Planning for College in High School 

~from your freshman to senior year~

 

FRESHMAN YEAR

• Go visit your guidance counselor and map out a course load that will meet college requirements.

 

SOPHOMORE YEAR

• Decide what majors sound appealing to you and start looking for colleges or universities that have what you want.
• Find out whether your school offers the PSAT or the practice ACT and when it is offered.

 

JUNIOR YEAR

• Talk with your parents about financing your education.  Once you know how much they can afford you can decide where you can apply and if you need to look for financial aid.
• Continue gathering information on schools that interest you.  Begin looking at the admission requirements.
• If you are seeking an extracurricular scholarship (i.e. sports, music), contact colleges you are considering and find out whom you need to talk to.
• In October, you should take the PSAT to practice for the SAT and to qualify for scholarships
• In December look over your PSAT scores and determine whether or not a prep course will be needed before you take the SAT.
• During your spring semester you should contact the schools you are the most interested in and find out which admissions test is preferred, the ACT or the SAT.  Begin preparing yourself for those tests and register to take them.
• Take college days or Spring Break to visit college campuses while they are in session.  Talk to advisors, the financial-aid office, the admissions office, department heads, and professors so that you can get a better “feel” for the campus.
• Research scholarships, grants, and loans.
• Take Advanced Placement (AP) tests.  By taking and passing these tests you will not only gain college credit, but also you will save money.

 

SENIOR YEAR

• At the start of the fall semester check your course list.  Are you missing any classes required by the schools you are applying to? 
• Request application materials, if you have not already done so.
• Ask teachers and counselors for the necessary recommendation letters and make sure to give them plenty of time.  They are busy people.
• Begin writing and revising admission essays.
• By December you should mail all applications or turn them in to your high school if required.
• Schedule college admission interviews if required.
• Early in the spring semester file all federal financial aid forms and apply for any state financial aid available, watch out for deadlines.
• Confirm all application materials (transcripts, applications, recommendations, and financial aid forms) have been sent to the colleges.
• At the end of the semester you will begin receiving acceptance and regret letters.   Review college acceptances and compare financial-aid offers and decide where you will attend.  As soon as possible you should send your deposit and notify other schools of your decision.

 

Note:

è    Know all of your application and financial aid deadlines.

è    The SAT and the ACT are offered several times a year.  If you do not do well the first time, study more and take it again.