{"id":19448,"date":"2020-10-22T02:15:49","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T02:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/blog\/college-planning-checklist\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T02:06:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T07:06:45","slug":"college-planning-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en-ca\/resources\/blog-posts\/college-planning-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"College Planning Checklist: How to Prepare Your Students for College During a Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is it possible to sidestep aggravation and serious stress while students prepare for their future? Yes, it is. With our college planning checklist, you’re bound to empower your students to become college-ready even amidst so much uncertainty.<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s time to prepare your college planning checklist. And you have a lot to do. <\/span>
\nYou\u2019ve posted the <\/span>FAFSA deadlines<\/span><\/a>, and are encouraging students to take the ACTs and SATs, cajoling them to schedule virtual college visits, prodding them to ask for and submit their letters of recommendation early, and anticipating all the ways they\u2019ll need to be ushered through the <\/span>college application process<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>
\nYou\u2019re doing everything you can to make this stressful time easier for your students and ensure they complete everything on time.\u00a0<\/span>
\nBut what about you? Who\u2019s paving the way for counselors to gather, share, and track college application information in an efficient way? Who\u2019s making it easy for you to connect with your students who may be <\/span>learning remotely or in a hybrid remote\/in-class model<\/span><\/a>?<\/span>
\nThree words: Future readiness tool.\u00a0<\/span>
\nWe can\u2019t speak for all programs, but we can share what Xello offers to make this challenging time smoother for students\u2014and counselors. Let\u2019s walk through a typical college application checklist and show you how the right tool can make the process easier for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

College Applications Checklist<\/b><\/h3>\n

With <\/span>Xello\u2019s College Application tool<\/span><\/a>, students are put into the lead role and counselors take their rightful place as a supporting player. Here are the most common steps along the journey to applying for college.<\/span>
\nNarrow down the list of colleges.\u00a0<\/b>
\nStudents with access to <\/span>Xello<\/span><\/a> will have a personal profile where they have been doing future readiness planning. They may have already saved a number of careers, college programs, and specific colleges that interest them. Ask them to narrow that list down to five to 10 colleges where they want to apply. Whether you\u2019re working with them in school or virtually, pull up their Xello profile and verify their choices with them.<\/span>
\nReview application information for each college chosen.<\/b>
\nIn Xello\u2019s College Applications tool, students will be prompted to create applications for each of their desired schools. A checklist of application requirements will automatically be populated so students know exactly what (and when) they need to submit to apply, including essays, extracurricular requirements, testing, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Example of the Application Tracker in the College Applications Tool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Create a college planning checklist for each application.<\/b>
\nThe College Application tool has taken on this step for students. Everything they need to know and do is at their fingertips in a visually clear way. Students can personalize their checklists by adding custom tasks, such as a creative portfolio or interview, and assigning due dates to certain requirements. As students make progress on their applications, they can simply mark those steps complete and watch their to-do items shrink.\u00a0<\/span>
\nConsider financial aid for every application.<\/b>
\nWhether students are looking to learn more about the <\/span>FAFSA application process<\/span><\/a>, searching for local scholarships that match their profile, or requesting a transcript, they can find it all in one central spot in Xello\u2019s Knowledge Hub. This is where students will have access to helpful resources about financial aid options. Note: <\/span>the 2020-21 FAFSA application<\/span><\/a> is now live. If they haven\u2019t already, now is the time for students to apply!<\/span>
\nKeep track of all due dates.<\/b>
\nSome counselors advise their students to make a master calendar and note all test dates, fees, deadlines, application due dates, and recommendations, transcripts and other documentation. If your students are using the Xello College Applications hub, all of these dates are built right in.<\/span>
\nStudents have a visual snapshot of all the applications they\u2019ve started; relevant deadlines and pending action items are summarized within the Application Tracker, making it easy for students to see exactly where they\u2019re at and what they need to do next.<\/span>
\nGather letters of recommendation and transcripts.<\/b>
\nStudents can request letters of recommendation straight from their application checklist in Xello. Before they do, they\u2019ll get a brief primer on the process of requesting a letter of recommendation and are offered tips on what makes a good request.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Example of the Application Tracker in the College Applications Tool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recipients are notified by email when they receive a letter of recommendation request. They\u2019ll see the student\u2019s personal note, plus the request deadline and they can securely upload their recommendation letter on Xello. It\u2019ll go directly to the student and the college. Best of all, students can track the status of the requests right in the College Application tool. No more wondering if the person has received or submitted their request!<\/span>
\nPrepare for and take the SATs and ACTs.<\/b>
\nSome colleges declare themselves \u2018test optional\u2019 or \u2018test blind\u2019. This is confusing for students and counselors alike. Tom Ehlers, president and founder of Method Test Prep, advises, \u201cWhen in doubt, take the test.\u201d Even if it\u2019s not 100% required, a good score can earn students merit awards and financial aid they wouldn\u2019t otherwise be able to access.\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe SATs and ACTs shouldn\u2019t be as intimidating as they are, says Ehlers. \u201cThey\u2019re spitting out the same questions every single time and the vast majority of students are more than capable of doing well on the exam if they just put in a few hours on skills they need for success, like basic grammar, math, and reading comprehension questions.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\nXello partners with Method Test Prep to provide students a self-paced, online test prep program. Students can access the tools directly from their Xello accounts.<\/span>
\nSubmit high school transcripts.<\/b>
\nOnce they\u2019ve created an application in the College Application tool, students can click the Request button next to the transcript requirement and their requests are automatically sent directly to the school administrator so counselors can easily fulfill it. Once that happens, the transcript is submitted to the college straight from Xello.\u00a0<\/span>
\nCollege Planning Checklist: What Counselors Should Know<\/b>
\nStudents aren\u2019t the only ones who benefit from a streamlined way to work through the college application process. There are administrative perks for counselors, too.<\/span><\/p>\n