Scholarship Timeline

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Scholarship Timeline

The following timeline is for high school
seniors. For more on activities you should
complete to increase your scholarship chances
beginning in 7th grade on through to your 1st
year of college, refer to Chapter 27 in Winning
Scholarships for College.

If you want to get help with any of the actions steps below and you have a
copy of Winning Scholarships for College, refer to the chapter number and
title included in parentheses. If you’re a senior reading this timeline and you
are behind on some of these action steps, don’t despair. Just play catch-up!

SEPTEMBER (for High School Seniors)

Go to the library and conduct research. Gather scholarship
organization addresses. (Chapter 2 – "Research: Discovering Hidden
Treasures")
Search the Internet and the World Wide Web for scholarships.
(Chapter 3 – "The Internet Scholarship Search")
Write two inquiry letters. Prepare one for colleges/universities.
Prepare one for other organizations such as companies,
associations, sororities, fraternities, etc. (Chapter 2 – "Research:
Discovering Hidden Treasures"). Click here for a sample letter to use
with other organizations .
Send letters.
Call or write local organizations. (Chapter 4 - "Finding Scholarships in
Your Backyard")
Register for the SAT and the ACT. Go to the Taking Tests section of
The College ToolBox. (Chapter 8 – "Taking Tests").
If you haven’t been active in extracurricular and community service
activities, start now. Continue the activities throughout your senior
year. For more information on scholarships you can win based on
community service or on how your service can help you win general
scholarships, review Chapter 14 - "Scholarships and Awards for
Volunteer Service and Work" in Winning Scholarships for College.
Arrange meetings with your counselor or career center director. Try to
have at least two meetings in early fall of your senior year (Chapter 7
– "Getting the Most from Your Counselor").

You should ask for or discuss the following in your first
meeting.

A list of local organizations that offer scholarships or
awards to students in the community.
A schedule of local college fairs or visiting student or
college representatives.
AP Exams. Also, discuss these with the teachers of
your advanced placement courses.

Before the second meeting, you’ll need to complete your
October activities (see list below) so you’ll have the
information needed for this meeting. During the second
meeting, discuss or ask for the following:

Examine your activities résumé. Make sure it’s
thorough and well presented.
Give your counselor a list of the scholarships for which
you’re planning to apply, their deadlines, whether you
need a recommendation or a transcript sent for them,
your résumé, and any other additional items you are
planning to include with your applications.
If you have written essays for questions on scholarship
applications you already have, review them with your
counselor and your English teacher to see how well
they think you have answered the questions and
shown your qualities.

In ongoing visits to your counselor or career center director’s
office, ask about him or her about recommendations, mid-year
reports, and transcripts they’ve sent or are sending for you.
Chapter 7 of Winning Scholarships for College includes
questions you should ask your counselor/career center
director beginning in your freshman year of high school as
well as additional meeting suggestions for your senior year in
the Counselor Visitation Timetable.

OCTOBER (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching scholarship programs. Put plenty of effort into
your scholarship search during the fall of your senior year.
Remember! Most scholarship deadlines, particularly those for large
amounts have early deadlines.
Organize all replies to your letters and the results from your Internet
Search. Include scholarship and college applications. Create
reference files and folders. (Chapter 6 - "Getting Organized")
Prepare résumé. (Chapter 9 - "Grades Don’t Mean Everything –
Standing Out in a Crowd")
Prepare two basic essays describing yourself and your future career
goals. (Chapter 11 – "Writing Perfect Essays").
Make a recommendations chart of teachers, advisors, and
employers. (Chapter 13 - "The Art of Getting Good Recommendations
& Requesting Nominations")
Start applying to scholarship programs with early deadlines. Be
careful about early decision applications to colleges and universities.
The commitment many require if you are accepted could limit your
flexibility to choose a college/university that may be offering more
financial aid.

NOVEMBER (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
Visit colleges and college fairs. Go to the Finding a College section of
this site.

DECEMBER (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
Start working on the (FAFSA). Visit the Other Resources section of
The College ToolBox for information on the FAFSA. Do not mail it yet.
You need your W2’s.

JANUARY (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
As soon as W2’s are received, adjust any information needed. Then
mail the FAFSA. For certain colleges and universities, you may also
need to complete the CSS-Financial Aid PROFILE.

FEBRUARY (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching and applying for scholarships.

MARCH (for High School Seniors)

If you’ve received financial aid award letters from colleges and
universities you are most interested in attending and the package
they are offering is not enough to meet your needs, make an
appointment to discuss your situation with their financial aid offices.
They may be willing to adjust your financial aid package based on
new information from you such as a higher offer from another
institution or extenuating circumstances in your family (Chapter 5 –
"Help with College Expenses from the Government.")
Continue researching and applying for scholarships.

APRIL (for High School Seniors)

Continue researching and applying for scholarships, particularly local
scholarships. May 1 is usually the scholarship deadline date for many
colleges and universities. You should start determining the colleges
and university financial aid packages you will accept. (Chapter 23 -
"Making Choices – You’ve Been Awarded …Now What Do You Do?")

MAY (for High School Seniors)

If you didn’t get enough free college financial aid to cover your costs
for four years initially, begin the research process for students already
in college so you’ll be prepared for the scholarship process in your
college freshman year. (Chapter 18 - "I’m Already In College: Are
There Scholarships for Me?")

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Expert Guidance from
Marianne Ragins
Winner of More Than $400,000
in Scholarship Money