UB Undergraduate Admissions: High School Students

Two students walking on South Campus in the spring.

Tips for Prospective Freshmen

No matter what point you’re at in high school, it is never too early to begin thinking about college. At UB, we recognize that choosing the right college or university is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. But it doesn’t have to be a mystery. The timeline below will give you an overview of the steps you should be thinking about as you prepare for college. And if you ever have any questions, be sure to contact us — we’re here to help!

Sophomore year

Early fall semester: Register for and take the PSAT.
Fall semester: Explore and discuss colleges that offer majors in your areas of interest.
Spring semester: Begin to visit colleges and college fairs.

Junior year

Throughout the year: Explore colleges in more depth and make campus visits when possible. Also begin to look into scholarship opportunities. A good place to start is www.fastweb.com.
Early fall semester: Register for and take the PSAT if you didn’t take it as a sophomore.
Spring semester: Register for and take the ACT and/or the SAT.
Spring semester: Attend college fairs in your area and start to visit the colleges you are interested in.
Late spring semester: Carefully select courses for senior year, making sure that you meet all requirements for graduation and cover any prerequisites for your potential major (e.g., for engineering or business management).

Senior year

Late summer and early fall semester: Sign up for and take the ACT and/or SAT if you haven't already or if you are taking them twice.
Fall semester: Complete your applications — different colleges may have different deadlines and procedures, so be sure to stay on top of them.
December: Make sure all applications are completed and sent.
January-February: Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Spring semester: After receiving your acceptance notifications, make your choice! May 1 is the deposit deadline for UB and for many other colleges.

Last updated: October 14, 2010 8:39 am EST