January

February

• As you submit these forms to various colleges, follow up to make sure all paperwork has been received.
• Keep looking for more scholarships. Churches, civic organizations and philanthropists could be possible sources of funding.
• Check in with a high school guidance counselor to see if more scholarship opportunities have come in.

March

• Follow up on any scholarship applications submitted in the fall if you have not yet received an award notification.
• By now you should have received your Student Aid Report (SAR), which summarizes the data you reported on your FAFSA. Check it to make sure it is accurate.
• If there are mistakes or if you have not received your SAR, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

April

• Continue to follow up on scholarship and financial aid applications you've submitted. Look out for responses to applications in the mail.
• Look for acceptance deadlines on any scholarship or financial aid awards. The student might have to formally accept the scholarship or financial aid by a certain date.
• Compare the amount of financial aid awarded to the cost of tuition.

May

• Fill out student loan applications if loans are part of the student's financial aid package.
• Continue following up on scholarship applications if you have not yet received notification.
• If you do receive additional scholarships, let the student's chosen college's financial aid office know about them. They might adjust the financial aid package that they offer accordingly.

June

• Keep looking for scholarship opportunities being awarded by local businesses and groups.
• Get a summer job to generate more money for college.

July

• Continue looking for last-minute scholarship money or look for scholarships that can be applied for in the fall to help pay for the student's second year of college.

August

• Look for back-to-school sales to help pay for school supplies.
• Start packing.