College+Checklist

Senior College Checklist
 * 1) Register and take the ACT (with writing), the SAT I and SAT II before November.
 * 2) Make sure you have a Social Security number. You need to have one to apply for federal and state aid. You can apply for a SSN at your local post office or Social Security office. To learn more, go to [|www.ssa.gov].
 * 3) Create a professional email that includes your first name (or initial) and last name like jonathan.lemaster@ or jlemaster@ or jlucero@.
 * 4) Go to [|CSUMentor] and create an account. Begin adding your A-G classes to the "Apply Online" college application tool.
 * 5) Create a preliminary list of ten colleges that you would consider attending.
 * 6) Request and acquire two letters of recommendation. Draft a business request letter for each recommendation request and include with your letter a "Brag Sheet."
 * 7) Increase the time you spend on finding appropriate colleges.
 * 8) By the middle of October, reduce your list of potential colleges to 4-7 institutions. "The list should be divided into three groups on the basis of selectivity: "reaches" are the colleges to which you and your counselor estimate you have no more than a 20-30 percent change to be admitted; "events" are the schools to which you have a reasonable chance of admission; and "plus" are the institutions to which you are certain to be admitted. Remember that you are looking for a college that fits you" (AVID College Counseling, 34).
 * 9) Write, revise, and prepare your [|UC Personal Statement].
 * 10) Apply for a PIN at [|www.pin.ed.gov] so that you'll be able to electronically sign the online FAFSA in January. Your parents should get a pin too.
 * 11) Go to [|www.fafsa.ed.gov] in November and complete the Pre-Application Worksheet for the 2010-2011 FAFSA on the Web.
 * 12) Go to [|California Colleges] and begin filling out your college application.
 * 13) Learn more about Cal Grants and other California student aid by going to [|www.calgrants.org] and [| California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)].
 * 14) Browse [|www.studentaid.ed.gov] to learn more about federal Pell Grants and other federal student aid.
 * 15) Consider a federal student loan if you need to borrow money for college. For details, go to [|www.edfund.org] and [|Federal Student Aid].
 * 16) Check out scholarships on [|AVIDonline], [|San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)], and our own "Financial Aid" page.
 * 17) Explore colleges on the web. Start at [|www.californiacolleges.edu] or go to [|www.cccco.edu] (California Community Colleges), [|www.calstate.edu], [|www.universityofcalifornia.edu], [|www.aiccumentor.org](California's independent colleges and universities) or [|www.cappsonline.org](private career colleges).
 * 18) Plan to attend a Cash for College Workshop held each year in January and February for step-by-step, hands-on assistance filling out your financial aid forms. Click on [|www.californascashforcollege.org] for dates and locations.