Senior Year Checklist · Postsecondary Atlas

All year

Ongoing

Complete Weekly Advisory Check-In
CHECK YOUR EMAIL, daily. Change your GC notifications settings and subscriptions, if you need to.
Create a personal Google calendar & add deadlines - link with your @nycstudents account so you can access at school
- Or… maintain a weekly & monthly planner, writing in your deadlines
Communicate! Check in regularly with:
- Yourself
- Your family
- Your advisors
Stay balanced - programs still need your grades and attendance from all of senior year; and you need your diploma
Research & apply to outside scholarships - DEADLINES are spread out and they can take some time but are worth the $$$
Make a plan to return your NYCPS device in June… apply for a free laptop or plan for a personal device for after graduation
Apply for an IDNYC card or NY State ID
Open a student checking account

Build your plan

Applications get real

$ + Submit priority applications

Finish the big application push ‼️

Financial aid + finish applications

Monitor your email and all accounts!
Follow up with documents for TAP
Any missing application requirements?
Finish regular-decision college applications and any January deadlines (1/01, 1/02, 1/05, 1/15…)
Check every college portal for missing documents, recommendations or test scores
Complete FAFSA as soon as the correct aid-year form is available and review the confirmation
Complete NYS TAP/HESC (Dream Act) steps if eligible
Continue scholarships — aim for a small number every week rather than one huge last-minute push
Apply to additional training/workforce programs and apprenticeships if these are part of your plan

Verify + apply for money

Check CUNY status and complete any missing application/supporting-document requests
Monitor your email and respond to invitations to programs like SEEK, CUNY ASAP, EOP, HEOP - your admission may depend on your response!
Check SUNY and private-college portals weekly for outstanding requirements
Review FAFSA/TAP status and respond to verification requests
Apply for scholarships with February/March deadlines
Research summer jobs, SYEP, internships and paid training
Compare apprenticeship/vocational offers or interview opportunities
Apply for an IDNYC card or NY State ID
Open a student checking account

Decisions start coming in

Record every admission decision, financial-aid update and program response
Do not assume an application is complete — check portals and emails from specific colleges
Continue scholarship applications
Compare college/program options using cost, location, program fit, support and career outcomes
Visit campuses virtually or in person when possible
Continue applying for jobs/SYEP/summer opportunities

Compare your options

Make a final comparison of admissions, financial aid and program options
Look at course sequences for your major/programs side-by-side
Ask questions about grants, scholarships, work-study, loans and remaining costs
Check housing and orientation requirements if attending college
Confirm apprenticeship/vocational enrollment steps if choosing that route
Keep a backup plan: another college, certificate, job, apprenticeship or training option
Continue applying to outside scholarships until the last appropriate deadlines

Commit + prepare

Graduate + transition

Confirm final transcript/graduation documents are sent where required
Complete college orientation, placement, immunization/health and housing tasks if applicable
Register for Fall semester classes
Schedule advising appointments and follow up if you need help!
Save your final resume, certificates, portfolio and best work samples
Share your Google Drive and important docs from your school laptop to your personal and/or college Gmail accounts
Confirm your Google calendar(s) are easy to check from all accounts, and on your phone
Make a personal "Next Steps" checklist for July/August
Celebrate: you made a plan and followed it!

Next steps