You are now ready to apply to college! What do you need to do?
Your ETS advisor will review the following guides and curriculum with you over the course of senior year, so you won't miss anything! But parents & students, please feel free to take a look through things own your own. This is all here and available for your benefit!
This is below as well in the "first-meeting" tab- but here is our comprehensive ETS Senior Checklist. It is so important, we don't want you to miss it!
Check our comprehensive senior checklist. See a graphic version below.
Your first ETS meeting of senior year is all about getting you ready for college—with support every step of the way.
Here’s what we’ll do:
- Catch Up & Get Started: We’ll check in about your summer, complete your senior intake form, and walk through key resources on the ETS website.
- Review Your Classes & Transcript: We’ll make sure you're on track academically and note any Running Start or dual enrollment classes you’re taking.
- Update Your College & Career Plans: We’ll talk about your intended major and career interests, and help you build a strong college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools.
- Plan for Applications & Financial Aid: We’ll go over the college timeline and help you plan for deadlines, the Common App, and financial aid. If you're taking or retaking the SAT or ACT, we’ll talk about study tools and how to get a fee waiver.
- Explore Scholarships: You’ll learn how to qualify for College Board’s Big Future Scholarships just by completing key steps—like building your college list and adding 3 scholarships to your search.
By the end of this meeting, you’ll have a clear plan and tools to move forward with confidence. We’re excited to support you this year!
Below are additional items your advisor will review with you in your first meeting to make sure you are ready for the college, financial aid & scholarship application processes!
- ETS Financial Aid Checklist
- Creating an FSA ID Information Sheet (account required to fill out the FAFSA)
- ETS College List Tracking Spreadsheet
- Common App Guide
- SAT & ACT Information (if you are planning to take either test again). If you aren't sure whether you should or not, talk to your ETS advisor about it!
What to Expect at Your October-November ETS Senior Meeting
At this meeting, we focus on making sure your college applications and financial aid plans are on track as deadlines approach.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Application Progress: We’ll review your college application status, including whether you’re applying early action or early decision, and discuss all application deadlines. We’ll also cover any extra essay prompts or specific requirements schools may have. The goal is to have applications ready to submit by the end of December so you can focus on scholarships afterward.
- Financial Aid Preparation: We’ll talk about the FAFSA process, which can be complicated and depends on your family’s situation—especially which parent(s) need to create an FSA ID to file. We’ll help you create your FSA ID (for you and the appropriate parent). If we can’t finish it together, we’ll show you how to do it at home using resources on the ETS website. We’ll also discuss if the CSS Profile is required for your colleges.
- College List & Deadlines: We’ll review your college list and make sure you know each school’s financial aid deadlines. Some schools have early FAFSA deadlines, so staying on top of those is important.
- Scholarships: We’ll remind you to check the ETS scholarship spreadsheet for scholarships with early deadlines and encourage you to keep applying.
This meeting helps you stay ahead in the application and financial aid process, reducing stress as senior year moves forward.
What to Expect at Your December ETS Senior Meeting Senior Meeting
We’ll cover:
- Grades & College Applications
- Senior year grades matter! If Q1 grades weren’t great, we may recommend applying after Q2 to show improvement.
- Check your application status & deadlines- ideally have all applications submitted by December 31st, regardless as to deadlines.
- Financial Aid Basics
- How college is paid for: grants, scholarships, and loans.
- Understanding your SAI, financial need, and possible gaps.
- Sample financial aid award letters.
- FAFSA
- Check your colleges’ FAFSA deadlines.
- If you haven’t done your student portion, we’ll work on it today.
- CSS Profile (for certain colleges)
- We’ll show you how to complete it on the College Board website and review the deadline. This form can take a while and requires information from your parent(s), so DO NOT wait until the last minute. Colleges will not be flexible on their deadlines.
- Scholarships
- Preview of more work to come on this in January! For now, you can continue to check out the ETS scholarship page!
What to Expect at Your January & February ETS Senior Meeting Senior Meeting
We’ll cover:
1. Financial Aid Progress
- If you haven’t filed your FAFSA or CSS Profile yet, we’ll work on that together.
- We’ll review the ETS Senior financial aid packet and make sure you understand your SAI and next steps.
