College Planning Timeline
When preparing to enter college, having a well organized schedule of how you will
spend your time will make all the difference. You're never too young to start; you will
find something valuable here if you are a senior trying to pick a college or a freshmen
in high school just starting to develop your own interests.
September | October |
November | December |
January
February | March |
April | May |
June | July | August
September
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Visit your Guidance counselor to map
out a four-year curriculum that will put you into the most challenging courses
you can handle. |
Register for the PSAT or the PLAN if they
are offered to sophomores at your school. |
Get serious about your schoolwork if you
haven't already; junior-year grades are extremely important as is the rigor of your
coursework. Be sure to register for the PSAT or the PLAN. Attend college fairs and
gather information. |
Plan to work really hard this term. Your grades
will be included on your transcript. If necessary, register to retake the SAT or ACT.
Review your final list of colleges with your counselor, and start gathering applications.
Once you've received the application forms, begin working on the essays. Thinking about
applying early? You need to decide soon. |
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October
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| If you've been wanting to start something
new, now is the time. Join the school paper, learn to play golf, or try out the trumpet. |
Draw up a list of college majors that you think
might intrigue you, and review your four-year course load with these majors in mind. |
Take the PSAT to practice for the SAT and to
qualify for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Talk to your parents
about limits - e.g., financial or geographic - they may set on where you attend college.
It may affect your decision about where to apply. |
Talk with your counselor about college application
deadlines. Some state schools have late November deadlines. If you want to take the SAT
or ACT tests again, sign up now. The December administration might be your last chance.
Mail early-action or early-decision applications. Request that your transcripts and test
results be sent to colleges. Continue researching scholarships. Begin assembling documents
for financial aid applications. |
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November
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Remember to buckle down early, since even your
ninth-grade A's (or D's) will count in the eyes of most college admissions officials. |
College fairs can be a great way to "see" many
schools at once. Try www.nacac.com,
or talk to your guidance counselor. |
Talk with your parents about how you will finance
your college costs and how much they expect you to pay. Remember: a private school that seems
more expensive on paper may actually be more affordable than a public school once you figure
in financial aid, and you won't know that until you get in. |
Finish writing your essays, and have them proof-read
by a parent or teacher. Give out recommendation forms and stamped envelopes addressed to the
colleges' admissions office. |
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December
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| It's best to take the SAT as soon as
you complete a specific course, like biology or geometry, for example - even if that happens
to be in ninth grade. You can sign up now for the spring administration. |
Discuss your PSAT results with your guidance
counselor, and figure out how to make improvements if needed. While it's probably too
early for a test-prep class, you might want to do more reading in your free time, take
more challenging courses, or practice on old tests. |
Review your PSAT results with your counselor,
and decide whether you'd benefit from a prep course or from using test-prep software.
You can also improve your score by practicing on previously administered exams. |
Mail applications, or turn them in at school.
Begin working with your parents on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.
Apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or get
forms from your high school or by calling 1-800-433-3243. |
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January
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| It's never too early to start saving for college.
You might begin by laying aside any money you received over the holidays. Take some
time to think about why you want to go to college, which may have a huge bearing on where
you should apply. |
Look into National Collegiate Athletic Association
requirements if you think you may want to participate in sports in college. And consider
whether your sports experience jibes with your college plans: Do schools that interest you
field teams in your sport? Do you have a chance of playing on them? |
Identify the characteristics of a college that
matter to you: size, geographical location, academic rigor, social environment, or diversity,
to name some key examples. If you hope to play a sport and may qualify for an athletic
scholarship, contact coaches at colleges you're considering. |
File all federal financial-aid forms, and apply
for state aid. Verify that all your application materials have been received. Don't give
in to "senioritis." Your admission is contingent upon your final grades. |
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February
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Colleges want to see passion and commitment.
