senior year, campus visits should be more purposeful. 

Hopefully students will have narrowed down their college choices by now – either by size, location, major, price, etc – so that campus tours are informational and help further the decision process. If time and or money do not permit college visits to distant campuses, families should consider looking into virtual tours. 

Research college application requirements

Many colleges (and the Common App) make their applications available on August 1st. 

Students should research what every college to which they’re applying requires, such as standardized tests, entrance essays, application fees, and specific courses. 

That way, they can manage their time in the fall to ensure all applications are complete and submitted by the deadline. Note that completing college applications can take a while, as they are usually extensive. 

Test prep

It’s recommended that students take both the SAT and ACT their junior year. In fact, some high schools even require it. 

If students haven’t achieved a score they’re content with, summer is the perfect time to take practice tests, sign up for a test preparatory course, or take the tests again. It’s advisable to knock this out before the school year begins so they have one less decision on their plate. 

But how will students know if their scores are competitive? Enter Xello’s data-based Scattergrams tool, which helps them gain a clear understanding of their admission possibilities based on trends from past applicants. By comparing test scores and GPA against previously accepted, waitlisted, or declined applicants, they can take a strategic approach to their college applications and goals.

Fall of senior year: Off to the races

Fall is a time when it’s all hands on deck for counselors, teachers, administrators, community members, and families. Why? Applying to college often takes a village, and seniors are most likely to look to trusted adults for guidance. 

Hold a college application kick-off meeting

It’s best practice for schools to host grade-level “back to school” assemblies to review rules, expectations, and upcoming dates. For seniors, this meeting should also incorporate post-secondary planning. 

Make sure you include the following in your talking points:

• Encourage students to apply to a variety of schools. There are always a few students who have one school, and one school only, in mind. While it’s great to have a top pick, encourage students to apply to visit backup schools in case they’re denied or waitlisted for their first choice.
• Highlight all post-secondary choices. Make sure you’re not just giving examples of four-year colleges. Discuss two-year, community, and CTE programs to demonstrate their value and expand students’ options.
• Shows students features in Xello like the college planning tool to create a tracker for each application. This allows them to create, monitor, and mark as complete the various tasks needed for college applications. Students can also request a recommendation letter or have their transcript sent directly from the tracker.
• Discuss the options of Early Application and Early Decision. If they’re applying to a college for early application and or early decision, the deadline is typically November 1. 

Schedule counselor meetings with every student

Counselors are a tremendous resource in the college application process, from recommendations, deadline reminders, and more. While meeting with students, go over entrance requirements, get input on the colleges they’re considering, and review their high school transcript to ensure they’re on track for entry (and graduation!). 

Additionally, take time to discuss the importance of college entrance essays. Some high schools already have essay resources built in, like reviewing them in senior English class or hosting a writing lab. If that isn’t the case for your district, consider how you can support weaker writers. 

Host college representatives

Most colleges have representatives that are willing to give a presentation at the high school. Make sure you send the schedule out well ahead of time and host speakers from a variety of schools, not just select four-year institutions. 

Educate families about financial aid

The amount of financial aid students receive may be the difference between being able to afford their top choice and having to pass. On October 1, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available. 

Encourage students to:

• Fill it out as soon as possible. 
• Complete the financial aid forms from preferred schools. 
• Scour the internet, ask the school counselor, and talk to colleges about financial aid opportunities.
• Use Xello’s scholarship portal.
• Track their FAFSA by uploading supporting documentation into Xello’s college planning page. 

EDUCATOR TIP: Don’t just send financial aid information home on a slip of paper; most students may forget to give it to their families. Instead, spread this information in a variety of ways, such as a fall Open House, a college and career fair, emails home, and the school newsletter. 

Winter of senior year: Knee-deep in college applications

Winter is usually a continuation of fall planning and execution. Seniors may be exhausted from the application process, but the end is in sight!

EDUCATOR TIP: Encourage students to continue participating in school activities. Even if their application is “finalized,” maintaining interest in school and extracurriculars is important, not only for graduation but for their social-emotional health. 

Remind students of deadlines

Even the best of students may forget critical dates. Whether you post the following reminders on a bulletin board, in the counselors’ office, or on the morning announcements, you’ll want to remind students of quickly approaching deadlines. 

• Early Decision: If students were accepted to an Early Decision program, their college application process is complete and they should withdraw all other applications. 
• Early Decision II: Many colleges require students to submit their Early Decision II applications by January 1. Encourage students to not submit at the last minute; it will not only mitigate stress, but will also prevent any technical difficulties from postponing their submission.
• Financial aid: FASFA forms should be sent after January 1. This is a priority, since it determines how much families are expected to pay for college and is usually a determining factor in which school students choose. 

Ensure you’re meeting deadlines

Students aren’t the only ones with college application deadlines! Make sure you’re meeting yours, such as strict ones for recommendation letters or sending transcripts. 

Luckily, educators and students can manage their application through Xello so there’s limited (if any) paper shuffling and missed due dates. 

Spring of the senior year: Culmination of the college planning process

While spring is an important milestone for seniors – it’s when most of the decisions happen! – it marks a lighter lift for educators. 

Support students without giving advice

Making a college decision is a big step, and students may come to you for advice. Two tips:

• Remind students of their North Star. Ask them about their priorities for higher education. Is it a solid program? Small class sizes? Being close to home? Narrowing in on their top goal will help students make their decision.
• Don’t tell them where to go. The last thing you want to say is, “If I were you, I would go here.” Why? It may not be the right choice for that student, and making the wrong decision because of your advice may cause resentment. If you want to give guidance, tell them why you chose your college and what led you to that decision.

Emphasize final deadlines

Students may get so caught up in making “the right decision” that they may forget upcoming deadlines. Remind them that most colleges require students to commit by May 1. Also encourage students to respond to schools they did not choose to help those admissions offices and finalize their college decision. 

Hold a scholarship awards ceremony

High school seniors work hard to receive national, state, and local scholarships. Hosting a ceremony for students and families to attend is a great way to honor them. For scheduling purposes, this ceremony should be near the end of the school year when all scholarships have been granted. 

To learn more about how Xello can support students through all aspects of College Planning, visit our website.