- Keep checking your email and college portals for:
- Admission decisions
- Financial aid updates or verification requests
- Financial Aid Award Letters- share all of these with your ETS advisor!
2. Scholarships
- Review ETS scholarship list and create your personal scholarship plan.
- Learn about and (if eligible) create accounts for:
- NH Charitable Foundation
- Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
- Get tips to stay organized and meet deadlines.
3. Grades & Applications
- End of Q2 grades can impact admissions – we’ll check your progress.
- Share any college acceptances with your ETS advisor.
As you move through your final semester of high school, your TRIO ETS advisor will continue to support you with college, financial aid, and scholarship decisions. Here’s what you can expect in your March and April meetings:
March: Financial Aid & Scholarships
By March, most students will have received college admission decisions and financial aid award letters. These can be confusing, and your advisor will help you review them carefully so you understand the true cost of each school.
Key Focus Areas:
- College Acceptances & Financial Aid Awards
Review your award letters with your advisor to compare real costs across schools. Don’t rush to pay a deposit—colleges must hold your spot until May 1st. - Scholarship Applications
Keep applying! Priority scholarships this month include New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF) and the Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship. - Financial Literacy
You’ll go over the Senior Financial Literacy Packet, which covers making smart financial decisions while choosing a college and managing money once you get there.
April: Final Decisions & Next Steps
April is the time to finalize your college plans and prepare for enrollment.
Key Focus Areas:
- Choosing Your College
Work with your advisor to review costs, award packages, and any funding gaps. Think long-term—how much will loans add up to over four years? - Scholarships
NHCF applications are due in April (exact date varies- TBD 2026), so make sure yours is submitted! - Enrollment Tasks
Your advisor can walk you through:- Paying or deferring your enrollment deposit (if cost is a barrier, many colleges can waive or defer this fee).
- Registering for housing and meal plans (if living on campus).
- Setting up payment plans for your fall bill.
- Student Loans
If you’re borrowing federal loans, you’ll need to complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov. These steps only take about 30 minutes but are required before your college can apply loans to your account.
Ongoing Support
Even after you graduate, TRIO ETS will continue to check in with you over the summer and into your first year of college. You’ll always have someone to reach out to for help with financial aid, enrollment, or anything that comes up.
In your final ETS meetings of high school, your advisor will help you tie up loose ends and get fully ready for the transition to college. These months are critical — many students who plan to attend college don’t make it to the first day because of missed deadlines or overlooked requirements (this is called “summer melt”). Your advisor will make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
May: Confirming Enrollment & Taking Final Steps
Key Focus Areas:
- College Choice & Orientation
Confirm your enrollment, pay or defer your deposit, and make sure you’re signed up for orientation (different from admitted student days). - Financial Aid & Loans
Accept your financial aid package in your student portal. If you’re taking loans, complete Entrance Counseling and your Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov. Your advisor will also talk with you about loan repayment basics. - Housing, Dining & Paperwork
Register for housing and meal plans, and submit all required forms (transcripts, immunization records, ID photos, etc.). - Health Insurance Waiver
If you don’t complete your college’s waiver on time, you may be charged $1,000+ for health insurance. Your advisor will help you check deadlines so you don’t get caught off guard. - Placement Tests
If your college requires the Accuplacer or other placement tests, your advisor will make sure you’re signed up. - Financial Literacy & Paying the Gap
Review your Senior Financial Literacy Packet, discuss how to budget for books and living costs, and explore options like work-study.
June: Avoiding Summer Melt & Looking Ahead
Key Focus Areas:
- Deadlines & Reminders
Double-check all paperwork, payments, and requirements before summer begins. Missing even one deadline can delay or prevent your enrollment. - Summer Melt Prevention
Your advisor will help you make a personalized checklist to stay on track:- Monitor your college email regularly.
- Submit health and financial forms by their deadlines.
- Confirm your housing, dining, and orientation details.
- Final Evaluation & Senior Newsletter
You’ll complete your ETS Senior Evaluation and receive a newsletter with summer reminders and resources. - Staying Connected
Your advisor will make it clear: “We are not done yet.” ETS will continue to check in with you over the summer and into your first year of college.
Ongoing Support
TRIO ETS isn’t just for high school — we’ll stay with you as you make the leap to college. From financial aid to paperwork to orientation prep, we’ll help you every step of the way so you start your college journey with confidence.
