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Senior Year Timeline

The Rush-Henrietta Senior High School Seniors webpage is your one-stop resource for college planning and career exploration. You will find links to college application procedures, NCAA Eligibility, How-to info, and much more here. Visit: https://www.rhnet.org/student-services/counseling-services/senior-high-school-counseling-services/seniors-12th

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
  • Review your transcript and all forms enclosed in the senior mailing.
  • Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid) as soon as possible after October 1st. Complete the CSS Profile if required by a college you are interested in.
  • Register for the October or November SAT, if needed.
  • Complete the senior appointment survey and sign up for an appointment with your counselor. During your appointment, you will discuss your post-grad plans, the colleges you’re considering applying to, or how you will enter the job force.
  • Compile a list of your activities, including clubs, sports, volunteering, leadership, awards, work experience, etc. You will need this information for your college applications, scholarships, and employment resumes.
  • Request letters of recommendation from Naviance for all Rush-Henrietta teachers.
  • Create an account with The Common Application if the colleges you are applying to use it. Create a chart of deadlines. Pay particular attention to Early Decision, Early Action, and preferred application deadlines.
  • Work to strengthen your academic record. Senior grades do count in the college process! Take the SAT and/or ACT, if required by the colleges you are applying to. Continue researching schools to narrow your list to approximately 6-10 schools.
  • Attend in-person college fairs, career fairs, college representative visits, and any informational workshops offered in the College & Career Center. You can register for these via Naviance.
  • Take advantage of virtual college fairs and virtual tours.
  • If you are applying for Early Decision, start preparing your application now and be aware of Early Decision deadlines, usually in October or November. An additional Early Decision Agreement must be signed and kept on file in the Counseling Center Office.
  • The Counseling Center can take up to ten school days to process applications. Take this into consideration when you submit your applications.
  • Research financial aid and scholarships.
  • Put the final touches on your application essays and get feedback from a trusted teacher or adult.
  • Keep track of all deadlines.

NOVEMBER
  • Don't let your grades slide. It's easy to be distracted when working on applications. Make sure you’ve submitted all components of your applications, including an R-H transcript request form.
  • Check Naviance Student, the College & Career Center, and the Rush-Henrietta Counseling Center Seniors webpage for an updated list of scholarships you may be eligible for. Applications are available in the College & Career Center and on Naviance.

DECEMBER-JANUARY
  • Complete your applications for regular admissions. Be aware of deadlines! If your college has a January 1st application deadline, get your application materials submitted to the Counseling Center no later than December 8th.We cannot guarantee that a request submitted after this date will be processed in time to be sent to colleges before the December break.
  • Be sure you’ve had your test scores sent directly from the College Board to all colleges that require them.
  • If you are accepted to a school through Early Decision, be sure to follow directions carefully and submit all required forms.
  • Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular activities.
  • Have mid-year grades sent to colleges that require them. To request mid-year grades, you can email Mrs. Ottman (email). Mid-year grades will NOT be sent automatically.
  • Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships well in advance of deadlines. Scholarships can be found by checking Naviance and the R-H Counseling Center Seniors webpage.
  • If a college you have applied to requires the CSS Profile (an additional financial aid document), you must complete this form and submit it with the application fee.
  • Once you’ve been accepted to a college, please inform Mrs. Ottman (email) or submit an online College Acceptance Form. You should fill out this form for every college to which you have been accepted, regardless of whether or not you have chosen to attend that school.

FEBRUARY-MARCH
  • Review college application portals to ensure you have all the required documents submitted to colleges.
  • As acceptance letters arrive, compare financial aid offers and visit campuses (if possible) before deciding.
  • Don’t panic - many decisions are not mailed out until April.
  • Continue applying for appropriate scholarships by checking Naviance, the R-H Counseling Center, and the seniors' webpage for ones you may be eligible for.
APRIL
  • Keep track of all acceptances, rejections, and waitlists.
  • If you are waitlisted, proceed with other plans. You can always change your plans if you are removed from the waitlist. Keep your grades up.
  • If you have ruled out any colleges that accepted you, notify them. This is a courtesy to other applicants, and it will help the colleges manage their waitlists and extend the correct number of acceptance letters.

MAY-JUNE
  • Avoid senioritis! An acceptance letter doesn’t mean you can stop working!
  • Most schools have a deposit deadline of May 1. Don’t be late, or you could lose your spot! Send thank you letters to everyone who helped you in the application process.
  • Complete the senior exit survey! We use this information to know where to send your final transcript.
  • Once you’ve been accepted to a college, please inform Mrs. Ottman (email) or submit an online College Acceptance Form. You fill out this form for EVERY college you have been accepted to, regardless of whether or not you have chosen to attend that school.