College Planning
At Bishop McLaughlin, we believe that college preparation is a journey that begins the moment our students step through our doors. Our comprehensive college planning program is designed to guide students and their families through every step of the college admissions process, ensuring that each student is well-equipped to pursue their dreams and aspirations beyond high school.
Our approach to college planning is rooted in our Catholic values, emphasizing not just academic achievement, but also personal growth, character development, and a commitment to service. We strive to help our students find colleges and universities that align with their individual goals, talents, and beliefs.
From freshman year to senior year, our dedicated college counseling team:
Work closely with all students to:
- Explore career interests and academic passions
- Develop a challenging and appropriate course schedule
- Prepare for standardized tests
- Research and visit colleges
- Navigate the application process
- Seek financial aid and scholarship opportunities
This program:
- Involves all students
- Is based on a sequential and planned curriculum
- Is part of the total education program
- Helps students function academically and learn more efficiently
- Prepares students to cope with life transitions
- Addresses issues in an open and sensitive manner
Guidance Resources
Post Secondary & Personal Planning
As students envision their Life After Bishop, Bishop guidance counselors partner with them to follow this four-year timeline, empowering each student to stay on track and reach their full potential.
- Focus on transition and acclimating students to the new environment. Encourage involvement in a wide variety of activities (clubs, sports, performing arts). Set academic & personal, immediate or long-term goals.
- Assist students with identifying their likes and interests (personality assessments/ surveys).
- Schedule a College Preparatory Review meeting with the School Counselor
- Start exploring the different types of college/university available
- Explore attending a summer program at a college/university
- Complete at least 25 hours of community service
- Schedule a College Preparatory Review meeting with the School Counselor to review academic progress and PSAT test results and talk about National Merit Scholars
- Start exploring different career paths
- Review academic & personal, immediate or long-term goals.
- Review PSAT score
- Encourage participation in local college fair
- Talk about Life Skills (healthy relationships, personal boundaries)
- Explore Personality exploration (passions & interests)
- Review your Schoolinks account with your guidance counselor
- Complete at least 50 hours of community service
- Start college/university visits
- Review selection and research of your 20 "favorite" colleges on Schoolinks.
- Schedule a College Preparatory Review meeting with the School Counselor to review academic progress, graduation requirements, and ACT test results
- Help with SAT registration
- Work on college resume
- Monitor academic progress
- Start exploring financial aid options (government resources, employers, community resources, etc.)
- Start working on topics for college essays and write rough drafts
- Talk about Life skills (Decision Making, Self-advocacy)
- Talk about college and career exploration
- Complete at least 75 hours of community service
- Refine college/university list. Begin thinking about Early Action or Early Decision possibilities
- Start applying to college/university. Some schools accept applications as early as August 1st.
- Start applying to college/university using Common Application. Don't forget to link your Common App to your Schoolinks account.
- Schedule a College Preparatory Review meeting with the School Counselor to review academic progress, graduation requirements,
- Submit resume to Counseling Office by August 30. Counselors and teachers will use it to write recommendation letters
- Finalize College Essay. Start applying to colleges. Take advantage of October 15 early application for some Florida colleges
- Register for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other Financial Aid
- Complete the student portion of the Bright Futures Scholarship paperwork
- Send tuition deposit to your first-choice college by their deadline and notify the Counseling Office of all college acceptances and scholarships. Withdraw from all other applications
- Assisting students with developing independence and autonomy
- Transitioning from high school to college discussions: address fears and explore the college
- Talk about Life skills (healthy relationships, personal budgeting, time management)
- In Schoolinks, identify the teachers you wish to request a letter of recommendation from.
- Complete at least 100 hours of community service
- Congratulations You Made it! Enjoy your summer break!
