Countdown to College!
A Month-by-Month High School Plan for College Preparation
By Amy Cates
College may be four years away, but the planning begins as quickly as you can
say “ninth grade.”
Counselors agree: College is not something you can begin to think about your
senior year of high school. Good grades aren’t built in a day, and a poor
choice of course selections won’t get you past the door of the dean of
admissions.
To help students and parents gear up for college during the high school years,
the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) offers a booklet
titled PACT (Parents and Counselors Together) has a plan that emphasizes the
importance of the family’s role in student achievement and success and
also details in a year-by-year format how to help prepare for college:
Freshman Year
• Build strong academic, language, mathematics and critical thinking skills
by taking challenging courses.
• Study hard and make excellent grades.
• Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading.
• Become involved in co-curricular activities.
• Meet with your high school guidance counselor, and discuss your plans
for the next four years.
• Browse through college literature or surf the Web to get an idea of what
kinds of schools may be of interest to you.
• Check out what high school courses colleges require.
• Know NCAA requirements if you want to play sports in college.
• Keep an academic portfolio and co-curricular record.
• Research career possibilities.
• Begin saving money for college.
Sophomore Year: Month by Month
September
• Consult your guidance counselor about taking the PSAT in October. The
PSAT is a preliminary test that will prepare you for the SAT Reasoning Test.
• If you plan on taking the ACT, talk to your guidance counselor about taking
the PLAN this fall. The PLAN is a preliminary standardized test that will give
you some preparation for the ACT. PLAN does not have national testing dates,
so ask your guidance counselor about test dates offered by your school.
• You need to register several weeks in advance for the PLAN and the PSAT,
so consult your guidance counselor early in September.
• Take NCAA-approved courses if you want to play sports in college.
October
• Take the PSAT for practice. The results will not be used for college admission.
• Sign up, if you have not done so already, for co-curricular activities
that interest you. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important,
not the number of activities.
• Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment
(all year).
November
• Make sure you are "on top" of your academic work. If necessary,
meet with your teacher for additional help.
• Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic
portfolio (all year).
December
• Receive the results of PLAN and/or the PSAT. Read the materials sent with
your score report. Consult your guidance counselor to explore ways to improve
on future standardized tests.
January
• Volunteer. It’s a great way to identify your interests and to develop
skills.
February
• Visit your guidance office to browse through literature and guidebooks,
or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.
March
• NACAC has developed a list of on-line resources to help you in the college
admission process. You can get the information online free at the NACAC Web site.
Or send $5.00 to NACAC Publications, P.O. Box 18214, Merrifield, VA 22118-0214
and ask for Web Resources for the College-Bound.
April
• Register for the June SAT Subject Test. These are one-hour exams testing
you on academic subjects that you have already completed. Among the many to choose
from are biology, chemistry, foreign languages and physics. Many colleges require
three SAT Subject Tests. Some colleges recommend/require Math Level1 or Math
Level 2. Not all SAT Subject Tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar
carefully to determine when the Subject Tests you want are offered.
• See your guidance counselor for advice.
• Continue to research career options, and consider possible college majors
that will help you achieve your career goals.
May
• Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider taking a summer course
or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or journalists
or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community
college. Consider working or volunteering.
June
• Take the SAT Subject Tests that you registered for in April. Consider
electing score choice so you can see your test scores before deciding whether
to release the results to colleges. It's a good idea to plan on taking the SAT
Subject Tests again in the spring of your junior year or the fall of your senior
year. You then have the option of releasing only your best scores to colleges.
• If you work, save some of your earnings for college.
July
• During the summer, you may want to sign up for a PSAT/SAT prep course,
use computer software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize
you with standardized tests.
August
• Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.
Junior Year: Month by Month
Begin the college selection process by attending college fairs, financial aid
seminars, general information sessions, etc., to learn as much as you can about
the college application process. Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements
if you want to play Division I or II sports in college.
September
• Register for the October PSAT. Meet with your guidance counselor to review
your courses for this year, and plan your schedule for senior year.
• Save samples of your best work for your academic portfolio (all year).
• Maintain your co-curricular record (all year).
October
• Junior-year PSAT scores may qualify a student for the National Merit Scholarship
Competition and the National Achievement and the National Hispanic Scholars Programs.
So, even though these scores will not be used for college admission, it is still
a good idea to take the PSAT. The more times you take standardized tests, the
more familiar you will become with the format and the types of questions asked.
If you wish to receive free information from colleges, indicate on the PSAT test
answer form that you want to participate in the Student Search.
November
• Junior-year grades are extremely important in the college admission process,
because they are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper-level courses.
Grades also are used to determine scholarships and grants for which you may be
eligible. So put in the extra effort and keep those grades up!
