College Planning Timetable

(based on the student’s high school year)

Sophomore:

Check out colleges to learn about costs and financial aid.

• Use financial aid calculators such as the ones at www.fafsa.org (which is not the Board of Education’s Web site, but a private site with a wealth of calculators and other help for college-bound students) to estimate costs. Include tuition, room and board, plus fees, books and supplies, personal expenses and transportation.

Junior:

Visit prospective colleges; meet with admissions officers to learn about costs and aid.

• Apply for all types of aid.
• Check with parents’ employers, community organizations, merit-based scholarships (like the National Merit or other national or local scholarships based on academics or test scores) and interest-based scholarships (a scholarship in your chosen field of study or interest, like a sports or journalism scholarship) and grants.
• Investigate federal and private loans and other borrowing-based aids.

Senior:

Apply to preferred colleges.

• Submit financial aid applications.
• Once accepted, compare the different schools’ financial aid packages and make a final choice.
• Apply for loans to bridge financial aid gaps.