PrePOCS and POCS Calendar

Whether you are a prePOCS (parent of a future college student) or a POCS (parent of a college student) you are going to be very busy with college stuff. Here’s a sample listing of what your calendar may look like during your student’s senior year in high school (prePOCS) and during his college years (POCS):

PrePOCS	POCS
July Plan some Family Fun activities Collegecation: Tour colleges on student’s list Student’s college interviews, if required Compare colleges and their costs	July Plan some Family Fun activities June-August: Freshman student attends college orientation and takes college course placement exams Student contacts roommate and coordinates what to bring Prepare finances to pay college bill including taking out loans, if necessary, and consider college payment plan options, if available
August Plan some Family Fun activities Back to school shopping Collegecation: Tour colleges on student’s list Student’s college interviews, if required Continue to compare colleges and their costs	August Plan some Family Fun activities Back to school shopping Pay college bill by due date Book hotel room if staying over after exhausting move in and book for next family visit Assess quantity of student’s belongings. If they exceed size of POCS vehicle, consider renting a van Make First Night care package College move in day Scout college area for restaurants, activities, and other lodging choices. Pick up local paper for area news and events POCS/student’s siblings fun: Do something special Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior
September Final research of colleges online and in library Attend college fairs, financial aid and planning events Complete college list: Include reach, safety target and financial safety schools Final college visits/student interviews Student conducts outside scholarship search Student may register for SAT®, ACT®	September Prepare for adjustment when student goes to college POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior Student resumes scholarship search and submits applications by deadlines Student’s senior year: Consider booking hotel room, if needed, for college graduation
October Complete CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®: Only if required, submit before school’s deadline Attend college fairs, financial aid and planning events Choose college application method: Early decision (ED), early action (EA), regular, or rolling admissions. Submit applications by deadlines Student continues outside scholarship search: Submit scholarship applications by deadlines Student may take SAT®, ACT®	October Complete CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®: Only if required, submit before school’s deadline First College Family Visit: Take advantage of three-day Columbus weekend holiday (or any convenient time) to visit your student and the campus including college sponsored Fall Family Events Book hotel for next visit
November Happy Thanksgiving Continue college applications: Submit by deadlines College supplemental financial aid forms: Only if required, submit before school’s deadline Student continues outside scholarship search: Submit scholarship applications by deadlines Student may take SAT®	November Happy Thanksgiving: Prepare for school break Plan a Family Fun activity but don’t overdo Prepare for readjustment when student goes back to college POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior
December Happy Holidays Get FAFSA PINs for parent and student at www.pin.ed.gov Student outside scholarship search: Submit scholarship applications by deadlines Student may take SAT®, ACT	December Happy Holidays Send exam care package Happy end of semester: Prepare for first extended home visit
January Happy New Year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Submit before school’s deadline at www.fafsa.ed.gov State financial aid forms: Only if qualify, submit before school’s deadline Receive college acceptance from early admission programs Student may take SAT®	January Happy New Year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Submit before school’s deadline at www.fafsa.ed.gov State financial aid forms: Only if qualify, submit before school’s deadline Prepare for readjustment when student goes back to college POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior
February President’s Week school break Collegecation: Tour colleges on student’s list File income tax returns early (colleges may want to see them prior to finalizing financial aid awards to admitted students) Review (and correct, if necessary) SAR, received after filing FAFSA Student may register for AP exams before deadline	February Second College Family Visit: Take advantage of President’s Week holiday or any convenient time to visit your student and the campus including college sponsored Winter Family Events
March College acceptances continue to arrive Collegecation: Attend admitted students events	March Spring break: Prepare for student’s home visit Prepare for readjustment when student goes back to college POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior
April Collegecation: Attend admitted students events If inadequate, appeal financial aid award from choice college after comparing offers of financial aid from other colleges offering admission Accept offers of college admission and financial aid from choice college by deadlines Reject offers of college admission and financial aid from colleges not attending by deadlines Send in tuition and housing deposits for choice college before deadline Review finances to prepare for college bill	April Spring break: Prepare for student’s home visit Prepare for readjustment when student goes back to college POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior
May Student may take AP exams Tell family and friends the good news-where your student will attend college Review finances to prepare for college bill	May Send exam care package Move out day: Consider a storage facility to make next year’s move in easier Student’s senior year: Attend college graduation and plan graduation party according to student’s new job schedule
June Attend high school graduation and plan graduation party June-August: Student attends college orientation and takes college course placement exams Student may receive contact info for roommate Review finances to prepare for college bill	June Prepare for readjustment if student moves back home POCS/student’s siblings fun: Take up a new activity Watch out for changes in a pet’s behavior