• Junior Action Plan/ Checklist

    FALL

    1.) Start with you!

    • Make lists of your abilities, social/cultural preferences, and personal qualities.
    • List things you may want to study and do in college. 

    2.) Learn about colleges.

    • Look at their websites and find colleges at bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search.
    • Talk to friends, family members, teachers, and recent grads of your school now in college.
    • List the college features that interest you.

    3.) Resource check:

    • Visit the counseling office often.
    • Is there a college night for students and families?
    • When will college representatives visit your school? (Put the dates in your calendar.)
    • Evening College, Parents Night, and Financial Aide Parent Workshop.

    4.) Speak with your counselor about taking the PSAT's which is available in October.

    • If you need testing accommodations, please be sure to reach out to College Board for more information. 

    5.) Make a file to manage your searcher and stay ORGANIZED. 

    • Keep all your information such as portfolios, deadlines, essays, resumes fees, etc. all in one place.
    • When it is time to apply all your information is right there and ready to go!

    6.) Estimate your Financial Aid.

    • As stated before, financial aid can help you afford college!
    • Use the College board 'Getting financial aide and "Big Future" calculator to help.

    WINTER

    1.) Sign up to take the SAT® in the spring.

    • You can register online or through your school.
    • SAT fee waivers are available to eligible students.
    • To prepare for the SAT, you can access free, personalized SAT practice tools at satpractice.org.
    • https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

    2.) Begin a search for financial aid sources.

    • National sources include the College Board’s Scholarship Search and electronic sources.
    • Don’t overlook local and state aid sources. (Ask a counselor for help)

    3.) With your family, make an appointment with your counselor to discuss ways to improve your college preparation and selection processes. 

    4.) Ask a counselor or teacher about taking the SAT Subject Test in the spring.

    • You should take them while the course material is still fresh in your mind.
    • You can download The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide, which offers testprep advice from SATSubjectTests.org. 

    5.) Explore Advanced Placement options.

    • The Advanced Placement Program(AP) helps hundreds of thousands of high school students achieve their college dreams each year.
    • Get the facts at apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap.
    • If you’re in AP classes, register for the AP Exams given in May. 

    6.) Look for scholarships!

    • Scholarships and financial aide are two very important factors when it comes to paying for college. 
    • Also, please take a look at the scholarship links on the guidance webpage for a list of scholarships.

    SPRING

    1.) Contact your counselor.

    • Before leaving school for the summer if you are considering military academies or ROTC scholarships.
    • If you want a four-year ROTC scholarship, you should begin the application process the summer before your senior year. 

    2.) Develop a list of colleges that are of interest to you.

    • You can find many colleges at which you’ll be happy and get a great education.
    • The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges that will meet your goals. 

    3.) Stay open to all the possibilities, don’t limit your search! 

    • Make sure to apply to public, private, in-state, and out-of-state schools so that you have plenty of options from which to choose. 

    4.) Take the SAT.

    • The test is typically offered in March, May, and June.
    • Make sure you start preparing for the test several months in advance using the tools available at satpractice.org.
    • Remember, if you’re not happy with your scores when you get them, you might want to test again in the fall. Many students take the test a second time as seniors, and they usually do better. 

    5.) Start to gather documents for financial aid:

    • Be sure to keep a copy of your tax returns handy. You’ll use these to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens on Oct. 1.

    SUMMER

     

    1.) Register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center if you are an athlete planning to continue playing a sport in college (ncaaclearinghouse.net).

    • There is more information on the guidance page link.
    • See Ms. Boyd for more information.

    2.) Get your FSA ID:

    • Before you can fill out your FAFSA, you need to get a username and password (also known as an FSA ID).

    3.) Find a full-time or part-time job, or participate in a summer camp or summer college program

    4.) Visit colleges.

    • When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college.
    • While you’re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors, and students.
    • Take campus tours.
    • At colleges you’re serious about, make appointments to have interviews with admission counselors! 

    5.) Create a resume record of:

    • Your academic accomplishments
    • Extracurricular activities
    • Work experiences/Volunteer experiences since you started high school 

    6.) Download applications.

    • Go to the website of each college’s admission office and either complete the application online or request a paper application from colleges to which you’ll apply.
    • Check application dates.
    • Larger universities may have early dates or rolling admission. 

    7.) Visit some local colleges (large, small, public, and private.

    • A visit to a college campus can help you decide if that college is right for you.
    • Make a plan ahead of time to get the most from your visit.
    • Check out the campus checklist at bigfuture.org.
    • Attend college fairs.