The Ultimate Senior Year Checklist (to Prepare You for College)

Graduating high school and applying for college are some of the most exciting and also stressful moments of every student’s life.

You are completing an important chapter of your life, and you probably look forward to prom, senior class trips, and graduation. But, at the same time, there’s a lot of pressure and uncertainty about your future.

With the right preparation, though, your senior year doesn’t have to be as stressful.

A complete senior year checklist can help you prepare for college and the transition that follows by arming you with structure and clear guidelines on what you need to do, every step of the way.

That’s exactly why we’ve put together this comprehensive senior year checklist. It’ll help walk you through everything you need to do to get ready for college and secure the best outcome for your future.

Let’s dive in!

Senior Year Checklist

One year may seem like a long time, but time passes much faster than you’d expect.

To make sure you meet all your senior year requirements and college application deadlines, you’ll need to start planning your work at least a year in advance.

Below, our checklist will walk you through all the most important things you can do in your senior year, starting from the fall and ending with the summer.

Fall

• Think about possible career paths you see yourself in and discover which majors can help you get there.
• Register for the SAT or ACT if you want to improve your scores or are yet to take the college entrance exam.
• Attend college fairs, participate in virtual college tours, research schools online, and visit campuses to collect as much information about colleges as possible.
• Narrow down your list to 5-8 colleges using everything you gathered in the research phase. Write down details for each application process, your financial options, and other important information.
• Create a calendar with reminders to keep track of college application cut-off dates, financial aid deadlines, standardized test dates, and other vital information.
• Complete the profile for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) in early October.
• Look for scholarships. Search for both local and national opportunities to increase your chances of receiving one.
• Ask for letters of recommendation from your teachers, mentors, school counselors, employers, or coaches. The earlier you ask them, the more time they’ll have to come up with thoughtful recommendations that will add value to your college application.
• Visit your school counselor to review your current academic standings and confirm you are on the right track to fulfill college admission requirements.
• Finish your college essays. Make sure to personalize each essay to increase your chances of acceptance.
• Ask your school counselor to assist you in requesting a fee waiver if you can’t afford to pay application fees.
• Ask your parents, teachers, or counselor to review your application(s) to ensure you’re not missing anything. Additionally, they can give you valuable feedback about your essays and help you improve them if needed.
• Check your school’s process for sending transcripts. Typically, it’s school counselors that handle submitting the official transcripts, so ask them for help.
• Finalize early action applications and send them along with your essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and other required information.
• Inform testing agencies to send your official scores to the colleges you’re applying to. Then, follow up with them to confirm they have completed this step.
• Double-check all application deadlines and update your calendar if necessary. Mark off everything you’ve already completed and take note of anything that’s still left to do.
• Take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts. This period has been very stressful, and you shouldn’t neglect your mental health.

Winter

• Consider volunteering during the holidays. In addition to being a super rewarding experience, volunteering is also a great addition to your resume, as it demonstrates character, a sense of responsibility, and commitment to serving others.
• Register for the January SAT or February ACT if you haven't already taken the tests. Some colleges should be able to consider late score submissions, which could improve your chances of getting in.
• Most financial aid forms are due in January or February, so review your documents one last time before submitting them.
• For many popular colleges, regular application deadlines are in January and February.  If this is the case for some of the colleges you’re applying to have deadlines in January and February, now’s the time to apply and cross this to-do off your list.
• Request that your school counselor also sends your first-semester transcripts to all the colleges you applied to.
• Pay attention to your schoolwork. Keep studying hard to maintain good grades. It’s easy to lose focus with everything else going on, but your grades are still vital for getting into the best college.
• Check in on the status of your college applications to verify you have submitted all the necessary paperwork.
• Waiting for college admission letters is nerve-wracking. Take some edge off by taking part in activities that align with your interests, help you build new skills, and take your mind off college admissions.
• Look for scholarship opportunities to decrease college costs beyond your tuition, such as books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and personal expenses. These also tend to be less competitive, so do your fair share of research and apply for those too!
• Consider getting a part-time job to save money for college and start swimming in professional waters.
• Update your resume with relevant academic achievements and experiences, including volunteer work, personal projects, or any internships you may have done.
• Talk to your parents about leaving for college. This event is also a big deal for them, which is why open communication is important to help make the transition easier for everyone.