If there is something that really excites you, explore it. Too often, students wait until
junior or senior year and then hurriedly - and unconvincingly - pad their resumés. |
Teacher's pet? You might want to keep it up. You
will need teachers who know you well - and like you - to write your college recommendations. |
Check with your schools to see if they prefer - or
require - the ACT, the SAT, or none of the above. Most colleges will accept
either the SAT or the ACT. |
Check with schools to make sure that they have all
the documentation they require. Also, be sure your high school sends your mid-year grades. |
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March
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Thinking about college? Don't. Or at least
don't think about it too much. Focus on your grades and your interests. If you learn how
to handle school, extracurriculars, and a social life now, you'll be ready to apply to
college senior year. |
Decide if you want to take a SAT subject
test. It's often better to take the exam as soon as you've completed the relevant class,
instead of waiting until later. |
With your parents or a counselor, make a list of
schools to visit during spring break (or in the summer or fall). If possible, it's best
to visit while schools are in session, so that you can visit classes and talk to students
and professors. |
Continue to look for sources of financial aid. Try
your place of worship, your school, your parents' employers, and free websites like
www.fastweb.com. |
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April
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Think about what classes you want to take
next year. Besides four years of English and math, competitive colleges also look for
advanced science and social science classes as well as some foreign language courses. |
Talk to your guidance counselor and your parents
about whether you should take summer-school classes to improve your grades, fit in a
needed course, or further investigate a subject that appeals to you. |
Register for June SAT or ACT tests, especially if
you plan to apply early. |
By now you should have most of your decision letters.
If you've been wait-listed by a top-choice college, contact the admissions office and show
your continued interest. Evaluate your financial-aid offers. You'll have to make a deposit
by May 1. |
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May
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| If you're old enough to get a summer job, try it.
You can get good experience and save money for college. Not old enough? Consider volunteering
or enrolling in an educational summer camp. |
Figured out you don't need that summer school? Look
around for other constructive ways to spend your time off. Find an interesting summer job,
or try an academic or arts camp. |
Take AP tests if eligible; plan to take the June SAT
or ACT if you want to apply early. Find a summer job that will boost your skills - or your
savings. But leave enough time to visit a few colleges. |
You'll start receiving registration and orientation
materials this month. Are you going to live on campus or off? Enroll in the meal plan?
Remember that besides tuition, housing, and food, there will be books (and movies and pizza)
to pay for. |
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June
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Research careers and talk to your parents or
other adults about your interests and goals. Find opportunities to meet people working
in the professions that you think may interest you. |
Take the ACT or the June SAT, if appropriate.
But remember, once you request that your SATs be sent to a college, that school will see
every SAT test you've ever taken. |
Start researching scholarships. You may find useful
information in your school or public library and online at
www.finaid.com, www.fastaid.com, and www.usnews.com. Start thinking about your college essays
and teacher recommendations. |
Have your high school send your final transcript
to your college. |
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July
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| Read for pleasure, and while you're at it, learn
the unfamiliar words. Vocabulary skills come in very handy on the SAT - and in college, too. |
Spend some time researching colleges. Can you begin
to narrow down a list of some types of schools that are appealing to you? Urban or rural?
Big or small? Public or private? |
Compile a resumé of activities, honors, leadership
positions, and jobs. You'll need this information for applications and scholarship forms. |
Notify the financial aid office if there have been any
changes in your family's circumstances that might make you eligible for additional aid.
Perhaps one of your parents was laid off, or there was a major illness in the family. |
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August
| Freshmen |
Sophomores |
Juniors |
Seniors |
|---|
| It's ok to take some time off and relax,
especially if you've been having a productive summer. |
If you're close to a university, consider dropping
by and walking around. Even an hour long visit will give you a feel for a college. You'll
also get a sense of your own likes and dislikes. |
If you haven't already been to campus, visiting
schools now will help you create a list. Map an itinerary, and set up admissions interviews.
Counselors advise entering senior year with three or four schools in mind that are apt to
accept you, plus a "safety" and one or two "reach" schools. |
Make sure you know when tuition and room and board
payments are due so that they're paid on time. Make a list of what you'll need for your
new dorm room. It's time to go to college! |
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Information Provided by US News.
Modified: 2008/01/30 14:27:47.327 US/Central
