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      Worried that you'll miss an important piece of the college-search puzzle?!? 
Don't despair!! Follow along with this College Countdown Checklist
and your future will start coming together in no time!!

Junior Year

Fall  

	Brush up on your standardized test-taking skills.   Visit your library, bookstore, or guidance counselor for resources and ideas on how to do this.
	The PSAT is given to college-bound students in October.  Listen to the morning announcements and visit the Guidance Office for more information.  The cost is $15.
	Check your class rank.
	Talk to your parents about what you'd like to do after high school.  Make sure you understand what their expectations are for college.
	Check with your counselor or the Romeoville H.S. course catalog to make sure you are enrolled in college prep classes.
	Evaluate your participation in extracurricular activities.
	Begin to identify college characteristics that are important to you.  Are you interested in a particular program of study?  Do you want to go to school in a certain part of the country?  How big of a school do you want to go to?
	Start exploring information about colleges.  You'll need to start learning about application procedures, entrance requirements, majors and minors, financial aid, tuition costs, student activities.... there's a lot to learn!
	Attend college fairs and college nights.

Winter 

	Register for and take the ACT and/or SAT tests.
	Ask your parents for their help in reviewing your family's financial resources and start to make a financial aid plan.

Spring

Write to interesting colleges requesting application forms, catalogs, and information about financial aid.

	Investigate, compare, and begin to narrow down college choices.
	Visit college campuses.
	Double check your senior year course selections and make sure you are on track with graduation credits.
	Research any on-campus summer programs that may interest you and make plans to attend, if possible.

Senior Year

July, August, September

	Check registration dates and deadlines for fall retests of the ACT and/or SAT if necessary.
	Continue to visit college campuses.
	Attend College Visits arranged by the Romeoville H.S. counseling office.  Listen to the morning announcements for the current schedule and visit the College Visits webpage.
	Continue gathering information about potential colleges.   Try to have your choices narrowed down to 10 at the most by the first day of school.
	Begin working on application essays.
	Set goals for your GPA and class rank for the remainder of the year.  Don't let senior slump set in.... colleges don't like to see falling grades and easy coursework.
	Males must register with Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18 at www.sss.gov or by filling out a form at any U.S. Post Office.  All students should register to vote after turning 18.

    October   

	Attend the Joliet Junior College Fair.  It is usually held on the third Tuesday in October from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
	Retake the ACT and/or SAT if necessary.
	Continue to visit college campuses.
	Continue to attend College Visits arranged by the Romeoville H.S. counseling office.  Listen to the morning announcements for the current schedule and visit the College Visits webpage.
	Approach your teachers for recommendation letters WELL IN ADVANCE of when they're due.  Give them at least two school weeks, along with a stamped and addressed envelope.
	Begin turning completed applications into your counselor at least two weeks before they are due.  Make sure you have included all necessary information, essays, and fees.  Make a copy of all paperwork before mailing.
	Watch for the RHS Scholarship Newsletter in your English class.  Apply for scholarships for which you qualify.

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November

	November 1st is the priority application filing deadline for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while the date for Illinois State University, and Eastern Illinois University is November 15th.
	Sign up in the Guidance Office to take the ASVAB if you would like a free interest survey or are interested in the military.
	Retake the ACT and/or SAT if necessary.
	Continue to visit college campuses.
	Continue to attend College Visits arranged by the Romeoville H.S. counseling office.  Listen to the morning announcements for the current schedule and visit the College Visits webpage.
	Continue turning completed applications into your counselor at least two weeks before they are due.  Make sure you have included all necessary information, essays, and fees.  Make a copy of all paperwork before mailing.
	Continue reading for the RHS Scholarship Newsletter in your English class.  Apply for scholarships for which you qualify.

    December   

	Retake the ACT and/or SAT if necessary.
	Continue to visit college campuses.
	Continue to attend College Visits arranged by the Romeoville H.S. counseling office.  Listen to the morning announcements for the current schedule and visit the College Visits webpage.
	Double check that you are on track with your course selection and graduation requirements.
	All applications, official copies of high school transcripts, and official copies of test scores should be sent to colleges by the start of winter break at the latest.
	Continue reading the RHS Scholarship Newsletter in your English class.  Apply for scholarships for which you qualify.

    January   

	January 15 is the application deadline for the University of Illinois at Chicago.
	Prepare carefully for first semester exams.  Colleges will see all senior year grades.
	Pick up a copy of the Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) at the Guidance Office or file the FAFSA on the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
	File all financial aid forms as soon as possible after January 1.

    February   

Ask your counselor to send first semester's grades to the colleges to which you've applied if this hasn't already been done.

    March   

Keep track of correspondence with financial aid agencies:   designate a special folder at home for copies of all the paperwork you receive.

April, May, June

	Keep track of acceptances, denials, and financial aid awards.
	Evaluate your options and make your final decision!   You have the right to hold off on accepting or denying offers from colleges until you receive all financial aid offers or until May first.
	Complete the paperwork and mail the deposit to the college you've chosen to attend.
	Inform the other colleges that offered you admission of your decision.
	Fill out the request in the Registrar's office to have your final transcript sent to the college of your choice.

Scholarships       College Visits        Standardized Tests       
Financial Aid       Illinois State Public Universities        Links
College Information Home