September

• Meet with your guidance counselor. Make sure you are on track to graduate.
• Check your transcript. Be sure you have the credits you need to get into the schools you want.
• Update your academic and extracurricular portfolios to reflect your courses, accomplishments and activities through your junior year.
• Begin writing your personal statement essay for admission and scholarship applications.
• Register for the October/November SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Tests required by the schools you choose.
• Contact those schools for admission applications, requirements, deadlines, fees and financial aid information.
• For early action or early decision, prepare and submit your application now.
• Ask your teachers/mentors to begin writing recommendation letters.
• Plan visits to WNC. Check the WNC online calendar for upcoming activities you might be interested in attending.
• Contact WNC if you have any questions.

October

• Apply for admissions to WNC.
• Watch for and attend college fairs.
• Take your SAT and/or ACT tests as early as possible so you can re-take them if you need to. Have your scores sent to the schools on your final list.
• For regular admission, applications are usually due by late December or early January. Start preparing your applications now.

November

• Meet with the teacher of any class that you are not doing as well as you would like and find out how you can improve your grade.
• Begin the Required Enrollment Steps for WNC.

December

• Meet with your counselor again to review your scholarship application materials prior to submitting.
• Complete scholarship application. WNC scholarship application is available online.
• Apply for the electronic PIN in order to submit the FAFSA in January.

January

• Sign up with your counselor for WNC's High School Bridge to Success program at your school.
• Don't slack off on your class work! The grades from your last term are very important even though the temptation to kick back and enjoy your last days of high school is strong.
• Complete the income tax process as soon as possible.
• Work with your parents to fill out the FAFSA and plan to submit it by February 1 to obtain the best package for your needs.
• Check with WNC's financial aid office.
• Complete scholarship application. The initial fall scholarship application deadline is April 1 and the spring scholarship deadline is December 1. Students must complete the scholarship application to be considered for a WNC scholarship.

February

• Complete and submit your federal aid application (FAFSA) as soon as possible. Submit any other financial aid applications your schools require.
• Complete the scholarship application. WNC scholarship application is available online and the fall application deadline is April 1.
• Take the Accuplacer test through the Bridge to Success program if you have not taken the SAT or ACT
• Stay focused. Keep your grades up. Polish your study skills.

March

• Don't stop studying!
• Ask your counselor about new student events held at WNC.
• Use the Internet and your school and public libraries to research college majors that may interest you.
• Continue to complete the scholarship application. WNC scholarship application is available online and the fall application deadline is April 1.

April

• Visit the career center if you are unsure what college majors fit your interests.
• Make any necessary corrections to your FAFSA and resubmit it.
• Meet with a college counselor to develop an education plan during the Bridge to Success program at your high school.
• Find out how much tuition and fees (and room and board, if you're staying in a dorm) are and when they are due.
• Request that your scores from any advanced placement exams you took be sent to WNC.

May

• Enroll in classes. At WNC we use Web-Reg, an online registration system. You can enroll through Bridge to Success at your high school or come to the Carson, Douglas, or Fallon Campus and visit Counseling office for assistance.
• Review your financial aid award package with your parents to make sure you both understand the requirements and responsibilities of each type of aid.
• Plan a budget for your anticipated expenses including books, supplies, transportation and living expenses.
• Take the AP tests for any Advanced Placement courses you've taken.
• Know when fees are due for the classes in which you've enrolled.

June

• Watch for additional information from the college
• Respond to requests for information or additional forms immediately.
• Be sure that your high school sends your final transcript to your school.
• Congratulations! You've made it through high school.
• Sign up for a WNC orientation.

July

• Review the student handbook and other materials you received at orientation to make sure you understand dates and deadlines for fee payments, when classes start, how to make changes to your class schedule and college policies and procedures. Contact WNC if you have any questions.

August

• Pay your fees if you have not already done so.
• Check Web-Reg for any changes to your fees or schedule; contact us if you have questions.
• Consider adding a study skills class to your schedule. You are going to be responsible for managing your time, making choices and decisions and this class or a college success class can provide excellent strategies for accepting these new challenges.
• Confirm your class schedule and locations of your classes. WNC offers classes throughout the community so make sure you know where your class is being taught.
• Visit the campus, meet with an counselor
• Start classes and make sure that your instructors have your name on their class rosters. If there is any question regarding your enrollment, talk to the staff in the admissions and records office.
• Get help if you need it. Adjustments to college can be stressful. Processes are different and expectations are different, so don't hesitate to talk to someone about your anxieties or difficulty adjusting. The WNC Counseling office is a terrific resource for listening and helping you learn strategies for coping.
• Remember that college staff is more than willing to answer any questions you have. Don't assume you know the answers about how to drop or change a class, how refunds work, whether your financial aid was applied correctly. Check your status on Web-Reg or ask someone!
• Enjoy your first year in college!