12th Grade
12th Grade
You've made it to senior year! Congratulations! You're so close to graduation and to beginning your exciting journey after high school. Follow these action items below to get on the right path to your future college!
You've made it to senior year! Congratulations! You're so close to graduation and to beginning your exciting journey after high school. Follow these action items below to get on the right path to your future college!
August & September
August & September
Action Item #1: Confirm
Action Item #1: Confirm
Confirm your final college list, application deadlines, and requirements.
Action Item #2: Finalize your responses
Action Item #2: Finalize your responses
The supplemental essays or additional questions on your college applications and have a CAP Advisor, counselor, teacher, or other trusted adult review them for you before you submit them.
The supplemental essays or additional questions on your college applications and have a CAP Advisor, counselor, teacher, or other trusted adult review them for you before you submit them.
Action Item #3: Review
Action Item #3: Review
Ask a CAP Advisor, counselor, teacher, or other trusted adult to review your whole Common Application.
Action Item #4: Continue researching/ working on scholarships
Action Item #4: Continue researching/ working on scholarships
Action Item #5: Check in with your letter of recommendation
Action Item #5: Check in with your letter of recommendation
Writers to make sure that they have everything they need and that they are aware of the deadline for your letter and how to/where to submit it when they’re ready.
Writers to make sure that they have everything they need and that they are aware of the deadline for your letter and how to/where to submit it when they’re ready.
Action Item #6: Collect necessary paperwork for financial aid applications
Action Item #6: Collect necessary paperwork for financial aid applications
Here are some of the documents that you might need to have copies of before October 1st of your senior year:
Here are some of the documents that you might need to have copies of before October 1st of your senior year:
- If your parents/guardian’s filed taxes for the previous two years, you will need a copy of their Tax Returns for the two previous years
- If your guardian has a driver’s license or state ID, you will need a copy of these.
- If your parents have been married or divorced, you will need the dates of these events (month, day, and year).
- You will also need your parent/guardians’ month, day, and year of birth
- If you have a social security number, you will need to use it, so make sure you memorize it or have the card readily available
September - November
September - November
Action Item #1: Early decision submissions
Action Item #1: Early decision submissions
Complete and submit your scholarship and college applications with early deadlines.
Action Item #2: Regular decision preparations
Action Item #2: Regular decision preparations
Continue working on applications that have later deadlines.
Continue working on applications that have later deadlines.
Action Item #3: Once your applications have been submitted
Action Item #3: Once your applications have been submitted
Make sure to continually check your email and follow up on any tasks and instructions from the schools themselves. Sometimes, they may ask you to create a new account on their website to check your application status, or they might ask you to send specific documents like current transcripts.
Make sure to continually check your email and follow up on any tasks and instructions from the schools themselves. Sometimes, they may ask you to create a new account on their website to check your application status, or they might ask you to send specific documents like current transcripts.
Action Item #4: Add schools you have submitted applications to the applied column in Scoir
Action Item #4: Add schools you have submitted applications to the applied column in Scoir
To let your CAP Advisor or counselor know that you need to have your transcripts sent to that school. It’s also a good idea to follow up with the colleges you applied to so that you can make sure that they’ve received any documents they need from your high school.
To let your CAP Advisor or counselor know that you need to have your transcripts sent to that school. It’s also a good idea to follow up with the colleges you applied to so that you can make sure that they’ve received any documents they need from your high school.
Action Item #5: Send standardized test scores
Action Item #5: Send standardized test scores
Send test scores to the colleges you’ve applied to through your College Board and ACT Accounts.
Send test scores to the colleges you’ve applied to through your College Board and ACT Accounts.
Check out this video for instructions on how to send your scores.
Check out this video for instructions on how to send your scores.
Action Item #6: October 1st
Action Item #6: October 1st
- Attend a financial aid webinar or in-person event hosted by your school or the district to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you’re eligible AND your Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA - all students in Florida can complete this application).
- Depending on the colleges you applied to, you might also need to complete the CSS Profile. The colleges you applied to should list this in their application requirements if it’s something that they need you to complete.
- Please visit the “Other Financial Aid” page of this website for more information on who can complete the FAFSA and how to complete each of these applications.
Action Item #7: Last minute testing!
Action Item #7: Last minute testing!
Take any last minute SAT and/or ACT exams that you might be registered for.
Take any last minute SAT and/or ACT exams that you might be registered for.
December
December
Action Item #1: Submit regular decision applications
Action Item #1: Submit regular decision applications
Submit college applications that have “Regular Decision” deadlines.
Submit college applications that have “Regular Decision” deadlines.
Action Item #2: Financial aid follow-up
Action Item #2: Financial aid follow-up
Follow up on any financial aid applications you completed to make sure that they’ve processed correctly and that any college you’ve applied to has been added to your FAFSA list of institutions if you were eligible to complete the FAFSA.
January- March
January- March
Action Item #1: Wait...
Action Item #1: Wait...
Wait to hear back from the colleges that you’ve applied to.
Wait to hear back from the colleges that you’ve applied to.
Make sure that you are continually checking your email so that you don’t miss any messages from the colleges you applied to about your application status or any documents they might still need from you.
Make sure that you are continually checking your email so that you don’t miss any messages from the colleges you applied to about your application status or any documents they might still need from you.