• If you will require financial aid, start researching your options for
grants, scholarships and work-study programs. Make an appointment with your guidance
counselor or start by visiting NACAC's Web Resources for the College-Bound to
do research on your own using the Internet.
December
• During December you should receive the results of your PSAT. Read your
score report, and consult your school counselor to determine how you might improve
on future standardized tests. The PSAT is excellent preparation for the SAT Reasoning
Test, which you will take in the spring.
• If you plan to take the ACT, register now for the February ACT. Many colleges
accept the ACT (American College Test) or the SAT Reasoning Test. Some colleges
require the ACT or both SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests. When you
begin to explore different colleges and universities, double-check to see if
they prefer or require the ACT, the SAT Reasoning Test and/or the SAT Subject
Tests.
January
• Begin to make a preliminary list of colleges you would like to investigate
further. Surf the Internet and use the college resources in the guidance office
or library.
• Ask your parents for your Social Security number (required on many college
applications). If you were never issued a Social Security number, contact the
closest Social Security office as soon as possible to obtain a number.
February
• Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your preliminary list of
colleges. Discuss whether your initial list of colleges meets your needs and
interests (academic program, size, location, cost, etc.) and whether you are
considering colleges where you are likely to be admitted. You should be optimistic
and realistic when applying to colleges.
• Register for the March SAT Reasoning Test if you have completed the math
courses covered on the SAT Reasoning Test. If not, plan to take the SAT Reasoning
Test in May or June. Prepare for the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT by signing up
for a prep course, using computer software, or doing the SAT/ACT practice tests
available in the counseling office or at bookstores. But don't spend so much
time trying to improve standardized test scores that grades and co-curricular
involvement suffer.
March
• Write, telephone or use the Internet to request admission literature and
financial aid information from the colleges on your list.
April
• When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself
academically.
• Register for the May/June SAT Reasoning Test and/or the May/June SAT Subject
Tests. Not all SAT Subject Tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar
carefully to determine when the Subject Tests you want are offered. Register
for the June ACT if you want to take that test.
• Continue to evaluate your list of colleges and universities. Eliminate
colleges from the original list that no longer interest you and add others as
appropriate.
• Look into summer jobs or apply for special summer academic or enrichment
programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing
their skills and interests.
May
• Attend a college fair to get more information about colleges on your list.
NACAC sponsors college fairs in cities across the country during the fall and
the spring. Visit NACAC's National College Fairs Web page to check out the schedule
for the National College Fairs and the Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs.
• Get a jump start on summer activities-consider enrolling in an academic
course at a local college, pursuing a summer school program, applying for an
internship, working, or volunteering. If you work, save part of your earnings
for college.
• Begin visiting colleges. Phone to set up appointments. Interviews are
always a good idea. Many colleges will tell you they are optional, but an interview
will show interest, enthusiasm and initiative on your part and provide an excellent
opportunity to have your questions answered. Do a practice interview with your
counselor, teacher, employer, or a senior who has had college interviews. Set
up interviews as early as possible-interview times become booked quickly!
• Take the SAT Reasoning Test or the SAT Subject Tests.
June
• After school ends, get on the road to visit colleges. Seeing the college
firsthand, taking a tour and talking to students can be the greatest help in
deciding whether or not a school is right for you. Although it is ideal to visit
colleges during the academic year, going in the summer will be valuable. Admission
offices employ their students to give tours and answer questions from prospective
students and their parents.
• Take the SAT Reasoning Test, the SAT Subject Tests and/or the ACT.
July
• Visit colleges, take tours, have interviews and ask questions. Make college
visiting a family event. Involve your parents and siblings in every step of your
application process. Choosing the right college is a tough decision; the opinions
of those who know you best can provide helpful insight into which college is
best for you.
August
• Continue to refine your list of potential colleges and universities.
• Begin preparing for the actual application process: draft application
essays; collect writing samples; and assemble portfolios or audition tapes. If
you are an athlete and plan on playing in college, contact the coaches at the
schools to which you are applying and ask about intercollegiate and intramural
sports programs and athletic scholarships.
• Complete the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you hope to
play Division I or II sports. (This form cannot be mailed until you finish your
sixth semester of high school.)
Senior Year: Month by Month
September
• Make sure you have all applications required for college admission and
financial aid. Write, phone, or use the Internet to request missing information.
• Check on application and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which
you plan to apply. They may vary and it is essential to meet all deadlines!
• Meet with your guidance counselor to be sure your list includes colleges
appropriate to your academic and personal record. Review your transcript and
co-curricular records with your school counselor to ensure their accuracy.
• Register for the October/November SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject
Tests, or September/October ACT.
