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Senior year guide · College readiness
18 of these are critical — missing them means delayed admission, lost scholarships, or no financial aid. This checklist covers academics, application components, financial aid, and decision milestones for Arizona students applying to college.
Critical items (18 total) are marked with a red "Critical" badge — these directly affect admission, financial aid, or scholarship eligibility if missed. Everything else is important but recoverable.
Academic preparation
Complete required core courses (4 years English, 4 math through Algebra 2, 3 science, 3 social studies)
CriticalComplete any required foreign language years (UA/NAU require 2 years; ASU waives this)
CriticalKnow your cumulative unweighted GPA (colleges use this, not weighted)
CriticalSAT or ACT score taken at least once (test-optional is available, but a strong score expands scholarship options)
AP or dual enrollment credits pursued where available (reduces college cost, counts toward AGEC for CC students)
Senior year schedule maintains or improves your GPA — no "senior slump"
CriticalApplication components
Personal statement / main essay drafted and reviewed by a counselor or trusted adult
CriticalActivity list complete (all 4 years of extracurriculars, jobs, family responsibilities)
CriticalAt least 2 recommenders asked and briefed — before September if possible
CriticalCommon App account created (for schools that use it — UA uses it; ASU/NAU do not)
School-specific application essays drafted (ASU AY essay, UA personal statement)
CriticalOfficial transcripts requested from your high school
CriticalMid-year report process understood — some schools require your semester 1 grades
Financial aid & scholarships
FAFSA filed as early as possible after October 1 — the first day it opens for the following year
CriticalFSA ID created for both student and parent (if dependent) — required to file FAFSA
Critical5–10 outside scholarships applied to (AZ-specific: HSF, AZ Community Foundation, ACLS)
Arizona Promise (UA) or New American University Scholarship (ASU) deadlines noted
CriticalAward letter comparison planned — will review actual dollar offers before committing to a school
CriticalFee waiver applied for (Common App, SAT/ACT, CSS Profile) if family qualifies
Decision & transition
Safety, match, and reach schools identified — at least one school where admission is very likely
CriticalApplication deadlines for all schools written down (EA = Nov 1 for UA; priority merit = Dec 1 for ASU; Feb 1 for NAU)
CriticalEnrollment deposit paid by May 1 (the national decision deadline)
CriticalHousing application submitted — most schools open housing after admission, and spots fill quickly
FAFSA verification documents submitted promptly if selected
CriticalAP exams scheduled if credit will be awarded (check score cutoffs at your school)
Senior final grades and graduation confirmed with your counselor
CriticalThe 4 most common college readiness mistakes
Filing FAFSA late
State and institutional aid is awarded first-come, first-served. Every week of delay reduces your aid pool — sometimes by thousands of dollars.
Applying Regular Decision when EA was available
UA's Early Action deadline (Nov 1) is the same as the priority merit scholarship deadline. Applying EA is free and gives you more money — there's no reason to wait for RD at UA.
Senior slump after December
Colleges request your final transcript. Admission can be rescinded for a significant GPA drop. Some scholarship contracts specify a minimum GPA even for admitted students.
Not applying to outside scholarships
Most students leave money on the table by applying only to the school's institutional aid. AZ-specific scholarships (HSF, Community Foundation, ACLS, Flinn) have less competition than national awards.
Month-by-month timeline
Junior and senior year deadlines and milestones mapped out month by month.
FAFSA checklist
Everything you need before you open the FAFSA — documents, FSA ID, and common mistakes to avoid.
ASU vs UA vs NAU comparison
Decide which Arizona university is the best fit before you apply and commit.
Arizona merit scholarships
The big AZ merit awards — Flinn, Dorrance, Arizona Promise — and when to apply.