Transition from High School to College Checklist
Freshman and Sophomore Years
Attend your IEP meetings. Ask questions at the meetings when you don’t understand something.
Work your way up to leading your IEP meetings.
Review your current IEP with parents and teachers so you fully understand it.
List things you would like to do after high school.
Identify courses you need for graduation and college admissions.
Identify courses to help you succeed in college. Include those courses in your IEP.
Identify your social, interpersonal, communication, and independent-living skills.
Identify areas where you need to be more skilled.
Talk to parents and teachers about how to increase your skills where needed.
Explore career options with guidance counselors, teachers and parents.
Learn all you can about your disability and how it affects your learning.
Participate in extracurricular, community, and volunteer activities.
Register for the Pre-SAT or Pre-ACT tests. Ask for accommodations if you need them.
Junior Year
Make a list of colleges you might like to attend.
Contact the regional Vocational Rehabilitation office to find out whether you are eligible for services.
Visit three to five college campuses with your parents.
Meet with Admissions, Financial Aid and Disability Support Services offices.
Review with parents, teachers, and counselors how each college meets your goals.
Register, prepare for, and take the ACT or SAT. Ask for accommodations if you need them.
Senior Year
Apply to your colleges of choice for admission and financial aid.
Ask teachers, counselors, and employers for letters of recommendation.
If you’re going to disclose your disability to the college, submit documentation to the campus Disability Support Services office.
Continue to visit college campuses with your parents. Check buildings and classrooms for accessibility, if necessary. Check into accessible transportation and housing if you need them.
