To-do list
Freshmen
- Meet with your school counselor and select classes that will fulfill graduation requirements.
- Work on developing good study habits.
- Find a sport or activity you love and take steps toward becoming a leader at your high school.
- Become active in high school clubs, youth groups, or community service organizations.
- Consider attending the Alaska Summer Research Academy, the Visual Art Academy, the Summer Leadership Institute or the Summer Music Academy at UAF over the summer!
Sophomores
- Make sure you are progressing in the coursework needed for graduation and speak with your counselor about what high school courses are needed to satisfy entrance requirements for most colleges.
- If your freshman grades weren't stellar, now is the time to start bringing up your GPA. Colleges like to see steady improvement and a good attendance record.
- Talk to your counselor about registering for the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) this year or next.
- Continue with extracurricular activities and volunteerism.
- Start researching careers that may interest you. Search career options on the Internet or speak with adults you know about their career paths and choices.
- Take your local High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) as soon as it's offerred.
- Talk to your parents about visiting a college campus wherever your family vacation takes you to see what college is all about.
- Think about taking a UAF summer class, the Summer Leadership Institute or participating in one of UAF's great summer academies!
- Get a bank account and start saving money for college!
Juniors
- Make sure your coursework is on track and take challenging classes, including AP (Advanced Placement) classes. They are more challenging but successful completion may give you college credit.
- Register for the PSAT given in October. This test establishes your eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Retake your local/Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) if you weren't proficient in all areas as a sophomore. Alaska's exam is offered biannually in fall and spring for those who haven't yet taken or passed it. Students outside of Alaska check with your high school.
- Start contacting colleges you are interested in and request information packets. Attend local career days, college fairs and financial aid workshops. If you don't know where to start, check out www.educationplanner.org for help.
- Check out our Discover UAF open house series.
- Schedule dates to take the ACT Plus Writing, SAT or both tests, depending on what colleges you are considering.
- See your advisor for an NCAA clearinghouse form if you want to play sports in college.
- Need to work? Want to earn college credit? Apply for UAF Summer Sessions' Earn and Learn program. Contact UAF at 474-7584 for more info.
- If you have an interest in science and haven't yet participated in UAF's Alaska Summer Research Academy, apply by March 1. You can live on campus during the 11-day summer program or attend as a commuter student.
- Consider attending UAF's Summer Leadership Institute, a one-week summer experience designed to develop leadership skills for students finishing grades 9-12.
- If you are a rural student or AK Native, think about participating in UAF's RAHI (Rural Alaska Honors Institute) or Upward Bound programs this summer.
- Make use of your summer vacation to visit colleges you are considering. Research what college preview days are planned for the summer or upcoming fall.
Seniors
September
- Identify the colleges that interest you.
- Call, write or do web research for information on admissions requirements and financial procedures.
- Register for the SAT/ACT Plus Writing test.
- Register for the ACCUPLACER test.
Required for all entering associate and certificate degree students planning to take a 100-level written or math course. - Schedule a college visit.
October
- Take the ACT Plus Writing or SAT test.
- Take the ACCUPLACER or ASSET tests.
- Meet with a UAF admissions counselor at your high school or check with your guidance counselor for details.
- Ask teachers and guidance counselors for letters of recommendation.
- Attend a financial aid workshop in Fairbanks or find out more about financial aid.
- Attend UAF's Inside Out preview days.
- Spring admission? Apply now!
November
- Take the ACT Plus Writing or SAT test if you're not happy with your previous scores. If you take the SAT, plan to take the writing skills portion.
- Send test scores to the colleges on your list.
December
- Apply for admission to UAF. Early applications are required if applying for scholarships.
- Begin working on scholarship applications.
January
- Parents and students--complete your income tax forms as soon as possible.
- To meet UAF's scholarship priority deadline:
- complete the FAFSA online as soon after January 1 as possible. Be sure to include UAF's Title IV Code, 001063, on the FAFSA. Use estimated income tax information if you have not filed your tax forms. Follow instructions for signature requirements, use appropriate social security numbers on all applications, and make copies of all documents,
- submit the supplemental scholarship application, and
- apply for admission to UAF if you have not already done so.
- If not applying for scholarships, please fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible for loans and other financial aid.
- Visit financial aid's website for more information.
February
- Complete UAF scholarship application prior to February 15.
- Join us for our Saturday Information Sessions. Call an Admissions Counselor for more information, 800-478-1823 or 907-474-7500. Sessions occur on select Saturdays, February to August.
March
- Review your Student Aid Report (SAR), which will be sent to you from the federal processor if you applied for aid. If necessary, make corrections on the SAR and return it to the processor. To check on the status of your FAFSA, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243 or go to their website at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- Attend UAF's Inside Out preview days.
- Attend MajorMania.
- Registration is open for Summer Sessions.
April
- Look for your financial aid and scholarship award letters in the mail.
- Watch for the Trail Guide (PDF) to arrive in the mail.
- Visit the admitted student page.
- Complete and submit all forms for admitted students including your:
- housing application and agreement
- dining services contract
- health inventory and immunization record
- residency form
- post office mailbox registration
- FERPA release form (this form is optional)
- Sign up for New Student Orientation.
- Set up an appointment via phone or e-mail with your academic advisor.
- Register early and pay for classes online at UAOnline.
May-July
- Congratulations on your graduation!
- Turn in your official high school transcript (with graduation date) and/or college transcripts, and any requested test scores.
- Haven't toured campus yet? Summer is a great time to join us.
- Make an appointment with an advisor to pick classes.
- Class registration for fall semester begins in early April so pick your classes now!
- Consider attending UAF's Summer Leadership Institute, a one-week summer experience designed to develop leadership skills for students finishing grades 9-12.
- Summer Sessions classes begin.
August-September
- Begin attending class: Fall 2010, Sept. 2; Spring 2011, Jan. 20.
- Purchase books online.
- Pay tuition and fees or arrange for a payment plan by the last day of registration to avoid late fees.
Are you in 9th, 10th or 11th grade?
Visit these sites for more information on going to college:
- Go To College, the University of Alaska's resource site
- University of Alaska future students site
- KnowHow2Go, a resource for going to college
Nanook college planning tips
- 4 years of English,
- 3-4 years of college prep math (at least to Algebra II),
- 3-4 years of natural science (physics, chemistry, biology),
- 3 years of a social science (political science, history),
- 1-2 years of a foreign language.
Get involved in your community and with extra-curricular activities such as athletics, volunteerism, and after school clubs (lots of scholarships are awarded for both academic achievement and extra-curricular involvement).