Roadmap to College

1. Fall of Junior Year

• PRAY.
• Consider what kind of college you would like to attend—Christian or secular, state or private, large or small.
• Begin collecting college information. Search the Internet, attend college fairs, write to colleges for catalogs, and ask your friends in college about their schools.
• Take the ACT or SAT. Your guidance counselor can tell you how to sign up.

2. Spring of Junior Year

• PRAY MORE.
• Visit the colleges you have chosen. Get a tour, eat in the cafeteria, visit classes and spend the night in the residence hall.

3. Summer Before Senior Year

• PRAY.
• Narrow your college choices to the top three.
• Check into local community scholarships—are they based on academic achievement, need or community involvement? Your church may give you a scholarship.
• Start a rough draft of your scholarship application—an essay about yourself, your achievements and your goals.

4. Fall of Senior Year

• KEEP PRAYING.
• Request, fill out, and mail admission applications to the colleges you have chosen.
• Research and fill out any financial aid forms you may need—federal (FAFSA), state, or for scholarships offered by the colleges. Decide whether you will need to take out loans or get a job...or both.
• Ask your parent(s) or guardian to file their income tax returns as soon as possible. Make sure to file yours if you have income to report.
• Consider the option of retaking the ACT or SAT, if you think you can improve your score. You get to use your highest score, even if you don’t improve it the second time.

5. Spring of Senior Year

• DON’T STOP PRAYING.
• Wait and see to which school(s) you have been accepted.
• Figure out how much college will cost and how much money you will need for living expenses. Work out a general budget for the next 4 years.
• Graduate from high school!

6. Summer before You Leave for College

• PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! WORK! WORK! WORK!
• You have been accepted!
• Fill out your housing and roommate application and any other departmental applications. Find out when the residence halls or campus will be open and plan your arrival. Keep in mind you may need to arrive early for freshman orientation.
• Ask the college admissions counselor if you can register early for your classes.
• Practice doing your laundry, save coupons, learn to talk fast (so your phone bill won’t be so high), and pray!