Admissions Timeline

august (or earlier)

• Meet with your high school counselor and review your course selections. Inform your counselor that you are planning on attending college so that you can develop a college-preparatory class schedule for the next two years.
• Obtain a Social Security Number if you don't have one. You will need it to apply for college and financial aid.
• Start talking about your college plans to family and friends and explore career options. You don't need to know what your college major will be, or what specific job you want; the important thing is to keep your options open.

September

• Explore the different sources of information on college and careers available to you.  Start your research using your school or local public library, or visiting your college counseling center.  The web also provides unlimited information on colleges and universities.
• Start thinking about what is important to you in a college – is it small class size, location, diversity of the student body, quality of instruction, or all of these?
• Keep an eye out for HPU admissions events and counselors in your area.
  
  

October

• Attend regional college fairs and parent nights in your area. This is the best way to receive current information from schools that interest you, and speak to admissions officers or alumni; especially if you are unable to travel to the campus.

• College representatives will schedule visits to your school in the fall. Find out what schools are visiting and plan to attend these information sessions; don’t be afraid to check out schools you have never heard of.

• Take the PSAT to qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship.  For more information click here.

• If you haven’t prepped for the SAT or ACT, now is the time to do so.

November

• Continue to consider a wide variety of schools but start narrowing them down based on your preferences.

• Hit the books! Your junior year is one of the most important years that colleges will be considering. Remember, many admissions decisions will be made before your final senior year grades are complete, so make your junior year count!

• Talk to your parents NOW about financing college. Remember that federal financial aid will be determined based on income for the year PRIOR to when you enter college. For example, if you will attend school in the fall of 2018, income information for financial aid will be based on your parents and your 2017 federal taxes.

December

• Review your spring class schedule with your high school counselor.  The best way to improve test score results and college performance is to take challenging college preparatory courses.
• Talk to your counselor about taking the SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) and ACT (American College Test). You may want to take both tests as you may have stronger results on one test over the other. 
• SAT: Click here to check testing sites and to register. One of the most popular test dates for juniors is May and June.
• ACT: Click here to check testing sites and to register.
• Send away for scholarship information and applications with early deadlines. It’s never too early since some scholarship and grant applications need to be received during your junior year of high school.
• If you are applying for financial aid visit our Financial Aid page. This will give you a better idea of what will be required from you for next year.

January

• Come visit HPU in person –  Speak with HPU faculty and staff, take a tour, and get your questions answered.  To schedule a campus tour click here. 
• You probably have a short break in the winter.  Don’t forget to continue to research colleges now so next year you will already have a good idea of where you'd like to apply.
• Request more detailed information about the schools you are interested in.  
• Are you selecting courses for your senior year schedule soon?  Consider Advanced Placement (AP) courses. You can get college credit or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores.

February

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT exams if you have not already done so. Go online to check testing sites and to register.

• Attend the Spring National College Fair in your area.  College fairs are an exciting chance to talk to admissions representatives from a variety of colleges.  These events are free and open to the public. 

• Start looking at financial aid information and scholarships so you will be prepared for next year. Your guidance counselor at school is a great start for scholarship information sources.

March

• Continue to narrow down your college selections.  Start a short list of those schools you would like to visit.
• What are your plans for Spring Break; fun in the sun or visiting prospective schools?  Why not both?  Summer or weekend visits may be less informative.  Spring is a great time to visit schools you are interested in. To schedule a campus tour click here.

April

• Are you taking any Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes?  Don’t forget to register for the exams coming up in May.  See your high school counselor or teacher for more information.
• Continue visiting colleges on your short list while classes are in session. It’s important to get a feel for what the school is like, not just a look at the buildings.  Ask about meeting with a professor in your field of interest or meeting with a financial aid counselor, as well as someone in the Admissions office.

May

• Take SAT and/or ACT exams. If you didn’t register yet, check with your counselor or go online to check out test dates in the summer.  Testing in your junior year gives you a chance to retake the exam in your senior year if you want to improve your score.
•  Watch for scholarship announcements. See which ones you might qualify for and see your counselor for deadlines and criteria.
• Ask teachers if they would write recommendations for your college applications.  If they agree, ask if they would like to do so over the summer or in the fall.  It can be helpful for you to provide a resume of your activities and accomplishments to aid the writer in the recommendation process.

June

• Take SAT and/or ACT exams

• Visit colleges that you couldn’t get to during the spring.

• Take classes in the summer. Many colleges and universities offer high school juniors the opportunity to take college classes in the summer before their senior year; HPU does.  Contact the HPU Admissions Office for more information.

• Make sure you have all the applications for the schools you want, and begin filling them out and send them in.

• Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer. This will help you to prepare for the SAT if you plan to take it in the fall.

August

• Review your college plans with your parents and narrow your choices down. Request applications and any additional information you need from these schools to compare and contrast their pros and cons. The more you know about the school, the better!

