How to choose the right college for you
Presented by the University of North Texas
Suggested timetable
Junior year in high school
September
- Attend a college fair to begin
gathering information on colleges.
October
December
- Review PSAT results. Discuss any
concerns you may have about your
scores with your guidance counselor.
February
- Register for spring SAT or ACT.
- Start a list of potential colleges.
March
- Begin to visit your potential colleges.
(Spring Break may be a good time to
schedule visits.)
May
- Take Advanced Placement exams.
July
- Review college options, requirements
and deadlines (admission, housing,
financial aid and scholarships), and
begin preparing to narrow college
choices.
Senior year in high school
September
- Attend a college fair to ask specific
questions about colleges.
- Register for fall SAT or ACT if
necessary.
- Narrow list of potential colleges.
- Search for possible scholarships.
October-December
- Attend campus-visit programs.
- Review final college list with high
school counselor and parents.
- Request teacher recommendations
if needed.
- Apply to schools with early deadlines
or rolling admissions.
- Begin other college applications.
- Mail all admission applications, submit
them online or turn them in to your
high school, depending on the system
your school uses.
January
- Submit Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply for
scholarships.
- Submit paper or online housing application
for best selection of halls.
- Make sure your high school sends
midyear grades to colleges you
selected.
March
- Visit campuses on final college list.
April-May
- Attend campus-visit program at the
college of your choice, if you haven’t
already.
- Review college acceptances and
scholarship awards. Pick your college
and send in your deposit if required.
- Notify other colleges of your decision.