Spring

• Keep studying hard, finishing your assignments, and maintaining good grades.
• Make sure to check your inbox regularly. This is when your acceptance letters and financial aid decisions will begin to arrive.
• Talk to your parents about finances and select the best financial aid packages that won’t leave you with considerable student debt.
• Now is the time to make the big decision. Most colleges will want to know whether you’re attending or not by May 1st, so you should choose your number one option by then.
• If you’re wait-listed by your favorite college, you should contact the admissions office and ask them how you can improve your application. The best option is to make your interest clear and also inform them about your latest achievements, be it an improvement in your GPA or winning an award.
• Contact the admissions team every few weeks to request an update on your status.
• When you decide what college to attend, ask your parents to assist you in filling out all the enrollment paperwork, including orientation sessions and housing forms.
• If you haven't received any acceptance letters, don’t worry. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) releases a college openings update in early May. That way, you can find a list of colleges to which you can still apply.
• Don’t forget to get your photo taken for the yearbook. You’ll miss the memories!
• Keep your eyes on the goal. Many students experience a sudden lack of motivation after being accepted into college. They stop working on their assignments, caring about their grades, or even going to classes. As a result, their grades can drop, which may bring a college to revoke their acceptance.
• If you have been rejected for scholarships and financial aid, seek alternative financing solutions, such as private student loans.
• Do your best on the final exams. You are probably excited about graduation, summer, and starting college. But, you are also so close to the finish line, and it would be a shame to let your grades suffer after all the hard work.
• Pat yourself on the back because you just graduated high school. Getting a high-school diploma is an important step in your life and deserves a small celebration, so don’t forget to invite your friends and family to your graduation too!

Summer

• Look out for college admission applications if they are still to arrive. Although most college admission decisions arrive in April and March, some colleges may send their decisions later. So, look out for such acceptance letters if you’ve applied to one of those colleges, or if you’ve been waitlisted.
• Some scholarship deadlines can go all the way to August. Try to find these opportunities and apply for scholarships, especially if you haven’t secured any financial aid packages.
• If you decide to take out a student loan, now is the time to narrow down your options. Compare each loan’s repayment plans, interest rates, repayment terms, and borrower protection, and carefully review the terms and conditions.
• Continue working hard to save as much money as you can before going to college. You’ll have a lot of expenses and not enough time to work once you start classes, so the best idea is to get a head start and take advantage of the summer months.
• Attend summer orientation to get to know the campus and other students before the school year starts. Although these events can be slightly boring, you’ll get to meet new people and make friends with some of them.
• Reach out to businesses and organizations offering job shadowing opportunities. Job shadowing is a great way to get some hands-on experience and determine whether a particular field is right for you without actually getting into the field.
• Most colleges reserve the last day of orientation to sign up for classes and create your college schedule. So, make sure to check all courses and select the most interesting ones. Your advisor can help you with that.
• Shop for things you’ll need in college, such as books, school supplies, clothes, and dorm essentials.
• Take the time to relax and reflect on your goals and priorities. Think about the future and what you want the next four years to look like.
• Ask your parents to help you move into your student accommodation. Meet your new roommate and start socializing with the people in your year.
• Get ready because the school year is just about to start…

