Dear High School Seniors,

Below is a guide of things you should be working on during your senior year:      

• Register in Advanced Placement and rigorous academic courses in English, math, science, and social studies
• Maintain a high grade point average (GPA)
• Know your high school class rank
• Register to take (or retake) an SAT or ACT preparatory course early in your Fall semester
• Register to take (or retake) the SAT (www.collegeboard.com) or ACT (www.actstudent.org)exam  immediately after the preparatory course during the first part of the Fall semester.  Check with your high school counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.
• Make a list of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities and include things you may want to study in college
• Prepare a résumé that includes information about your coursework, extracurricular activities, awards and achievements
• Request letters of recommendation from your teachers.  You will need at least three letters of recommendation
• Write your admissions essay and have your English teacher(s) review your work
• Research colleges and universities on the web and check for admission requirements, school size, class size, majors, private vs. public, 2-year vs. 4-year, local vs. out-of-state, financial aid and scholarships
• Attend College Fairs in your school district or area.  Log on to the KIPP Through College Calendar for College Fair dates (www.kippsa.org)
• Speak to college admission representatives that visit your high school
• Begin the application process for scholarships you have researched
• Participate in school or community-based extracurricular activities
• Speak to your high school counselor about your college plans
• Request “unofficial” copies of your high school transcripts to submit with your college admissions application & don’t forget to submit a request for an “official” transcript upon graduation to be mailed by your high school  to your college/university of choice
• Apply for College or University Admission during the months of October through November for early decision deadlines and in November through January for regular admission deadlines.  NOTE: These are not exact dates, so be sure to know the admission deadlines at the colleges and universities you are interested in to ensure accuracy. Here are some helpful websites: www.applytx.org; www.commonapp.org and www.universalcollegeapp.com.  NOTE: Check for application waivers
• Apply for Financial Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov) in January & February. NOTE: Some colleges/universities may also require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile (www.collegeboard.com) 
• Visit Café College (www.cafécollege.org) and participate in workshops and seminars provided
• Visit the KIPP Through College Resource Center (128 S. Audubon, San Antonio, TX 78212, Phone: 210-412-0576)