Senior To-Do List
AUGUST:
College Information Sessions
Attend the college information sessions organized by the Compass Career Center.
Resume Development.
Visit our site's "Resume Resources" tab under "Career Resources" above.
Write a personal essay
Most college or scholarship applications require a personal essay. Write one essay and then make small changes depending on each applications requirements.
Recommendation Letters
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselors if required by a college for admissions or scholarship. Not all schools require letters of recommendation, so visit each school’s website to determine if one is needed. Provide you teacher and/or counselor with a resume so they can write your recommendation letter. Don't procrastinate! Give them plenty of time to get your letter finalized.
Request Transcripts
Review your transcript to ensure accuracy and that you are meeting college requirements. Visit https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/ to request your high school transcript. It takes about 10 business days to receive copies after your request.
Millennium Scholarship Requirements: Visit www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/
ACT / SAT
Register online to re-take an ACT or SAT exam:
Get Organized!
Create a calendar for college and scholarship applications. It's very important to note deadlines. Continue college search if needed.
SEPTEMBER:
FAFSA
Prepare for submitting for FAFSA. Gather the following information:
Admissions
Begin the admissions process. Prepare for the college, technical, or trade school application by gathering your documents:
Scholarships
Prepare to apply for scholarships. The majority of free money is first-come, first-served. September is a excellent time to review potential scholarships and determine what is due and when. Also, think about a personal essay- these websites may help get you in the writing zone: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/brainstorm-common-scholarship-essay-questions and https://geediting.com/7-steps-to-writing-a-winning-scholarship-essay/.
Look to these free sources for scholarship information:
SCAM ALERT: Never pay any organization for access to grant or scholarship money.
Continue Career, Resume, and College Research
OCTOBER
FASFA
Admissions
Continue college application process. Begin searching for scholarships.
Explore Military Careers
Promise Scholarship
The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a unique scholarship, established by the Nevada Legislature, for Nevada high school graduates to attend community college. Before you start your application, be sure to check the process timeline provided by TMCC at www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship. Fill out the online Nevada Promise Scholarship Application before midnight on October 31.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER:
ACT / SAT
Last chance to register for ACT or SAT to be considered for most scholarships and the Nevada Scholars Award. Check the websites for deadlines and test dates.
Early Consideration
Submit college applications for early consideration. Fall admission applications are available for some universities for Early Decision (binding) and Early Action Admission (non-binding). Check each school’s admissions website for application deadline dates. Be sure you also send a 6-semester transcript, order one at: https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/. If not considering college, begin looking at other training options. Learn about apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Find out about when to apply.
JANUARY:
More Admissions
Admission applications are available for some universities. Again, check each school’s admissions website for application deadline dates.
Check our sites' "Scholarships" page for more scholarship opportunities.
FEBRUARY:
University of Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas
February 1st is the priority/scholarship deadline for UNR, UNLV, and many other colleges and universities.
MARCH:
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Must have FAFSA completed and Nevada Promise Training. Visit the TMCC Promise Scholarship page at www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship.
FAFSA Acknowledgment
Be sure you have received a FAFSA acknowledgment - Student Aid Report (SAR). If not, call 1-800-4FEDAID to inquire. This will arrive via email or postal mail, depending upon which you selected.
APRIL:
Award offers (scholarships and financial aid) arrive!
Make your decision about which school you will attend. Be considerate and notify the colleges you have chosen not to attend.
Notify the Compass Career Center about scholarships you have received & what school you will attend. We want to recognize your hard work at Scholarship Ceremony in May!
Decide on housing. If you plan to live in a dorm, contact the housing office at your school. You will get to choose your dorm and a meal plan.
Order Cap and Gown! Order graduation announcements.
MAY:
Last chance to notify the Career Center about scholarships you have received & what school you will attend for Scholarship Ceremony.
Take AP exams, if needed. Verify that all AP grade reports have been received by your selected colleges.
Notify your college of choice of any private grants or scholarships received as this may affect other financial awards.
JUNE:
Request your final high school transcript, order through: https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/
Graduate! Congratulations and Best of Luck!
Relax and be sure to write thank you notes to your parents, teachers, scholarship donors, teachers, and others who have helped you with college and scholarship applications.
College Information Sessions
Attend the college information sessions organized by the Compass Career Center.
Resume Development.
Visit our site's "Resume Resources" tab under "Career Resources" above.
Write a personal essay
Most college or scholarship applications require a personal essay. Write one essay and then make small changes depending on each applications requirements.
Recommendation Letters
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselors if required by a college for admissions or scholarship. Not all schools require letters of recommendation, so visit each school’s website to determine if one is needed. Provide you teacher and/or counselor with a resume so they can write your recommendation letter. Don't procrastinate! Give them plenty of time to get your letter finalized.
Request Transcripts
Review your transcript to ensure accuracy and that you are meeting college requirements. Visit https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/ to request your high school transcript. It takes about 10 business days to receive copies after your request.
Millennium Scholarship Requirements: Visit www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/
ACT / SAT
Register online to re-take an ACT or SAT exam:
- Check the websites for deadlines and test dates.
- ACT: Visit www.actstudent.org
- SAT: Visit www.collegeboard.com
Get Organized!
Create a calendar for college and scholarship applications. It's very important to note deadlines. Continue college search if needed.
SEPTEMBER:
FAFSA
Prepare for submitting for FAFSA. Gather the following information:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of un-taxed income (if applicable)
- If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most, maybe more, of the above information for your parent(s).
Admissions
Begin the admissions process. Prepare for the college, technical, or trade school application by gathering your documents:
- Copy of a photo identification, such as a driver's license.
- Copy of your social security card.
- Official high school transcript. (Request transcripts at https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/. Takes about 10 business days to receive copies after the request.)