• You can start your research by exploring HPU's webpage 
  

• If you still need to take your ACT or SAT  check the testing site:
  ACT: Click Here
  SAT: Click Here 

September

• HPU Admissions Counselors will be traveling to different high schools and college fairs around the country to share more about Hawai‘i Pacific University. 
• See if any of the schools or scholarships that you are applying for requires letters of recommendation. If you have not already asked your counselors or teachers to write you a letter of recommendation, now is the time. Waiting to ask later might result in a rush job and a poorly written letter.
• Take the SAT or ACT if needed

October

• Start applying! Be sure to complete ALL required sections of the application and request your high school transcripts and test scores to be sent to the college/university you are applying for. HPU does not require official transcripts and test scores for the application process. Scanned, digital, and screen shot copies are acceptable and can be uploaded directly to your online application 
• Take the SAT or ACT if needed

November

• Continue researching colleges/universities, working on applications and applying for scholarships. Be sure to keep an eye on application deadlines for particular schools. HPU is on a rolling admissions meaning we review applications year-round.  However, our Early Action deadline is November 15^th and Priority Application deadline is January 15^th.
  
• Brochures, handouts, and packets regarding Financial Aid should be available for your high school counselor.  Pick one up and read it with your parents.
• Take the SAT or ACT if needed

December

• A lot of scholarship deadlines are approaching. Talk with your counselor to be sure you don’t miss any you are qualified for. 
  
• If you are planning on filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), start getting your information together now, as it will take some time to complete. 
• Continue working on your college applications. Applying early will help you get the decision on your application sooner and will allow you more time to work on Financial Aid and Scholarships.
• Take the SAT or ACT if needed

January

• Apply for federal financial aid at the FAFSA website. This is the first step to receiving federal aid at colleges and universities. 
• FAFSA applications can be filed after January 1^st. Many schools have priority deadlines for some aid programs. Be sure to complete the FAFSA early in the year, and check with each school you are applying to. HPU's Priority Application and Financial Aid Deadline is March 1^st.
  
• Encourage your parents to complete their federal income tax returns early this year. This information will be collected on the FAFSA to determine your financial aid eligibility.
• You should be finishing up your applications but if you have not done so already, be sure to get your applications in!
  
• Come visit HPU! Speak with HPU faculty and staff, take a tour, and get your questions answered. 

February

• Did any of the schools you applied to request your transcripts showing first-semester senior grades? If so, this is the time to request that they are sent.  
  
• Make sure you submit your FAFSA application. March 1^st is the priority deadline for the FAFSA application at HPU. Your FAFSA must be processed by this date so applications should be submitted earlier. 
• Review your housing options. If you have been accepted by HPU, you should have received this information in your Acceptance Packet. Mark your calendar so you don't forget the March 30th deadline to submit your housing application for the on-campus residence halls.  

MARCH

• HPU's Priority Application and Financial Aid Deadline is March 1^st. 
• If you filed your FAFSA in January, you should have your Student Aid Report (SAR) by now. Review it for errors and make any necessary corrections online. If you or your parents have since completed your federal income taxes and your income has changed, you should make these corrections online.
• Check with the Financial Aid Office to see what other documents are necessary to complete your financial aid application.
• Housing spaces are limited and filed on a first-come-first-served basis. HPU priority on-campus housing application deadline is March 31^st.

April

• Next month on May 1^st is the National Reply Date to let the colleges/universities that you applied to know when you plan to attend. Evaluate your options and make your decision. Inform each school that you applied to know that you selected HPU. Even if you change your mind later, let these schools know as it will free up space for another student.
• If you qualified for student or parent loans, get the right forms and review lenders to see which one is right for you.

May

• If you have not already done so, return the Intent to Enroll form along with the registration deposit to the Admissions Office. If you are still deciding on a college/university, please request an extension which will give you until June 1^st to give us your final decision.
  
• If you have applied for financial aid, make sure to sign and return all of the necessary forms to the Office of Financial Aid. If you have not reviewed or accepted your award online, log in to your MyHPU Portal account to view your award. 
• Make an Appointment with your Academic Advisor. Your Academic Advisor will be able to help you organize your degree plan and figure out what courses to take in your upcoming semesters.

June/July

• Let the Financial Aid Office know about any outside scholarships, grants or other kinds of student aid from private sources that you will receive. Your financial aid award may have to be adjusted.
• Send in your health records to HPU's Registrar's Office with your Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) and TB shot records updated. Remember, your TB shot must be from within the past 12 months and from a U.S. doctor.
• If you are planning to live on campus, make your final payment for university residence halls by June 1^st. If you have federal financial aid to cover these expenses, make sure the Housing Office is aware of your situation and you have made payment arrangements.
• If you haven't signed up for Passport Week (Orientation) make sure to register. It is a fun way to transition into HPU, make lasting friendships, prepare you to perform well academically, and build strong relationships with HPU's faculty and staff.
• Send in your Official Final High School Transcript showing the date of your graduation, to the Office of Admissions. Remember, your acceptance is contingent upon your graduation from high school. 

August

• Aloha and Congratulations, you made it to HPU. Arrive on campus and move into university housing or get situated in off-campus accommodations.
  
• Take care of basic “housekeeping” needs. Open a bank account, get telephone service, and pick up your textbooks. Get ready for a great year ahead.
• Attend New Student Orientation. Get acquainted with the University and meet fellow students from all over the U.S. and the world.