College Planning Timeline for Students
Freshman Year (Grade 9)
|
· Develop good study habits
· Meet with school counselor · Get involved! · Begin setting personal & academic goals · Plan future high school coursework · Start a “College Planning File” to keep track of your test scores, extracurricular and summer activities, honors, etc. |
· Begin looking for interesting internship or volunteer opportunities
· Attend school seminars/workshops related to early college planning and course selection · Talk to your parents about college savings, sign up for a college savings plan (if you haven’t already) |
Sophomore Year (Grade 10)
|
· Meet with your school counselor to plan future coursework
· Continue setting personal & academic goals · Keep your grades up! · Update your “College Planning File” · Consider taking the PSAT · Attend school seminars/workshops related to college planning · Continue with internships, volunteer work, or part-time employment · Track major activities · Register with the NCAA (if you are an athlete planning to play Div I or II sports) |
· Add to your college savings fund
· Plan interesting summer activities (interesting does NOT = costly!) · Begin reading about colleges, ask questions of recent high school and college graduates · Consider who might write your letters of recommendation, continue to strengthen those relationships · Strengthen writing skills · Begin thinking about factors that are important to you in a college (location, size, cost, majors) · Continue the conversation with your parents about your college planning |
Junior Year (Grade 11)
|
· Take a deep breath!
· Meet with your counselor to discuss coursework and overall college planning · Take challenging courses · Stay on top of those grades….! · Take the PSAT in October (if you didn’t take it in 10th grade) · Consider taking a test prep class for the SAT/ACT · Narrow down your extracurricular activities · Attend local college fairs · Begin to develop a list of colleges that interest you and research those schools · Look at the entrance requirements for colleges on your list (organize by safe, reach, realistic) |
· Develop a student resume
· Update your “College Planning File” · Attend school seminars/workshops related to college planning · Plan summer activities · Begin to map out and plan college tours/visits · Take SAT/ACT , SAT Subject Tests, and AP exams (Spring) · Consider asking teachers to write letters of recommendation · Continue the conversation with your parents so you are on the same page |
Summer between Junior and Senior Year
|
|
|
Senior Year (Grade 12)
|
· Continue focusing on those grades!
· Attend a local Financial Aid Night · Continue visiting colleges · Prepare for interviews (if necessary) · Take SAT/ACT , SAT Subject Tests, and AP exams in the Fall (if necessary) · Meet regularly with your school counselor · Ask teachers for letters of recommendation (if you haven’t already) and be sure to thank them! · Review all application requirements and due dates · Work on essays and personal statements- ask for feedback · Research scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid · Complete applications for early applications (Deadlines are usually October 1-November 1) · Complete FAFSA and other financial aid forms (New deadline is Oct 1) · Complete applications |
· Be sure test scores and transcripts are being sent to the appropriate
colleges · Take any additional AP exams · Compare acceptance letters and financial aid packages · Make “The Big Decision” · Notify the college that you have chosen and send deposit by deadline date—often May 1 (be sure to notify colleges that you did not choose so they can open that admission spot) · Continue saving · Send housing deposit (if required) · Attending orientation sessions/meetings for your college of choice · Enjoy the rest of your senior year, and get ready for college! |
