| November | Continue visiting colleges. Don't forget to eat lunch on campus! |
| November | Make a personal calendar of all the deadlines you need to remember. When should you apply for certain scholarships? Don't miss those deadlines! |
| November | Research scholarships. Utilize the resources available from your local library, websites like www.fastweb.com, your high school guidance office, parents’ work, your employer and church. |
| November | Get some great scholarship information from our website at: http://www.stthomas.edu/financialaid/ |
| November/December | Consider an overnight visit. This is the best way to experience campus life. Facts and statistics about schools are important; equally important is how you feel on campus. Overnight visits include seeing the residence halls, attending a class, meeting faculty members and talking with students. |
| December | Apply for outside funding or scholarships (you’ll be busy writing essays!) |
| December | Respond immediately to any requests for additional information from colleges to which you’ve applied. |
| January | Go online (parents and students) to www.pin.ed.gov to secure your U.S. Department of Education PIN (Personal Identification Numbers) which you will use as your electronic signature when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). |
| January | Collect family tax information and file your taxes as soon as possible. Each school has its own priority deadline for financial aid (St. Thomas’ is April 1). Be sure to file your FAFSA by this date. |
| January | After January 1 or as soon as you file your federal taxes, you should file your FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Be sure to indicate all the schools you would like to receive your information. The FAFSA school code for St. Thomas is 002345. |
| January | Be wary of websites or services that charge a fee for financial aid. Filing the FAFSA is free. |
| February | Keep in contact with your admissions counselor. This person is available to help you through the college admission process and knows about all the deadlines, forms and important events. |
| February | If you are taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, register to take the tests to receive college credit. |
| February | Ask schools about confirming and housing deposits. St. Thomas requires a $200 deposit to reserve a space in the class and a $200 deposit to reserve a space in a residence hall. Housing assignments are based on the date we receive your housing deposit. These deposits are refundable, if requested in writing by May 1. |
| March | The Residence Life Event offers you the chance to tour all of the dorms available to you. Get a glimpse of where you might be living next year! |
| March | If you are unable to attend the Residence Life Event, we offer residence hall tours every afternoon in the spring. |
| March | Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will either be sent to you electronically or by mail. You will receive your SAR 1-3 weeks after you file the FAFSA. |
| March | Revisit the colleges you are considering. If you haven’t done so already, consider an overnight visit and check out all the options for living on campus. |
| March | Respond immediately when a college’s financial aid office requests information. |
| April | It’s time to make a decision! May 1 is the deadline for many colleges. Make sure you have submitted your deposits to the school of your choice. |
| April | Notify the schools you will not be attending. |
| May | Enjoy your final weeks of high school! |
| June | Ask your guidance counselor to send your final high school transcript to the school you’ve chosen to attend. |
| June | Make sure to complete any immunization and health forms that are required. |
| June | Watch for information about summer orientation. |
| July | Attend orientation and registration. Meet your new college classmates and register for classes. |
| July | Watch for housing assignments and roommate information to arrive in the mail. |
| August | Share your new college email and mailing addresses with family and friends. |
| September | Good luck in your first year of college! We encourage you to get involved, meet new people, try as many new things as possible…and don’t forget to study! |
