Senior year is fun, exciting, and stressful. This list should help you keep everything you need to do for college, financial aid, and scholarship applications in one place. If you keep things in order, our hope is that you'll not only survive your senior year, but thrive in it.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. -Maya Angelou

Trust the Trajectory

Basically, this means to trust the timeline. For example, if you're applying exclusively to community colleges, you really don't have to apply until January or February. Really.

Another example is about financial aid: the absolute deadline is March 2nd, but we want all of you to be completely done with your Financial Aid Applications by the end of October, regardless of where you're planning on going for college or how much money your family makes.

Please read through the whole checklist so you know what's coming, but focus only on the current month or two. Talk to your TRiO advisor and school counselor with any questions.

You've got this!

Your Timeline

Click each month below to see your to-do list. For a printable copy, download this pdf: TRIO Senior Checklist and Timeline. pdf.

Additionally, to compare college options, please download this link to review different options among: California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, and Private/Ivy League Colleges and Universities.

With this timeline in mind, please make sure to add these deadlines to your calendar:

California State University (CSUs) Application: Oct 1.-Nov. 30

University of California (UCs) Application: Aug. 1- Nov. 30

Common Application Private/Ivy League Universities and Colleges: Typically due early January (Depends on every school, and Deadlines Differ for Priority Deadline Submissions)

Click Next to start learning about some adult skills you need to learn to succeed after high school!