College Bound Checklist

High School Freshman

• Keep saving for college. Review your current college savings plans (529 prepaid tuition and/or college savings accounts) to make sure they’re keeping up with the annual inflation of college tuition.
• Work with your child to develop a high school curriculum plan that includes college-prep courses and any potential Advanced Placement-credit opportunities.
• Talk with your child about getting a summer job or internship to earn money for college. 

High School Sophomore

• Keep saving for college. Review your current college savings plans (529 prepaid tuition and/or college savings accounts) to make sure they’re keeping up with the annual inflation of college tuition.
• Begin researching grants and scholarships with your child.
• Work with your child to develop a high school curriculum plan that includes college-prep courses and any potential Advanced Placement-credit opportunities.
• Research different career options with your child.
• Your child should take the PSAT as practice for college testing.
• Talk with your child about getting a summer job or internship to earn money for college.

High School Junior

• Keep saving for college to make sure you’re keeping up with the annual inflation of college tuition.
• Research different career options with your child. Attend career fairs and speak with a high school counselor about career opportunities.
• Begin researching colleges and collecting admission information.
• Your child should take the ACT and/or the SAT I assessment test(s).

High School Senior

• Review your current college savings program to make sure you’re keeping up with the annual inflation of college tuition.
• Encourage your child to attend a financial aid workshop with you.
• Help your child research and apply for scholarships, grants, work-study programs and loans.
• Tour campuses and investigate admissions and costs. 
• After January 1, and when your taxes are prepared, help your child file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• By this time, your child should choose three to five potential colleges that he or she would like to attend and submit applications to them.
• Take your child to meet with a financial aid officer at each college to research financial aid options.
• Help your child review the financial aid options offered, including scholarships, grants and loans, and determine the financial aid to accept. Use the Financial Aid Package Comparison Worksheet to help compare financial aid packages and decide which is best.  While cost shouldn't be the only factor when deciding on a college, you will still need to take it into consideration when helping your child make his or her final selection. 
• Retrieve the money from your 529 prepaid tuition and/or college savings programs.
• Develop a long-range budget to help your child pay for college.

You also may be interested in viewing ISAC's College Selection/Financial Aid Checklist.