University of St. Thomas : Saint Paul, Minnesota

Countdown to College for High School Students

Are you a Transfer Student?

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Sophomore
Month Category Description
June       Minnesota Private College Week is a great way to see numerous private colleges in Minnesota.
September - August       Start researching colleges online; sign up to get on mailing lists of schools in which you are interested.
September - August       Find a good balance between involvement in school and community activities and earning good grades. Both are important for earning future scholarships but having a strong academic record is the most important thing schools consider for admission and merit-based scholarships.
September - August       Save your money! You’ll be glad you saved money from your part-time jobs when it comes time to buy books and pay tuition.
September - August       If your relatives are asking what you’d like for birthday or holiday gifts, consider asking them to contribute to your 529 plan or college savings fund.

Junior
Month Category Description
September - August       Junior year is really the best time to start looking at schools; remember, it is never too early to start the college search process.
September - August      

There are two types of visits in which you can participate:

Events - Attending an event is a broad, but informative way to learn about college life at the schools you are considering.  Many schools offer events that allow you and your family the chance to attend breakout sessions, meet students and members of the campus community and tour the campus.  You can find event dates and more information on schools’ Web sites.

Personal Visit - A personalized visit for a high school junior typically includes a campus tour and an informational meeting with an admissions counselor. This is an opportunity to become familiar with life on a college campus and ask specific questions at each school you are considering about the application process, academics and financing your college education. Personal visits are tailored to you and your specific interests.
November       Fall Junior Visit Day (FJVD) is a great way to get a first look at St. Thomas!
September - August       Contact admission offices to schedule your college visits.
April - August       Register for the ACT or SAT.  Many students choose to take these standardized tests more than once.
April - August       Create a list of the qualities that are important to you in a potential college (academic programs, location, size, internship options, extracurricular opportunities, etc). Click here for an example template.
April - August       Check out the Web sites of schools that rise to the top of your list.  Request information from those schools either online or by calling the school directly.
April - August       Talk to students from your high school that attend or plan to attend the school(s) in which you’re interested.  Find out what led them to enroll at that particular school.  Think about scheduling a visit to determine for yourself if a school is right for you.
April - May       By now you have hopefully been able to visit at least a few schools. If you have not yet visited St. Thomas, consider attending Spring Junior Visit Day (SJVD).
April - August       If you attended our Fall Junior Visit Day, come back to campus for a personal visit. Contact our admissions office to schedule your personal visit.
April - August      

Research scholarships.  You are eligible to apply for many local community scholarships the summer before your senior year. By doing these now, it will save you time and energy during your busy senior year. Utilize the resources available from your local library, Web sites such as www.fastweb.com, your high school guidance office, parents’ work, your employer and church.
April - August       Learn about all the different parts of financial aid. Visit our financial aid basics page.
June       Minnesota Private College Week is a great way to see numerous private colleges in Minnesota.

Senior
Month Category Description
September       Attend college fairs. This is a great way to make initial contact with your admissions counselor!
September      

Contact admissions offices to schedule your personal college visits. You can request:

-A campus tour
-One-on-one meeting with your admissions counselor
-Sit in on a class
-Enjoy a meal in the cafeteria or an on-campus restaurant
-Meet a professor or faculty member
-Speak with a coach
-Talk with current students about their experiences
September       Check admission deadlines at the colleges you are considering. St. Thomas operates on a rolling admissions basis meaning that we review applications and get back to students right away. Some schools have early action or early decision programs.
September       Keep studying!  Colleges will look at your senior schedule and grades when you apply.
September       Have you taken the ACT or SAT?  If not, register to take the ACT and/or SAT this fall.
October       Fall Tommie Days happens in mid-October. Check out campus and attend an activities fair with academic departments and student organizations available to answer all your questions.
October       Meet with admissions counselors when they visit your high school.
October      

Send your ACT and/or SAT test scores to the schools you are considering. 

