HS Senior Calendar: December
for the month of december
Your college applications should be sent this month for regular submission. Many regular submission deadlines are from mid-January through mid-February. Check with your college.
Also use your holiday break to become familiar with the student financial aid process.
Monthly Tasks:
Task 1: Preview the Monthly Checklist
checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed| Have you decided on a college or trade school to attend after high school: see the September plan |
| Complete and submit your college entrance application.
Most regular college admission deadlines are in January/February: Make sure all official transcripts and reports are sent to your colleges. Schedule any interviews that may be required. |
| Visit your preferred college, talk to alumni and schedule campus interviews:
|
| Finish your college essays; have someone critique:
|
| Check your dates if you are taking any college entrance exams. Make sure test scores are being sent to your select colleges: |
For those who did early submission: If you have been accepted, you must notify them of your decision (with required deposit money) by early next month. Watch the deadlines. |
| Search diligently for potential scholarship awards:
over $24.3 billion worth of scholarships and grants in one location |
| Estimate and understand your college costs: see November plan |
Task 2: CLEP Testing / Holiday Shopping
Consider taking and preparing for the Advanced Placement Exams or CLEP tests, if applicable.
This allows you to test out of some college courses that can save you time and money.
The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your school for exam administration, enrollment and information.
- Information about the advanced placement program:
the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
www.collegeboard.com
- View our advanced placement prep/study guides:
includes prep planning books and other reading materials that can help you with these exams:
click here for advanced placement materials
How about some Holiday Shopping
with these on-line shopping centers:
- First thing, get this discount card designed for students:
using this card can save you money at many locations tailored for students and their families:
www.studentadvantage.com
- Ideas for: Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, and the entire family
our affiliated holiday shopping site for the entire family:
www.nBuy.com
Task 3: Collecting Your Aid Documentation
Collecting Documentation
Start collecting financial information about you and your parents in order to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form will be required for all college aid programs. You can submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1.
Filing the FAFSA form will be required if you intend to receive financial aid assistance from the school.
The FAFSA form is administered by the Federal Government and it will be required for all Federal Student Loans, many scholarships, and other college financial aid packages. It is used by colleges to determine your financial aid eligibility.
Preparing for the FAFSA form:
- Register for a PIN
so that you can sign your FAFSA form and other loan documents electronically. It will speed up the process:
www.pin.ed.gov
- Start gathering the documentation needed to complete the FAFSA form:
- social security number
- driver's license number (if any)
- W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
- income tax returns
- parent's federal income tax returns (if you are a dependent student)
- untaxed income records
- bank statements
- business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
- alien registration card (if you
are not a U.S. citizen)
Please Note: all of this information is extremely sensitive and is frequently targeted by identity thieves. Identity theft prevention professionals at LifeLock suggest that - before you submit information over the internet - you check the beginning of the form's URL for "https." If the URL has the letter "s" after "http," then the site is secure and you should feel comfortable using it to submit your personal information.
- Find your school codes:
you will need this information so that your FAFSA filing can be sent to the schools of your choice. Again, the colleges use this information in designing a financial aid package to help pay the cost of college attendance.
www.fafsa.ed.gov.../fslookup.htm
- Register for Selective Service (male students):
Young men that have reached age 18 must register with Selective Service before submitting the FAFSA form. This is required by law:
www.sss.gov
Task 4: Happy Holiday
Happy Holiday.
The new year will bring a change in your life. Let's get prepared:
Download this guide on goal setting for the new year:
Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.
Any plans for New Year's Eve?
- New Year's Eve Party Kit:
FREE Download
College Planning Guide
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