College Planning Time Line

Be sure you are enrolled in College Prep English, biology, geometry and a second year of language
Participate in career development activities offered by the school
Continue volunteer work and extracurricular activities
If you are a student-athlete, make sure you are aware of the NCAA eligibility guidelines
Read, read, read
Stay current of local and world events
Meet with your counselor to discuss Honors or AP level courses for next year
If you are interested in attending a military academy, now is the time to gather information
Visit some more colleges

Grade Eleven

Meet with your counselor to discuss post high school plans
Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT. This is the qualifier for National Merit Scholarships, National Scholarship Service, Fund for Negro Students and the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program
Visit a college fair.
Make a list of colleges based on your most important criteria(area, size, majors, academic rigor)
Begin building your college application online at www.collegequest.com
If you are interested in one of the military academies, start the application process now. See your guidance counselor
Discuss your PSAT results with your counselor
Take the Spring SAT test. Include the colleges you are interested in on the registration form.
Set up a filing system for college information, test results, guidance newsletters, teacher recommendations, etc.
Write to colleges for information and applications and continue research on the Internet.
Check guidance to see if there are any scholarships offered to juniors.
Meet with your counselor on course selections for next year. Be sure you are all set with graduation requirements and course requirements for your colleges of interest,
In the summer, visit campuses of your top five choices
Your list of schools should include reach schools, target schools and safety schools.
Give Community Colleges or two-year schools consideration. They are good schools and a real money-saving option.
Visit the guidance web page regularly. An upcoming feature will consist of a daily news scroll, which will keep you updated on pertinent information.
Continue volunteer work.
Compose rough drafts of your college essay.

Grade Twelve

Continue your extracurricular and volunteer activities.
Male students must register for selective service at age 18
Visit your college campuses and schedule interviews.
Meet with counselor on final college decisions
Make a list of application, financial aid deadlines of your colleges
Register for PROFILE/CSS Financial Aid
Register for SAT, ACT and SAT II tests. Be sure that your colleges are included on the registration form. Your scores will automatically go to these schools.
Give recommendation forms to your teachers. Only ask for the number of recommendations needed and no more.
Give your secondary report forms to your counselors
Give your completed applications to your counselor as soon as first quarter grades are out. Guidance will check and mail your completed applications for you
Attend your school’s financial aid information night
At mid-year, be sure your mid-year reports are sent to your colleges.
File the FAFSA in January
Send in remaining applications and financial aid forms before February vacation.
Notifications of decisions are usually between March 15 and April 15 and notification of Financial aid packages are between April 1 and May 1.
Send a final deposit to your college by May 1 and ask guidance to send a final transcript to your college in June
Review all of your financial aid information and verification of your FAFSA
By May 1, you should notify colleges of your acceptance of their offer and regrets to your other colleges
Be sure to send a thank you to everyone who helped you in your college application procedure
Look for orientation information from your college
Apply for additional student loans if your financial aid package was not enough.