Timelines

Sophomore Year Timeline

• Continue to monitor academic progress
• Continue to encourage involvement in activities and the development of leadership skills
• Take the PSAT in October
• Attend local college fair
• Select challenging, but appropriate 11th grade courses
• Schedule college visits to colleges/universities that interest you
• Schedule your CPR (College Preparatory Review) meeting the with School Counselor to review academic progress and PSAT test results

Junior Year Timeline

September

• Prepare for the PSAT (review last year’s results)
• Assess your schedule – Review the core class and graduation requirements

October

• Take the PSAT (This test determines National Merit Scholars and the scores are made public to colleges wanting to contact top students)
• Attend College Fair

December – February

• Review the results of your PSAT to prepare for the SAT I
• Register for the spring round of ACT tests and SAT tests
• Make an appointment to meet with your School Counselor for your CPR (college preparatory review) meeting
• Prepare for SAT/ACT-explore the option of taking a review course
• Plan for a challenging senior year

March

• During spring break, visit colleges to gain a sense of the various options
• Collect information on colleges
• Register for SAT and ACT if you have not already done so
• Decide if you need to take the SAT II based on colleges’ requirements and register for the June test date
• Continue SAT/ACT preparation

April

• Work to refine your initial college list
• Work on your resume
• Visit colleges
• Select two teachers to write your letters to recommendation and give them a copy of your resume and a form from the Counseling Office (teachers need at least a three week notice to write you a letter)

May

• Plan your summer college visits and schedule interviews
• Begin thinking about Early Action or Early Decision possibilities
• Begin researching private sources of financial aid (parents, employers, community resources, etc.)
• Turn in resume to Counseling Office by May 2nd
• Prepare for SAT II
• Take your AP tests
• Finish the year strong!

June – August

• Continue researching, visiting, and collecting information about colleges
• Talk with returning college students about their college experiences
• Make corrections and additions on your resume
• Start planning topics for your college essays and write rough drafts
• Refine list of colleges
• Know Early Decision and Early Action schools
• Begin work on college applications – The more you get done over the summer, the less hectic the fall will be
• Apply as early as you can to school of your choice. There are some schools that accept applications as early as August 1st

Senior Year Timeline

August

• Senior parent meeting regarding financial aid

September

• Request current admissions materials for any additional colleges to which you intend to apply
• Visit colleges
• Continue working on personal statement/essay for applications
• Finalize your college applications and submit the necessary paperwork to the Counseling Office
• Organize all application material
• Work on essays in English class or with English teacher
• Make a note of all deadlines – application for admissions as well as scholarships and financial aid
• Meet with college representatives visiting the school
• Decide whether or not to file and Early Action or Early Decision application
• Register for October SAT I and SAT II
• Finalize work on all college application and pay attention to deadlines

October

• Continue working on applications and pay attention to deadlines
• Meet with college representatives visiting the school
• Attend the College Fair

November

• Meet with college representatives visiting the school
• Complete applications
• Register for a PIN for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Pay attention to announce scholarships and complete scholarship applications

December

• If accepted under Early Decision, withdraw all other applications
• Check on need for alumni review
• Notify Counseling Office of college acceptances
• Complete the 110 hour service requirement needed to graduate

January

• Watch for all deadlines – financial aid, scholarships, etc
• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Complete the student portion of the Bright Futures Scholarship paperwork

February

• Decide if more applications should be filed
• Mid-year grades will be sent to colleges
• Mail any supplementary information that may be helpful

March

• Notify the Counseling Office of all college acceptances and scholarships

April

• Revisit colleges if necessary
• Work closely with your School Counselor if you are wait-listed at any school

May

• Take AP exams
• Send tuition deposit to your first choice college by their deadline
• Inform other colleges that you will not be enrolling

June

• Final transcripts will be sent to the colleges of your choice