The following list offers seniors a "road map" of reminders for their final year in high school. While all of the items may not be relevant to all students, much of the information will have importance to most students.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 of your senior year. You will need a copy of the most recent year tax return to help in completing the FAFSA.
• Request a financial aid packet from the college or university you plan to attend. If you are not sure which one you will attend, request packets from your top choices. Some, but not all, schools require an institutional financial aid application. This application is used to determine which financial aid programs in which you are interested, such as Grants, Loans, or College Work-Study. In some cases it may also act as a scholarship application.
• Reply in a timely manner to any request from the financial aid office for information or additional forms to complete your application.
• If you apply for scholarships, make sure you have contacted people who may serve as references on your behalf. Let them know the importance of completing any reference forms in a timely manner, and also provide any deadline dates so they are aware of time restraints.
• Follow up on you financial aid application by contacting the financial aid office to make sure all items needed have been received.
• After you receive your award letter, review the aid offers and follow up with any additional items that may be needed for you to accept or decline the awards.

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