Timeline
High School Seniors
This basic timeline was developed by KnowHow2Go , a great resource for high school seniors. We have amended it to reflect important milestones for Louisiana students and all students applying to Loyola University New Orleans
Additional Resources:
Summer Before Senior YeaR
- Sign up for the ACT if you didn't take it as a junior, or if you aren't satisfied with your score.
- Review ACT test results and retest if necessary.
- Check out our resources in the Pre-College section of our web site
- Louisiana Students: Make sure you have taken all required courses for the TOPS Scholarship Program .
August Through December
- Visit with your high school college counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
- Keep working hard all year; second semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.
- Ask for personal references from teachers, school counselors, or employers early in the year or at least two weeks before application deadline.
- Visit with admissions counselors who come to your high school. Find out when our counselors will be in your area.
- Attend a college fair.
- Apply for admission at the colleges you've chosen. Learn more about Loyola's application process .
- Avoid common college application mistakes.
- Start the financial aid application process. Check out college.gov and the FAFSA4caster .
- See your school counselor for help finding financial aid and scholarships. Be sure to research outside scholarship opportunities .
January Through May
- If you need it, get help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- Learn more about College Goal Sunday
- After you and your parents have filed your 2011 federal tax returns, use theIRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your FAFSA information.
- Keep track of important financial aid and scholarship deadlines. Learn more about Loyola's priority financial aid application deadlines.
- We will review your FAFSA data after you have been admitted to Loyola University AND the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has determined your eligibility for institutional merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are normally awarded in February to students who have submitted a complete application for undergraduate admission by January 15.
- Ask your school counselor in January to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. In May, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend.
- Compare financial aid packages from different schools.
- Decide which college to attend, and notify the school of your decision. Most schools will require a commitment deposit by May 1. Loyola requires a $300 tuition deposit by May 1, 2012 to reserve your spot in the entering class. Students who are interested in living on campus must also submit an additional $200 housing deposit and housing contract by May 1, 2012.
- Notify your college about any outside scholarships you received.
June through August
- Make sure your final high school transcript is sent to the school you will be attending.
- Louisiana students interested in the TOPS Scholarship Program must submit the 2012-2013 FAFSA no later than June 30, 2012
- Make sure to attend New Student Orientation .
- Getting a summer job can help pay some of your college expenses. Check out the resources on our Student Employment page.
- At Loyola, the first bills for fall semester are normally mailed out around July 15.
- Submit all needed documents to finalize your financial aid award. Starting in late spring, students will be able to access their records on our new financial aid processing system, "PowerFAIDS" .
- Students who will be borrowing funds through the Federal Direct Student Loan Program will need to complete a Master Promissory Note and a Loan Entrance Counseling session .
- Students who will be borrowing funds through the Federal Perkins Loan Program will need to complete a Master Promissory Note and a Loan Entrance Counseling session. We will notify you later in the summer when your loan paperwork will be available.
It is important that you make wise financial choices as you begin college.
- Review our Money Management Tips for Undergraduates .
- Check out how you can save money on textbooks.
Information for Parents
Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service. It's important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military.
A chart of who must register is also available.
Updated February 24, 2012