Your 12th Grade Year

As a senior, you will want to focus on your college and career goals. The steps below can help you begin to finalize your plans. The Journey to College checklist provides a month-by-month planning calendar for your senior year of high school.

• Consider your career plans and decide what type of postsecondary school is best for you. Visit your top school choices. If possible, make appointments with faculty, staff and students.
• If necessary, register to take or retake the SAT and/or ACT tests. Some students, such as homeless youth, may be eligible for test fee waivers.
• Meet with admissions representatives who visit your high school.
• Determine if the schools that interest you have online admissions applications. If not, request them by mail.
• Look at virtual tours of college campuses online.
• Mark your calendar with admissions, financial aid and registration deadlines and fees.
• Take advantage of Apply Missouri activities, if offered at your school, a program designed to give you time during the school day to apply to college.
• Attend college fairs, financial aid information nights, and other college preparation events. To search for events in your area, use the Show-Me to College events calendar provided by the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel.
• Complete applications for every scholarship for which you may be eligible.
• Make sure you meet A+ scholarship requirements if available at your high school. It is a good idea to meet these requirements even if you don not think you want to attend a Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school. If your personal circumstances change, it may be helpful to have this option available.
• Contact the schools' financial aid offices to determine which forms they require. Some schools may require special forms.
• Create your FSA ID, which is necessary to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. (Also let your parents know that they will need to create an FSA ID as well.)
• Attend a FAFSA Frenzy event near you to receive free, professional assistance completing your FAFSA.
• As soon as possible after Oct. 1 complete your FAFSA online (or go to studentaid.gov to download a PDF version of the FAFSA). Keep copies of all documents, including your FSA ID, in a file.
• Watch for the email notice indicating your Student Aid Report (SAR) is ready, and review your SAR for errors. Make any corrections as indicated.
• Check with the financial aid offices to ensure your paperwork is complete. Submit tax forms or transcripts if they request them.
• If your high school hosts Decision Day activities be sure to participate. Make your final decision about where you will attend school and let your college know you plan to officially enroll. Be sure to notify other schools where you were accepted know that you will not be attending.
• Be aware of any summer orientation sessions that you must attend at the school in which you enroll, and make plans accordingly.
• Prepare a realistic spending plan to help you stay on track financially throughout college.
• Save copies of your financial aid forms, health forms, etc. to aid in resolving any future issues.