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College Preparedness: Home

This is to help high school students and their families know what to expect in the college transition process.

Welcome Pre-College Students!

For the Spanish version, click here

 

Congratulations!

If you are reviewing this research guide, you are considering attending college or a university. This guide will help you successfully begin exploring resources and information about your education. This guide contains important general information about admission deadlines, scholarships, standardized testing (i.e. the ACT or SAT), and more!  This tool provides an overview of the necessary steps towards getting admitted to any college or university and information that should encourage and provide confidence in your efforts for higher education.

Thank you for exploring!

Message from Thura Mack, Coordinator for Community Learning Services & Diversity Programs

Getting Started

The first step is figuring out which college works best for you. The following sites have tools that will help you research and search for colleges based on what programs they offer, their location, whether they are public or private, and more.

Things to consider when looking for colleges:

  • Do they offer the degree you want
  • Location
  • Price
  • Housing

Monthly To-do List for College Application

 

To-do List

August/September

Begin to apply to college:

  • Order a copy of your current transcript
  • Contact teachers to write recommendation letters (3)
  • Begin to work on personal statement for college/scholarship applications
October/November
  • You should have applied to at least 1 college
  • Secure recommendation letters
  • Students & parents visit college campus
December
  • Students should follow up with college on application status
  • Parents prepare needed documents to complete FAFSA in January
January/February
  • Students/parents should complete FAFSA by its deadline to get maximum amount of aid (Remember to create FSA ID Student/Parent)
March/April
  • Students confirms attendance to college
  • Request Award letter from college financial aid office
  • Apply to college housing and pay application fees
May/June
  • High school graduation
*To explore more about government funded Financial Aid, check out FAFSA and TN Promise Scholarship.
 

Instruction Librarian

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Thura Mack
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Contact:
552 Hodges Library
Knoxville TN 37996
865. 974. 6381
tmack@utk.edu