To Recap - 16 Most Important Things to Do in Your Senior Year

• Think about possible career paths and make a list of colleges that can get you there.
• Research colleges online, visit college fairs, go on tour campuses, and participate in virtual tours to learn more about your options.
• Create a detailed calendar covering everything about admission schedules, financial aid deadlines, test dates, and other vital checkpoints for your senior year.
• Create a FAFSA profile because it is the most important thing for securing financial aid.
• Apply for scholarships to reduce the costs of going to college.
• Collect letters of recommendation, finish your college entrance essays, and complete your college application(s).
• Ask your school counselor to submit transcripts to all the colleges you’re applying to.
• Notify testing agencies to forward your official scores to the colleges you’re applying to.
• Take the January SAT or February ACT if you haven’t taken the tests already, or if you want to improve your scores. Some colleges accept these late submissions.
• Update your resume with new experiences and achievements.
• Review acceptance letters and make your first pick.
• Sit down with your parents to review financial aid programs and scholarships.
• If you’re waitlisted, contact the admission team regularly and update them on your latest achievements (e.g. GPA improvements, interesting projects, ad the sorts).
• Study hard, turn your assignments in, and keep your grades high.
• Ace your finals and enjoy graduating high school.
• Attend summer orientation, and pick your classes on the last day.

Freshman to Senior Year Checklist

If you’re one of those people who start preparing for big things like attending college way in advance, you may be reading this even though you’re not a senior.

If that’s the case, this checklist can help you learn about the most important things you can do from your freshman to senior year to prepare for college:

• Get involved in electives and extracurricular activities every year. This will help you learn more about yourself and your interests. It will also improve your future college applications because admission committees review these extra-academic activities.
• Think about the career paths you see yourself in. Learn about the educational requirements, expected annual earnings in the future, and all the pros and cons of each career path. Most importantly, try to think about where you see yourself in the future and what would make you the happiest and most successful version of yourself.
• Discover the colleges and majors of the top people in that profession. Learn what other steps they’ve taken to become successful.
• Take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which can help you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and other scholarship opportunities.
• Create a preliminary list of colleges you want to attend. Research their acceptance rates, application details, tuition costs, and other important information.
• Meet with your school counselor to discover your current GPA and whether you’re on track to graduate on time. Ask them what you can do to improve your chances of getting into your dream college.
• Take SAT and/or ACT (more than once)
• Find a few professionals in your dream career offering job shadowing opportunities. This can give you a great insight into day-to-day life in your future career.
• Update your resume at the end of each year to reflect all your accomplishments, including awards, honors, leadership roles, and more.
• Consider getting a summer job between school years.
• Ask your school counselor about local scholarship opportunities. In addition, start researching scholarships and other financial options.
• Attend college fairs, visit colleges, and talk to admissions counselors to narrow down your list.

How Can Having a Senior Checklist Help You?

Finishing high school, choosing the best college, and figuring out how to pay for it is a big mystery for most high school seniors. Following a thorough senior year checklist, however, can be a valuable tool to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Here’s exactly how a senior year checklist can help you:

#1. Better organization

A comprehensive senior year checklist contains all the details and deadlines you need to follow during your senior year. This helps you stay organized and avoid missing important milestones and deadlines.

#2. Ease of mind

You may not be familiar with college applications, scholarships, financial aid, and other things you’ll need to do during your senior year. This can create a lot of stress and anxiety. Luckily,  having a to-do list can make your senior year a lot easier. That way, you can focus on taking one step at a time without feeling overwhelmed.

#3. Improved time management

Having a senior year checklist allows you to identify the most important steps in your senior year. This helps you manage your time more effectively by shifting your focus on what's important. That way, you can escape distractions, be more productive, and stay on top of things.

#4. Increased accountability

With a complete checklist, you know exactly what your responsibilities are. That means you are accountable for completing all tasks on the list. This helps you take ownership of your education and prepares you for the future.

#5. Stronger preparation

Having a senior year checklist allows you to make plans for after you graduate. It helps you make more informed decisions, choose the right college, and get on the path toward a better future.

#6. Higher motivation

Have you heard about senioritis? It’s basically a lack of motivation many students feel in the second semester of their senior year. Luckily, having a checklist can help you stay motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment as you check things off the list.

Conclusion

The truth is that everybody feels a little anxious about finishing high school and starting college, so don’t consider this the end of the world.

We hope our ultimate senior year checklist will help you cruise through your last year of high school and get to the college you want.

Now, it’s up to you to embrace the power of a senior year checklist and unleash your full potential.