- ACT, SAT or other college approved test scores.
- Medical records including immunization records.
- Outline an essay, if required.
- Visit Common App at www.commonapp.org/ if applicable to your school of choice.
Scholarships
Prepare to apply for scholarships. The majority of free money is first-come, first-served. September is a excellent time to review potential scholarships and determine what is due and when. Also, think about a personal essay- these websites may help get you in the writing zone: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/brainstorm-common-scholarship-essay-questions and https://geediting.com/7-steps-to-writing-a-winning-scholarship-essay/.
Look to these free sources for scholarship information:
SCAM ALERT: Never pay any organization for access to grant or scholarship money.
- Many scholarship opportunities are offered and awarded by the college once you have applied. Be sure the check each college’s web site for these opportunities
- U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool: Visit www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx
- Federal agencies: Visit studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types
- Nevada Grant and Scholarship List for Students: Visit Nevada College Grants and Scholarships.
- Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
- Organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Ethnicity-based organizations
- Your employer or your parents’ employers (Several casinos, like the ROW, offer scholarships to employees and employees’ children.)
- Nevada Promise Scholarship for those planning to attend a Nevada community college submission deadline is October 31st! Visit https://www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship.
- Gov. Guinn Memorial Millennium Scholarship - Begins February 1st through April 1st
Visit http://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/How_to_Apply/
Continue Career, Resume, and College Research
- The AACT Compass Career Center schedules several UNR, TMCC and other university information sessions during Fall and Winter. Visit our site's home page for upcoming events.
- Keep your counselor posted, and don't be afraid to ask for help as needed.
- Continue to be involved with school and community service activities. Use these activities to populate your resume.
- Learn the NCAA requirements if you think you want to play sports in college. Visit http://www.ncaa.org/ for more information.
OCTOBER
FASFA
- OCTOBER 1st - Prepare to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) - visit www.fafsa.gov.
Admissions
Continue college application process. Begin searching for scholarships.
- Check out our site's "Scholarships" page.
- Fall admissions applications are available for some universities. Check each school’s admissions website for application deadline dates. If planning to attend an out of state college, find out about the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program at www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/. The WUE is a program that helps waive out-of-state tuition. Check with the school’s admissions office to find out if they participate in this program.
Explore Military Careers
- Take the ASVAB. Visit the Compass Career Center or contact your counselor to schedule an ASVAB test. To learn more about the ASVAB, visit www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab/asvab-questions.html.
- Attend information sessions in the Compass Career Center or Commons when the Army, Marines, National Guard, or Navy are here.
Promise Scholarship
The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a unique scholarship, established by the Nevada Legislature, for Nevada high school graduates to attend community college. Before you start your application, be sure to check the process timeline provided by TMCC at www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship. Fill out the online Nevada Promise Scholarship Application before midnight on October 31.
- Complete the TMCC Application for Admission at webapps.tmcc.edu/admissionapp/, and view important dates and deadlines at www.tmcc.edu/admissions/dates-and-deadlines. If you have questions, contact TMCC's Admissions and Records department at www.tmcc.edu/admissions/contact.
- Select the upcoming Fall Application for Admission.
- Must be degree-seeking to qualify.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER:
ACT / SAT
Last chance to register for ACT or SAT to be considered for most scholarships and the Nevada Scholars Award. Check the websites for deadlines and test dates.
- ACT: Visit www.actstudent.org
- SAT: Visit www.collegeboard.com
Early Consideration
Submit college applications for early consideration. Fall admission applications are available for some universities for Early Decision (binding) and Early Action Admission (non-binding). Check each school’s admissions website for application deadline dates. Be sure you also send a 6-semester transcript, order one at: https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/. If not considering college, begin looking at other training options. Learn about apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Find out about when to apply.
JANUARY:
More Admissions
Admission applications are available for some universities. Again, check each school’s admissions website for application deadline dates.
- February 1st is the priority/scholarship deadline for UNR, UNLV, and many other colleges and universities.
- Double-check deadlines!
Check our sites' "Scholarships" page for more scholarship opportunities.
FEBRUARY:
University of Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas
February 1st is the priority/scholarship deadline for UNR, UNLV, and many other colleges and universities.
- Request your seven semester transcript be sent to the college(s) where you have applied at https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/ (Takes about 10 days to process and receive).
- Let your colleges know of any new honors or accomplishments that were not in your original application. This is not mandatory, but a good idea for competitive colleges. Consider applying to your college’s Honors Program (ask your counselor for more information).
MARCH:
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Must have FAFSA completed and Nevada Promise Training. Visit the TMCC Promise Scholarship page at www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship.
FAFSA Acknowledgment
Be sure you have received a FAFSA acknowledgment - Student Aid Report (SAR). If not, call 1-800-4FEDAID to inquire. This will arrive via email or postal mail, depending upon which you selected.
APRIL:
Award offers (scholarships and financial aid) arrive!
Make your decision about which school you will attend. Be considerate and notify the colleges you have chosen not to attend.
Notify the Compass Career Center about scholarships you have received & what school you will attend. We want to recognize your hard work at Scholarship Ceremony in May!
Decide on housing. If you plan to live in a dorm, contact the housing office at your school. You will get to choose your dorm and a meal plan.
Order Cap and Gown! Order graduation announcements.
MAY:
Last chance to notify the Career Center about scholarships you have received & what school you will attend for Scholarship Ceremony.
Take AP exams, if needed. Verify that all AP grade reports have been received by your selected colleges.
Notify your college of choice of any private grants or scholarships received as this may affect other financial awards.
JUNE:
Request your final high school transcript, order through: https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/
Graduate! Congratulations and Best of Luck!
Relax and be sure to write thank you notes to your parents, teachers, scholarship donors, teachers, and others who have helped you with college and scholarship applications.