YEARLY PLANNER for High School Seniors

August/September/October

Take SAT or ACT if necessary
Visit top schools of choice
Write application essays
Attend special programs such as college fairs and open houses
Initiate scholarship searches

November/December

Take or retake SAT or ACT if necessary
Apply for admission to colleges of choice
Attend Financial Aid workshops
Visit your HS guidance counselor or your college's Financial Aid Office and obtain FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
Check with local corporations, churches, private sources, clubs and any other possible sources for scholarship applications; check out FREE Internet scholarship search engines on our scholarships page.

January/February

Check with Shepherd University for institutional application deadlines for admissions, financial aid applications or scholarships
Gather income tax information if possible. If not possible, estimate tax returns on FAFSA
Submit FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov to meet priority deadline of March 1

Complete WV Application for State-Level Finanical Aid Programs by March 1 at www.wvapply.org
Contact the Office of Financial Aid for any additional documents that may be needed

Apply for any supplemental loans
Confirm all school admission application materials sent on scholarships
Check with your High School counselor about local scholarships and apply
Send Admissions deposit to college

March

Review Student Aid Report and make any necessary changes
Attend financial aid follow-up workshops at your school
Notify the Financial Aid Office of any outside scholarships, grants or aid that you will receive
Contact your High School guidance counselor and submit grade report to WV Higher Education Grant Program

April

Look for replies from scholarships, awards and other sources of financial aid
Check with the Financial Aid Office to be sure all documents have been received
Arrange with Residence Life for housing and meal plan

May

Find out when school charges will be due and plan how you will pay those charges
Be aware of any summer orientation sessions you must attend and make plans accordingly
Apply for a summer job
Pick up a Summer School Financial Aid application to attend Summer School at Shepherd

GRADUATION

Continue to talk with parent(s) about how you will pay for college expenses that financial aid will not cover
Investigate tuition payment plans
Prepare a proposed budget for your freshman year in college
If Federal Work Study is part of your aid package, remember that it may be your responsibility to obtain an appropriate job.
Follow up with the Financial Aid Office when you arrive on campus.
Return any additional material related to course selection, financial aid or bills for tuition and other charges on a timely basis.

July/August

Attend a freshman orientation session at Shepherd