The University of St. Thomas’ code number for the ACT is 2102 and the SAT code is 6110.
October       Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches and employers.
October       Complete your college admission essay for each application you plan to submit.  Have your English teacher read over your essay and give input. Consider submitting one of your best writing samples to schools that (like St. Thomas) will accept a writing sample in place of an essay.
October       While there is no deadline to apply for admission to UST, we are on rolling admission which means that we review applications and admit students until our class is full.
October       Submit college applications! St. Thomas’ online application can be found at: www.stthomas.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply
November       Continue visiting colleges. Don’t forget to eat lunch on campus!
November       Make a personal calendar of all the deadlines you need to remember.  When are applications due?  When should you apply for certain scholarships?  Don’t miss those deadlines!
November       Research scholarships. Utilize the resources available from your local library, Web sites like www.fastweb.com, your high school guidance office, parents’ work, your employer and church.
November       Get some great scholarship information from our Web site at: www.stthomas.edu/financialservices/undergraduate/.
December       Apply for outside funding or scholarships (you’ll be busy writing essays!)
December       Respond immediately to any requests for additional information from colleges to which you’ve applied.
January       Go online (parents and students) to www.pin.ed.gov to secure your U.S. Department of Education PIN (Personal Identification Numbers) which you will use as your electronic signature when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  
January       Collect family tax information and file your taxes as soon as possible.  Each school has its own priority deadline for financial aid (St. Thomas’ is April 1).  Be sure to file your FAFSA by this date.
January       After January 1 or as soon as you file your federal taxes, you should file your FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  You can obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).  Be sure to indicate all the schools you would like to receive your information.  The FAFSA school code for St. Thomas is 002345.
January       Be wary of Web sites or services that charge a fee for financial aid.  Filing the FAFSA is free.
February       Keep in contact with your admissions counselor.  This person is available to help you through the college admission process and knows about all the deadlines, forms and important events.
February       If you are taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, register to take the tests to receive college credit.
February       Ask schools about confirming and housing deposits.  St. Thomas requires a $200 deposit to reserve a space in the class and a $200 deposit to reserve a space in a residence hall.  Housing assignments are based on the date we receive your housing deposit.  These deposits are refundable, if requested in writing by May 1.
March       Revisit the colleges you are considering.  If you haven’t done so already, consider an overnight visit and check out all the options for living on campus.
March       Respond immediately when a college’s financial aid office requests information.
April       It’s time to make a decision! May 1 is the deadline for many colleges. Make sure you have submitted your deposits to the school of your choice.
April       Notify the schools you will not be attending.
May       Enjoy your final weeks of high school!

Accepted to UST
Month Category Description
November       Continue visiting colleges. Don’t forget to eat lunch on campus!
November       Make a personal calendar of all the deadlines you need to remember.  When are applications due?  When should you apply for certain scholarships?  Don’t miss those deadlines!
November       Research scholarships. Utilize the resources available from your local library, Web sites like www.fastweb.com, your high school guidance office, parents’ work, your employer and church.
November       Get some great scholarship information from our Web site at: www.stthomas.edu/financialservices
November/December       Consider an overnight visit.  This is the best way to experience campus life. Facts and statistics about schools are important; equally important is how you feel on campus. Overnight visits include seeing the residence halls, attending a class, meeting faculty members and talking with students. 
December       Apply for outside funding or scholarships (you’ll be busy writing essays!)
December       Respond immediately to any requests for additional information from colleges to which you’ve applied.
January       Go online (parents and students) to www.pin.ed.gov to secure your U.S. Department of Education PIN (Personal Identification Numbers) which you will use as your electronic signature when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  
January       Collect family tax information and file your taxes as soon as possible.  Each school has its own priority deadline for financial aid (St. Thomas’ is April 1).  Be sure to file your FAFSA by this date.
January       After January 1 or as soon as you file your federal taxes, you should file your FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  You can obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).  Be sure to indicate all the schools you would like to receive your information.  The FAFSA school code for St. Thomas is 002345.
January       Be wary of Web sites or services that charge a fee for financial aid.  Filing the FAFSA is free.
February       Keep in contact with your admissions counselor. This person is available to help you through the college admission process and knows about all the deadlines, forms and important events.
February       If you are taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, register to take the tests to receive college credit.
February       Ask schools about confirming and housing deposits.  St. Thomas requires a $200 deposit to reserve a space in the class and a $200 deposit to reserve a space in a residence hall.  Housing assignments are based on the date we receive your housing deposit.  These deposits are refundable, if requested in writing by May 1.
March       The Residence Life Event offers you the chance to tour all of the dorms available to you.  Get a glimpse of where you might be living next year!
March       If you are unable to attend the Residence Life Event, we offer residence hall tours every afternoon in the spring.
March       Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will either be sent to you electronically or by mail.  You will receive your SAR 1-3 weeks after you file the FAFSA.
March       Revisit the colleges you are considering.  If you haven’t done so already, consider an overnight visit and check out all the options for living on campus.
March       Respond immediately when a college’s financial aid office requests information.
April       It’s time to make a decision!   May 1 is the deadline for many colleges.  Make sure you have submitted your deposits to the school of your choice. 
April       Notify the schools you will not be attending.
May      

Enjoy your final weeks of high school!
June       Ask your guidance counselor to send your final high school transcript to the school you’ve chosen to attend.
June       Make sure to complete any immunization and health forms that are required.
June       Watch for information about summer orientation.
July       Attend orientation and registration. Meet your new college classmates and register for classes.
July       Watch for housing assignments and roommate information to arrive in the mail.
August       Share your new college e-mail and mailing addresses with family and friends.
September       Good luck in your first year of college! We encourage you to get involved, meet new people, try as many new things as possible…and don’t forget to study!