Seniors

12th grade is the time to apply for admission to college and then to apply for federal student aid by filling out the FAFSA^SM.

Here’s what students and parents should be doing throughout the year to stay on track at this busy time—including learning how to manage federal student aid.

 

12th Grade Checklist Preparing For College

Learn More Indiana Grade 12 Checklist

First In The Family Grade 12 Planning Checklist

 

Parents

To Do:

• Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA.

To Explore:

• Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For tips, read “Student Aid and Identity Theft.”

• Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.

• Understand the benefits of federal student loans.

• Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt with him or her.

• Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered Direct PLUS Loans, the Direct Loan Basics for Parents brochure might be useful to you.

Students

To Do:

All Year

• Work hard all year—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.
• Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

Fall

• Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
• If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
• Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
• Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.

Winter

• Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) has (have) not completed tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.

• As soon as possible after Jan. 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require. You can complete the FAFSA online or on paper, but completing the application online is faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.

• After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.

• Complete any last scholarship applications.

Spring

• Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

• Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.

• Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.

• When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

To Explore:

• Refer to Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid for information about financial aid as you work through the FAFSA process.

• Make informed decisions about student loans; the following resources are important at this point:
• Federal Versus Private Loans
• Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt, especially the sections headed “PREPARE” (including “How are federal student loans different from private loans?”) and “RECEIVE”

REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, see your school counselor about getting a fee waiver.

 

High School Students - Admissions Tips - UM

 

Welcome!

At the start of your college search process, you’re embarking on one of the most important journeys in your life. You’ve taken the first step—exploring the breadth and depth of opportunities at the University of Michigan, a premier institution.
Now is the time to map your personal and academic goals and measure them against the institutions to which you aspire. Students at the University of Michigan are bright and inquisitive, come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and are driven to succeed.
Think about what kind of person you wish to become: a leader, a successful professional with an excellent career, in a position to follow your passion. You can succeed at this level with one of the most widely recognized degrees in the world.
U-M has a number of resources that can help you throughout this process:

• Find out about First-year Requirements and Apply.
• Register as a prospective student to receive information and updates on events of importance to you and your family.
• Explore the University’s wealth of Majors in nearly 250 degree programs or the top-ranked schools and colleges.
• Schedule a visit and spend some time walking across this great campus guided by an undergraduate student tour guide.
• Look into Student Resources and Housing.
• Check Costs & Aid, invite your Parents to help and talk to a member of our Admissions Team.
• Take advantage of our guide for 8^th-11^th graders that will help you prepare to become a truly competitive applicant.

Tips For Applying To College - UM

The 12th Grade

You’ve made it. But don’t get too wrapped up in ruling the school. It’s crunch time for your college search and the application and admission process.

 

Keep those grades up.

Once you’ve done the best you know you can do on the SAT and/or ACT, have your results sent to your schools of choice.


Apply to several schools you would want to attend.


Remember to categorize your schools of choice: apply to your “dream” schools, but also apply to “safety” schools, just in case.


Send in your applications as early as possible, and remember to include all the materials for which they’re asking.


If you’re applying for financial aid, have your application submitted by mid-February at the latest for best consideration. Send in the required forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile for Michigan).


After you’ve decided which school you’ll be attending, notify in writing the other schools that have accepted you of your decision.