High School! It's never too early to start planning!

Freshman Year (Spring)

• While selecting fall courses, review with your guidance counselor the minimum requirements for university admission and adjust your schedule if necessary. It is important to make sure that the courses follow the high school’s college preparatory curriculum. (This review should be repeated each time you select courses.)

• LSSU recommends you follow a college prepatory curriculum mirroring the Michigan Merit Curriculum.  This program requires:

4 credits of English

4 credits of math (including Algebra I and II; geometry; and 1 credit during senior year)

3 credits of science (including biology, physics or chemistry, and one additional credit)

3 credits of social science

1 credit of physical education & health

1 credit of visual, performing or applined arts

1 credit of online coursework

Please see www.michigan.gov/highschool for additional details.

 

Sophomore Year (Spring)

• Take the Preliminary ACT (PLAN) as preparation for the ACT.

Junior Year

Spring

• Assess your reasons for going to college. What are your goals?
• Make a list of factors that are important to you in choosing a college, including two-year vs. four-year, location, cost, atmosphere and variety of programs offered.
• What learning opportunities are most important to you?
• Do your college plans include career plans? What are your career interests?
• Discuss with counselors, teachers, parents and friends.
• Develop a list of institutions that possess characteristics you identified as important. Sources of information include: college catalogs, viewbooks, DVDs, college representatives, current students, guidance counselors, teachers, handbooks, computerized information systems, Web sites and open houses. (Request LSSU information today!: www.lssu.edu/admissions/inquire)
• Attend college fairs; meet with university representatives visiting your school. Consider all universities that match your personal inventory.
• Register and take the ACT or SAT I. Results should be received within a month.
  • LSSU school’s ACT code is 2031
  • LSSU school’s SAT code is 1421

Summer

• Visit universities. Schedule your visit to LSSU (www.lssu.edu/visit) , at least two weeks in advance and specify things you would like to do:
  • Take a campus tour
  • Interact with students and faculty
  • Attend classes
  • Investigate your academic, co-curricular and athletic areas of interest
  • Verify admission process and criteria
  • Discuss scholarship and financial aid procedures
  • Discuss your own admission potential.

  You should allow at least three hours for each visit and try to schedule a meal in the student dining area. Be sure to be on time, dress neatly and arrive with specific questions (refer to important characteristics you developed earlier). Family vacations are an excellent time for initial visits to university campuses.

  During your visit, keep a record of important features, such as class size, extracurricular activities, financial aid and scholarship deadlines, and contacts for admissions and financial aid.
• Take/retake ACT/SAT (if you would like to improve your spring scores or have not taken them yet).
• Begin your scholarship search. Research Web sites, books and within your community.
• Talk with parents about scholarships that may be available through their employers.
• Identify university characteristics important to you:
  • Majors and educational programs
  • Type of school
  • Location and size
  • University accreditation and academic reputation

Senior Year

Fall

• Make note (on your calendar) of admission, financial aid and scholarship deadlines.
• Consider sitting in on a class and talking with current students. (A good time to do this is during Fall Fling at LSSU)
• Request admission applications. (Request application from LSSU or apply On-Line at www.lssu.edu/applying)
• Attend financial aid workshops. (LSSU offers on-campus workshops)
• Review, with your guidance counselor, scholarships offered by community.
• Check reference books and computer programs at your high school or library for other sources of scholarships and grants.
• Meet university representatives at your school. (LSSU Advisor schedules: www.lssu.edu/admissions/advisors )
• Finalize the list of universities to which you will apply for admission.
• Take/retake ACT/SAT (if you would like to improve your previous scores or have not taken them yet).
• Submit your application to your high school guidance counselor. They must submit your official transcript and ACT/SAT scores.

Winter

• Be aware of and meet deadlines for private aid.
• Apply for Federal Aid. Deadlines vary. To ensure your aid package includes as many sources as possible, apply as soon as you can after January 1. Consult financial aid offices and www.fafsa.ed.gov for necessary forms.
• Keep up second-semester grades, and stay active in sports and the community.
• Apply for a summer internship to get a taste of a career you’re interested in.

Spring

• Request that your high school send an offical copy of your FINAL transcript to Lake State.
• Complete parents’ and your IRS 1040 Form and retain copies for financial aid file.
• Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.org) online once your federal tax returns are completed and make copies of all documents for your files. (Beginning in April, Lake State prepares financial aid awards within 10 days after files are complete.)
• March 1, for priority consideration for financial aid.
• March 1, application deadline for scholarship consideration.
• Make your final university selection by May 1.
• Study for those Advanced Placement exams in May. High scores on these tests can result in college credit, which may save you time and money once you get to college.
• Once your FAFSA has been processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Verify the information. If you need to make changes or you want the FAFSA sent to additional schools, make changes on the SAR and return the form to the processing company. (LSSU applicants, accept Official Offer of Award)

Summer

• Attend Orientation program. (Register for LSSU Orientation: www.lssu.edu/orientation/)
• Pay housing deposit (At LSSU, payment is due June 15)
• Get ready for the residence halls. Talk to future roommates and current students, and scour garage sales for supplies.
• Work an internship to keep your mind stimulated and decide if that path is something you’d like to explore in college.
• Choose Payment Plan that works for you and your family.
• You will receive your first-term tuition, residence hall and dining bill.