Scholarship Timeline
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from Marianne Ragins, $400,000 Scholarship Winner
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Expert Scholarship Information
from Marianne Ragins, $400,000 Scholarship Winner
The following timeline is for high school seniors. For more
on activities you should complete to increase your
scholarship chances beginning in 7th grade on through to
your 1st year of college, refer to Chapter 27 in Winning
Scholarships for College. You should also review The
Scholarship Monthly Planner for more help staying on top of
deadlines and activities important to your scholarship
success.
SPECIAL NOTE: All chapter references in the timeline refer to the 3rd edition of
Winning Scholarships for College unless otherwise noted.
SEPTEMBER (for High School Seniors)

  • Go to the library and conduct research. Gather scholarship organization
    addresses. (Chapter 2 – "Research: Discovering Hidden Treasures")
  • Search the Internet and the World Wide Web for scholarships. (Chapter 3 – "The
    Internet Scholarship Search")
  • Write two inquiry letters. Prepare one for colleges/universities. Prepare one for
    other organizations such as companies, associations, sororities, fraternities,
    etc. (Chapter 2 – "Research: Discovering Hidden Treasures"). Click here for a
    sample letter to use with other organizations.
  • Send letters.
  • Call or write local organizations. (Chapter 4 - "Finding Scholarships in Your
    Backyard")
  • Register for the SAT and the ACT. Go to the Taking Tests section of The College
    ToolBox. (Chapter 8 – "Taking Tests").
  • If you haven’t been active in extracurricular and community service activities,
    start now. Continue the activities throughout your senior year. For more
    information on scholarships you can win based on community service or on how
    your service can help you win general scholarships, review Chapter 14 -
    "Scholarships and Awards for Volunteer Service and Work" in Winning
    Scholarships for College.
  • Arrange meetings with your counselor or career center director. Try to have at
    least two meetings in early fall of your senior year (Chapter 7 – "Getting the
    Most from Your Counselor").
  • You should ask for or discuss the following in your first meeting.
  • A list of local organizations that offer scholarships or awards to
    students in the community.
  • A schedule of local college fairs or visiting student or college
    representatives.
  • AP Exams. Also, discuss these with the teachers of your advanced
    placement courses.
  • Before the second meeting, you’ll need to complete your October
    activities (see list below) so you’ll have the information needed for this
    meeting. During the second meeting, discuss or ask for the following:
  • Examine your activities résumé. Make sure it’s thorough and well
    presented.
  • Give your counselor a list of the scholarships for which you’re
    planning to apply, their deadlines, whether you need a
    recommendation or a transcript sent for them, your résumé, and
    any other additional items you are planning to include with your
    applications.
  • If you have written essays for questions on scholarship
    applications you already have, review them with your counselor
    and your English teacher to see how well they think you have
    answered the questions and shown your qualities.
  • In ongoing visits to your counselor or career center director’s office, ask
    about him or her about recommendations, mid-year reports, and
    transcripts they’ve sent or are sending for you.
  • Chapter 7 of Winning Scholarships for College includes questions you should ask
    your counselor/career center director beginning in your freshman year of high
    school as well as additional meeting suggestions for your senior year in the
    Counselor Visitation Timetable.

OCTOBER (for High School Seniors)

  • Continue researching scholarship programs. Put plenty of effort into your
    scholarship search during the fall of your senior year. Remember! Most
    scholarship deadlines, particularly those for large amounts have early
    deadlines.
  • Organize all replies to your letters and the results from your Internet Search.
    Include scholarship and college applications. Create reference files and
    folders. (Chapter 6 - "Getting Organized")
  • Prepare résumé. (Chapter 9 - "Grades Don’t Mean Everything – Standing Out in a
    Crowd")
  • Prepare two basic essays describing yourself and your future career goals.
    (Chapter 11 – "Writing Perfect Essays").
  • Make a recommendations chart of teachers, advisors, and employers. (Chapter
    13 - "The Art of Getting Good Recommendations & Requesting Nominations")
  • Start applying to scholarship programs with early deadlines. Be careful about
    early decision applications to colleges and universities. The commitment many
    require if you are accepted could limit your flexibility to choose a
    college/university that may be offering more financial aid.

NOVEMBER (for High School Seniors)
  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
  • Visit colleges and college fairs. Go to the Finding a College section of this site.

DECEMBER (for High School Seniors)

  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
  • Start working on the (FAFSA). Visit the Other Resources section of The College
    ToolBox for information on the FAFSA. Do not submit it yet. You need your W2’s.
    Curious about your aid eligibility now. Use the FAFSA forecaster. Go to www.
    fafsa.ed.gov for more information.

JANUARY (for High School Seniors)
  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships.
  • As soon as W2’s are received, adjust any information needed. Then complete
    and submit the FAFSA. For certain colleges and universities, you may also need
    to complete the CSS-Financial Aid PROFILE.

FEBRUARY (for High School Seniors)
  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships.

MARCH (for High School Seniors)
  • If you’ve received financial aid award letters from colleges and universities you
    are most interested in attending and the package they are offering is not
    enough to meet your needs, make an appointment to discuss your situation
    with their financial aid offices. They may be willing to adjust your financial aid
    package based on new information from you such as a higher offer from
    another institution or extenuating circumstances in your family (Chapter 5 –
    "Help with College Expenses from the Government.")
  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships.

APRIL (for High School Seniors)
  • Continue researching and applying for scholarships, particularly local
    scholarships. May 1 is usually the scholarship deadline date for many colleges
    and universities. You should start determining the colleges and university
    financial aid packages you will accept. (Chapter 23 - "Making Choices – You’ve
    Been Awarded …Now What Do You Do?")

MAY (for High School Seniors)
  • If you didn’t get enough free college financial aid to cover your costs for four
    years initially, begin the research process for students already in college so you’
    ll be prepared for the scholarship process in your college freshman year.
    (Chapter 18 - "I’m Already In College: Are There Scholarships for Me?")