College Planning Timeline – Freshman – Senior Year

Here is a nice timeline put together for students by the Counseling team at Broadalbin-Perth School District in New York that might be of interest to share with your students:

Freshman Year

August

  • Attend ninth grade orientation for students and their parents.
  • Check schedule to be sure that you have a math, history, English, science and PE class.

September

  • Attend the club fair and sign up for at least one club.
  • Stay for ninth period for classes that you could use extra help with; this will establish good habits.
  • Use your agenda to develop good organizational skills.

October

  • See your school counselor to develop a four-year high school plan.

March

  • Meet with your school counselor to select courses for 10th grade. Parents are invited to attend this conference.

Sophomore Year

September

  • Check your schedule for accuracy.
  • Sign up and get involved in clubs; try a leadership role this year!

October

  • Sign up and take the PLAN test. This test is a preliminary ACT test and includes an interest inventory.

December

  • Attend PLAN results night for students and their parents.

January

  • Attend Sophomore Parent Night for students and their parents to learn about course offerings and options at the Career and Technical Center.
  • Career and Technical Center representatives visit to discuss options available to students.

February

  • Students may visit the Career and Technical Center to explore options.

March

  • Meet with your school counselor to select courses for 11th grade, review academic standing, and discuss career and college exploration.
  • Research summer programs to find one that may be appropriate for you.

May

  • Finalize summer plans that include employment, a summer program and/or volunteer work. This helps build a resume.

June

  • Review final report card. Attend summer school if necessary.

Junior Year

September

  • Check your schedule. Make sure that you have all the courses that you want and need.
  • Sign up for the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), a pretest for the SAT. This test is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).
  • Consider taking a College Admissions Prep course.
  • Get involved in clubs or activities.

October

  • Attend a College Fair to get information on Colleges.
  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT.

December

  • Attend Financial Aid Night.
  • Attend PSAT results night for students and parents.

January

  • Sign up for the SAT and ACT college admissions tests.

February

  • Attend Junior Parent Night for students and parents.
  • Meet with your school counselor to schedule courses for 12th grade and ensure that you will have all the credits needed for graduation.

March

  • Begin discussing college choices with your parents and school counselor.
  • Sign up to take the SAT and ACT exams.
  • Review college catalog materials.
  • Compare and contrast your findings about different colleges.
  • Visit college campuses.
  • Attend college fairs.
  • Review pros and cons of early admission options.

April

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.
  • Meet with your Counselor to discuss college preparation, college searching, resume writing, admissions essays and recommendation letters.

May

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.

June

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.

July/August

  • Visit college campuses.
  • Start to narrow down your list of colleges based on campus visits.

Senior Year

September

  • Register to take the ACT and/or SAT exams.
  • Attend the Senior Seminar for both students and parents. The college application process is discussed at this time.
  • Schedule your senior exit interview with your school counselor. Each senior meets with his or her school counselor to discuss graduation requirements and post-graduation plans.
  • Ask at least two teachers for recommendation letters. Provide each of them with a resume and write a follow-up thank-you note. See your school counselor for recommendation letter forms.
  • Meet with college representatives. Check the list and sign up ahead of time.
  • Maintain a calendar to track important dates.
  • Gather all application materials needed to apply to colleges.
  • Visit any colleges on your list if you have not already done so.

October

  • Register for the SAT if you have not already done so.
  • Write your college application essay. Even if it is optional, do it! Ask a teacher, counselor or parent to proofread it.
  • Take the ACT and/or SAT exams.
  • Attend a College Fair.
  • Check for Scholarships.
  • Continue to meet with college representatives.

November

  • College applications should be completed and handed in to your school counselor before Thanksgiving break!

December

  • Take SAT and/or ACT exam.
  • Attend Financial Aid Night.
  • Pick up a copy of the FAFSA form in the school counseling office.
  • Parents: Save your pay stubs to assist you in filing the FAFSA.

January

  • File the FAFSA.
  • Apply for scholarships. Check the scholarship board!

February

  • Check on your mid-year transcripts.
  • Review your college choices. Revisit colleges if necessary.

April

  • Watch for college acceptance letters!
  • Compare your financial aid packages.
  • Select a college by May 1!

May

  • Notify colleges of your final decision.
  • Keep track of all deadlines at the college of your choice.
  • Start preparing for College.