Senior year started off with a bang at our house when I realized exactly how much there was to do. We had no idea the amount of work that goes into doing college visits, getting applications filled out, taking the ACT as many times as it takes and starting to look for scholarships; much of which needs to happen well before senior year begins. Most colleges want applications turned in by mid-November of a young person’s senior year in order to get the most out of school sponsored scholarship programs. The bottom line is students receive scholarship funds on a first come first serve basis. That, among other things, is something most parents do not know about until they start this process. Just so I don’t forget all these crazy details by the time my 7th grader is ready to take on the challenge of getting in to college, I thought I’d start blogging about the senior year experience from a parent’s perspective. Here is hoping it helps me remember everything when it is our turn again, and that it helps some of you who are just getting started.

College Visits

It is a good idea to start these during your son or daughter’s junior year. That way it is not so early that she forgets what she likes about a particular campus, and she is not so busy with senior year that it is impossible to get away. Senior year is a busy time right out of the gate. By the time November or December rolls around, applications really need to be in. If you have not done any visits by then, plan to visit campuses as a way to make final decisions between top college choices.

ACT/SAT Testing

You can never start this learning process too early. Many school systems even offer practice ACT/SAT testing in as early as 8th grade. Take advantage of every opportunity to practice these tests, but find out which test your state looks for most often. We learned that not every state offers both tests in convenient and easy testing locations because states tend to prefer one test to the other. Michigan is predominantly an ACT Test state, so our son took the ACT Test for the first time at his own high school. Not only that, but our school has the entire junior class take the test together over the course of two mornings, while the rest of the students have a late start. It was a great testing environment in familiar surroundings.

Another ACT Test note: Do not send out your scores to any schools until you are happy with them. You have no way of knowing how your son or daughter will do on the test the first time. If you send those scores to colleges automatically, you may not be giving the best first impression. Use as many test opportunities as you need to get a first score you like. Some schools even combine scores from the various batteries to come up with the strongest composite score for admission and scholarship consideration, so it is a good idea to know what the scores are before you send them. It costs a little bit more to do it this way, but it can definitely be to your advantage in the end.

College Application Budget

One thing we did not think about ahead of time was how much money it costs to submit applications and take ACT/SAT tests. College application fees range anywhere from $35 to $50 dollars (and more in some cases), and must be submitted with the application for processing. If you apply to seven different schools as we did, this number adds up quickly. We found one school that waved the application fee if we applied before December 1, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

College tests cost each time you take them, so if you are going to test multiple times, that needs to be in your budget. In addition, if you choose to wait to send out scores, there is an additional fee for that as well.

Do not forget printing costs and travel expenses for resumes and college visits! A resume is not a requirement, but it looks good when one is included with the college application. As far as travel expenses go, try to visit more than one college per day if you are traveling a good di