• If the colleges require recommendations, ask the appropriate people to
write on your behalf. At least three weeks before the due date, ask your counselor
and teachers, employers, or coaches to write letters of recommendation. Provide
recommendation forms, any special instructions and a stamped, addressed business
envelope to the people writing your recommendation. Be thoughtful! Write thank-you
notes to those who write recommendations and keep them informed of your decisions.
• Plan visits to colleges and set up interviews (if you didn't get to them
during the summer or if you want to return to a campus for a second time). Read
bulletin boards and the college newspaper. Talk with current students and professors.
October
• Attend a regional college fair to investigate further those colleges to
which you will probably apply. Go to College Fairs on NACAC's Web site to view
the schedule for NACAC's National College Fairs and the Performing and Visual
Arts College Fairs.
• Mail applications in time to reach the colleges by the deadlines. Check
with your guidance counselor to make sure your transcript and test scores have
been/will be sent to the colleges to which you are applying.
• If applying for early decision or early action, send in your application
now. Also prepare applications for back-up schools. Remember, if you are accepted
under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that college and
to withdraw all other applications. Submit financial aid information if requested
from early decision/action candidates.
• Register for the December/January SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject
Tests, or December ACT if you have not completed the required tests or if you
are not happy with your previous test scores and think you can do better.
• Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges on your
list.
November
• Take the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests if appropriate. Don't
forget to have test scores sent to colleges on your list.
• Be sure your first quarter grades are good.
• Continue completing applications to colleges. Make copies of all applications
before mailing the applications.
• If you need financial aid, obtain a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) from your guidance office. Check to see if the colleges to which
you are applying require any other financial aid form. Register for the CSS Profile
if required and obtain the college's own financial aid forms, if available.
• Keep all records, test score reports and copies of applications for admission
and financial aid. Do not throw anything away until at least the end of your
first year in college. Having detailed records will save you time and effort
should anything be lost or should you decide to apply in the future to other
colleges and scholarship programs.
December
• Have official test scores sent to colleges on your list if you have not
done so.
• Consult your school counselor again to review your final list of colleges.
Be sure you have all bases covered. It is a good idea to make copies of everything
before you drop those envelopes in the mail. If for some reason your application
gets lost, you will have a back-up copy. File your last college application.
• If you applied for early decision, you should have an answer by now. If
you are accepted, follow the instructions for admitted students. If the decision
is deferred until spring or you are denied, submit applications now to other
colleges.
January
• Keep working in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout
the senior year.
• Request that your counselor send the transcript of your first semester
grades to the colleges to which you applied.
• Parents and students, complete your income tax forms as soon as possible.
You will need those figures to fill out the FAFSA. Complete and return your FAFSA
as quickly as possible after Jan. 1. Check to make sure your colleges or state
does not require any other financial aid forms. If they do, consult your guidance
counselor or contact the college's financial aid office.
February
• Remember to monitor your applications to be sure that all materials are
sent and received on time and that they are complete. Stay on top of things and
don't procrastinate; you can ruin your chances for admission by missing a deadline.
• If you completed a FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR)
within four weeks after submitting the FAFSA. Review the SAR carefully and check
for any inaccuracies. If necessary, correct any items on the SAR and return it
to the FAFSA processor (if a college transmitted your data directly, notify the
college of any change).
• If more than four weeks have passed after sending in your FAFSA and you
have not received an acknowledgment, contact the Federal Student Aid Information
Center at (319) 337-5665. To identify you, they will need your name, social security
number, address, and date of birth exactly as it was written on your FAFSA.
• Complete scholarship applications. You may be eligible for more scholarships
than you think, so apply for as many as you can.
March
• Stay focused and keep studying.
April
• Do not take rolling admission applications for granted. (Some colleges
do not have application deadlines; they admit students on a continuous basis.)
These schools may reach their maximum class size quickly — the earlier
you apply, the more availability there may be.
• Review your college acceptances and financial aid awards. Be sure to compare
financial aid packages in your decision-making process. If you are positive you
will not enroll at one or more of the colleges that accepted you, please notify
those colleges that you have selected another college.
May
• By May 1, decide on the one college that you will attend. By May 1, send
in your tuition deposit to the college you will attend. Notify the other colleges
that accepted you that you have selected another college.
• If your first-choice college places you on its waiting list, do not lose
all hope. Some students are admitted off the waiting list. Talk with your counselor,
and contact the college to let them know you are still very interested. Keep
the college updated on your activities.
• Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate, and request that
your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend.
June
• Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college
you will attend. Notify the college of any private scholarships or grants you
will be receiving.
• Know when the payment for tuition, room and board, meal plans, etc., is
due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a possible payment plan
that will allow for you to pay in installments.
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