Action Item #2: If you were "deferred" from a college
Action Item #2: If you were "deferred" from a college
Send a professional email (have it checked by your CAP Advisor, counselor, or teacher) to the local admissions representative from that college to remind them that you are still interested in their institution and update them about any new, significant GPA or course changes, academic achievements/honors/awards, leadership positions, etc.
Send a professional email (have it checked by your CAP Advisor, counselor, or teacher) to the local admissions representative from that college to remind them that you are still interested in their institution and update them about any new, significant GPA or course changes, academic achievements/honors/awards, leadership positions, etc.
March - April
March - April
Action Item #1: Continue waiting...
Action Item #1: Continue waiting...
Continue waiting to hear back from any and all colleges that you’ve applied to. Don’t forget to check your email regularly.
Action Item #2: Acceptances!
Action Item #2: Acceptances!
Try to visit them either in person or via virtual campus tours and webinars/video sessions so you can continue getting a better understanding of what it would be like to attend that school and if they have all of the services/amenities that you require or hope for in your school.
Try to visit them either in person or via virtual campus tours and webinars/video sessions so you can continue getting a better understanding of what it would be like to attend that school and if they have all of the services/amenities that you require or hope for in your school.
Action Item #3: Wait to receive financial aid packages
Action Item #3: Wait to receive financial aid packages
Colleges typically send these after having sent your acceptance and receiving all of your necessary financial aid information/documentation.
Colleges typically send these after having sent your acceptance and receiving all of your necessary financial aid information/documentation.
- These packages are extremely important as they will not only show you how much financial aid (from the federal government, from the state of Florida, and from the college itself) you would be able to use if you chose to enroll in that college
- Make sure to pay close attention to what money is free and what money is a “loan” that you might have to pay back.
- Also, look for the “unmet need” to compare what you are financially responsible to pay for each of the colleges you’ve been accepted to so you can compare which might be the most realistic option for you and your family
- Schedule a meeting with your CAP Advisor to discuss your different financial aid offers to make sure that you understand everything listed in them and how to compare them so that you and your family have all of the information you need to make the best decision for you.
Action Item #4: Check enrollment deadlines
Action Item #4: Check enrollment deadlines
Which is the date by which you will need to submit a deposit in order to reserve your position at the school and confirm your acceptance of your offer.
Which is the date by which you will need to submit a deposit in order to reserve your position at the school and confirm your acceptance of your offer.
- Depending on the financial aid offer you received, some schools might be able to waive that deposit fee for you if the amount is an obstacle to your acceptance of your offer. If your chosen college does offer this, make sure you speak with an admissions counselor at that school to ensure that you are following all of the necessary steps to officially confirm your enrollment before the deadline.
Action Item #5: Once you have officially enrolled in the school!
Action Item #5: Once you have officially enrolled in the school!
Make sure you list that school as “Enrolling” in your Scoir account on the “My Colleges” page. This is an important step because once you graduate, this is the only way that your high school will know where they need to send your final high school transcripts. You should also update your other acceptance, deferrals, and denials in your Scoir account so that your school knows where you do not need final transcripts sent.
Make sure you list that school as “Enrolling” in your Scoir account on the “My Colleges” page. This is an important step because once you graduate, this is the only way that your high school will know where they need to send your final high school transcripts. You should also update your other acceptance, deferrals, and denials in your Scoir account so that your school knows where you do not need final transcripts sent.
May- June
May- June
Action Item #1: Take your AP/ IB/ Cambridge exams
Action Item #1: Take your AP/ IB/ Cambridge exams
Remember that if you pass these exams you might be able to use those scores for college credit, which could save you time and money in college.
Remember that if you pass these exams you might be able to use those scores for college credit, which could save you time and money in college.
Action Item #2: Notify your CAP Advisor
Action Item #2: Notify your CAP Advisor
About any scholarships you have won both from the schools you’ve been accepted to and from other organizations so they can celebrate your success and keep their records up to date and accurate!
About any scholarships you have won both from the schools you’ve been accepted to and from other organizations so they can celebrate your success and keep their records up to date and accurate!
Action Item #3: Notify other colleges of your decision
Action Item #3: Notify other colleges of your decision
Make sure to let other colleges you applied to know that you have decided to attend another institution.
Make sure to let other colleges you applied to know that you have decided to attend another institution.
Action Item #4: Stay up to date on any emails
Action Item #4: Stay up to date on any emails
You receive from your selected college about housing and other steps you need to take to prepare for the start of your classes.
You receive from your selected college about housing and other steps you need to take to prepare for the start of your classes.
Action Item #5: Make sure you sign up
Action Item #5: Make sure you sign up
For orientation at your new college (usually it’s a good idea to do the earliest session that you can to improve your chances of getting the class schedule that fits your needs).
For orientation at your new college (usually it’s a good idea to do the earliest session that you can to improve your chances of getting the class schedule that fits your needs).
Special Opportunities
Special Opportunities
U Dreamers Program
The U Dreamers Program is intended to meet 100 percent of an admitted student’s demonstrated financial need. Depending on the amount of the award, it could potentially cover tuition and mandatory fees, on-campus housing, a meal plan, and University health insurance.
The American Dream Scholarship
Qualifying students can get two years of tuition-free attendance at Miami Dade College. This money will be applied to cover additional costs after any other scholarships have been applied and depleted.
The Dream.US Scholarship
Scholarship opportunity for undocumented students in Florida. Recipients can receive up to $37,000 annually to cover tuition costs, housing costs, and more at one of their Florida partner colleges!