Parent Action Plan: 12th Grade

Senior year is critical time to take steps to finalize your teen’s plan for what’s next. Your teen will balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and the college application process. Use the suggestions below to help you and your teen successfully navigate and find their personal fit. 

Fall 

• Encourage your teen to meet with the school counselor early. This year, they will work with the counselor to complete and submit college applications. 
• Create a calendar with your teen. This should include application deadlines, testing dates, and other important milestones. Your teen can find specific colleges’ deadlines in College Search.  
• Help your teen prepare for college admission tests. Many seniors retake college admission tests, such as the SAT, in the fall. Learn more about helping your teen prepare for the SAT. 
• Apply to colleges or finalize another pathway. Applications turn plans into real options. A thoughtful, well-organized approach increases both acceptance chances and the odds of a great fit. Whether that's a college application, a trade or apprenticeship program's enrollment steps, or a military enlistment process, starting early gives your teen room to do it well. Offer to look over their college applications. Remember that this is their work so remain in the role of adviser and proofreader and respect their own voice. 
• Gather financial documents early. The FAFSA and CSS Profile both ask for tax returns, income records, and account information. Pulling these together over the summer — before things get busy — makes filing faster and less stressful in the fall. 
• Complete the FAFSA and financial aid applications. Financial aid is essential for most families, and some funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis — so filing early helps your teen get the most aid possible. FAFSA opens October 1. Read How to Complete the FAFSA to learn more. 
• Check if the CSS Profile is required. Some colleges use the CSS Profile alongside the FAFSA to award their own financial aid. Completing the CSS Profile can unlock additional institutional aid at colleges that use it alongside the FAFSA — one more way to make those schools more affordable for your family. 
• Help your teen find and apply for scholarships. They can find out about scholarship opportunities from the school counselor. Your teen will need to request and complete scholarship applications and submit them on time. 
• Register for BigFuture Live virtual events to get advice from experts on helping your teen find a fit. 

Winter 

• Encourage your teen to set up college interviews. An interview is a great way for your teen to learn more about a college and for a college to learn more about your teen. 
• Work together to apply for financial aid. Have your teen contact the financial aid offices at the colleges in which they are interested to find out what forms students must submit to apply for aid. Make sure they apply for aid by or before any stated deadlines. Funds are limited, so the earlier you apply, the better. 
• Make a plan to pay for college. Understanding payment plans, college loans, and any remaining costs now helps your family avoid financial surprises later.   
• Learn about college loan options together. Borrowing money for college can be a smart choice — especially if your teen gets a low-interest federal loan. Learn more about the parent's role in borrowing money. 
• Encourage your teen to take AP Exams. If they take AP or other advanced classes, have them talk with teachers now about taking these tests in May. 

Spring 

• Help your teen process college responses. Once your teen starts hearing back from colleges about admission and financial aid, they will need your support to decide what to do. Read about how to choose a college. 
• Compare financial aid offers. Award letters can look very different from school to school. Comparing them side by side helps your family see the true cost — not just the headline number. Learn more about understanding financial aid award packages. 
• Make the final decision together. The best choice isn't about prestige — it's about where your teen will thrive academically, socially, and financially. Fit, cost, and outcomes all matter. 
• Submit the enrollment deposit or confirm the pathway. This step secures your teen’s spot and kicks off the exciting transition to what's next. For students on a different path, this might mean confirming an apprenticeship start date, enrollment in a trade program, or an enlistment date instead. Learn more about your high school senior's next steps. 
• Help your teen prepare for the transition. Getting in is just the first step. Thriving there is the goal. Talking now about independence, support systems, and expectations sets your teen up for a smoother start.