High School "To Do" List - Senior

Senior-year tasks

* Meet with your school guidance counselor early in the year to discuss your plans.
* Continue to develop your advocacy skills and to polish study skills.
* Learn about what faculty members in college will expect from you.
* Continue exploring possible college majors that are consistent with your career goal and your strengths and interests.
* Figure out how you learn best and how this will help you in college.
* Find out how to get accommodations in college. It’s a very different process from high school!
* Role-play talking with professors about your accommodations.
* Explore assistive technology that you may need in college.
* Research the resources in your state to find a college preview event for students with disabilities. If your community has this type of event, plan on attending.
* Role-play college interviews with counselors, family members and teachers.
* Finalize your “Going To College” portfolio so that it contains at least the following:
o Copies of your psychological and educational evaluations
o Transcripts
o ACT or SAT scores
o Your medical records (if appropriate)
o A writing sample or other work samples related to your choice of a major
o Your letters of recommendation from teachers and employers
o The current list of academic accommodations and auxiliary aids and services you may need in college (be sure to include assistive technologies)
* Visit colleges (start early in the year):
o Visit the college Web site and look at the admissions office to see when college tours are offered.
o Be prepared when you visit colleges to write or talk about your experiences.
o Admissions officers will provide information about admissions procedures and financial aid opportunities.
o Take your “Going To College” portfolio with you to share with disability service providers, if appropriate.
o Evaluate the disability services, service provider and staff.
o Talk with college students receiving disability support services about their experiences.
* Compare the various colleges and think about living in the campus community (e.g., housing, social activities, classrooms, leisure activities, services for students with disabilities and athletic activities).
* Apply to two or more of your preferred colleges — choose one that is a “reach” or your “dream” school, one where you expect to be accepted and one where you KNOW you can be accepted.
* Prepare your applications carefully, paying close attention to the instructions and deadlines. Be neat. Be accurate.
* When accepted, consider attending the pre-admission summer program (if available). It will be worth your time and ease the process when classes start in the fall.
* Take the SAT again, if appropriate.
* Send a thank you note to the individuals who wrote you recommendation letters.
* If not done in your junior year, contact the vocational rehabilitation counselor to determine your eligibility for DRS services while in college.