Post-Secondary Checklist

The Mead High School counselors have put together this Post-Secondary Checklist to help seniors and their parents gain a better understanding of the details involved in the college application process and preparing for life after high school. It’s important to remember that this checklist should not replace an individual or family meeting with your counselor to discuss specific details about your academic history and your post-secondary aspirations. Please feel free to schedule a meeting with your counselor.

Anthony Elliott (A–E) [email protected]

Courtney Howe (F–K) [email protected]

Maura Brady-McMullen (L–Re) [email protected]

Dalee McIntosh (Rf–Z) [email protected]

• College Research – Research colleges on Naviance and College Board to create a list of colleges you’re interested in, which should include reach & safety schools.
  • Add these colleges to your Naviance account under “colleges i’m applying to”
• College visits, College Fairs and Campus Visits – College fairs, college visits at Mead HS and campus tours are a great way to learn more about specific colleges and the opportunities they offer.
  • NACAC Virtual College Fair – https://virtualcollegefairs.org/
  • College Visits at Mead High School – Sign up through Naviance
  • Mead High School College Fair
• College Testing (SAT / ACT) – If you would like to sign up for the SAT or ACT, then you can do that at www.SAT.org and www.ACT.com. There are multiple testing dates to choose from this fall. Use Khan Academy to prepare for the SAT.
• Start College Applications – Visit the websites for each of the colleges you’re interested in applying to and create an account to start the application process. You can save your application, so you don’t have to complete it in one sitting. Keep track of your deadlines and the documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc) needed.
  • The Common Application – This application allows you to apply to multiple colleges that use the Common Application.  

• College Essays – The college essay is a way for you to demonstrate your writing ability as well as an opportunity for you to “tell a story” about you. Make sure you stay on topic. Here are some tips from NACAC and the College Essay Guy.
• Letters of Recommendation – Many colleges and scholarships will require 1-2 letters of recommendation. Students will need to ask a teacher and/or their counselor for a letter of recommendation.  Please give your teachers and counselor at least three weeks notice prior to your deadline.  Students should visit our Mead HS Letter of Rec page.
• Sending Transcripts, Letters of Rec and Common App forms to colleges –Mead High School has a simple process to request and send documents to your colleges.

1. Login to your Naviance account, navigate to “colleges that i’m applying to” and add each college you’re applying to by clicking on the PLUS symbol. Make sure to click the box for requesting an initial transcript. 
2. If you’re using the Common Application, then login to your Naviance account, select the college you are applying to and click on “Match Accounts” button. This will enable your counselor to send all of your Common Application forms through Naviance.
3. After you’ve asked a teacher to write a letter of recommendation, you will then need to send that teacher in invite through Naviance, so they can upload your letter of recommendation. Login to Naviance, then select Colleges from the menu options. Select Letters of Recommendation to send your teacher a request link, so they can upload your letter.
4. Complete the Mead HS Transcript Request form. Transcripts, letters of recommendation and all other college related forms will NOT be sent until this form is submitted to your counselor.

• Financial Aid – Scholarships, Grants, Loans and Work Study
  • FAFSA – Complete this online application on or after October 1st to be considered for any federal financial aid.  
  • FAFSA4caster – provides an estimate of your federal student aid eligibility.
  • Scholarships – Check your Naviance account regularly for local scholarship postings.  College Board has a comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities.
    • Boettcher Scholarship – Colorado based full tuition scholarship
    • Daniels Fund Scholarship – Need based regional full tuition scholarship
  • Institutional Aid (grants & scholarships) – Every college will have a process to apply for college-specific financial aid on each college’s financial aid website. 
  • CSS Profile – Some colleges will require you to complete this application for financial aid, which is similar to the FAFSA.
• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) – A tuition reciprocity program that provides Colorado students the opportunity to attend a college in AK, AZ, CA, ID, HI, MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY or Guam at roughly 150% of the in-state tuition rate instead of out of state tuition.  Visit the WUE website for additional details.
• NCAA Eligibility – Do you have an interest in playing college sports at the Division 1 or 2 level? If so, then you need to register with the NCAA to make sure you’re eligible to compete.  Meet with your counselor to make sure you’re taking the right classes.
• Military Options – Enlistment, ROTC and Military Academies
  • Enlistment – Contact your local recruiting office to get more details.
  • ROTC – Many colleges have ROTC programs that prepare students to become officers in the US Military.  Visit todaysmilitary.com/training/rotc 
  • Military Academies – Admission to West Point, the US Naval Academy and the US Air Force Academy is highly selective. Please meet with your counselor to discuss the nomination and application processes.