ONLY 10th Graders
September - October
Take (or re-take) the SAT and/or ACT College Entrance Exams. The SAT is required by most colleges and most students take this extremely important exam as juniors. Many re-take it as seniors to try to improve their scores. Register online at www.collegeboard.org. If one or more of the colleges you are applying to require the ACT exam, register online at www.actstudent.org.
Senior Conference. Each senior meets individually with his or her counselor to review graduation and course requirements and post-graduation plans. A college application time line, if applicable, is formalized at this meeting. Additionally, counselors will visit each senior English class during September and October to discuss senior year plans, post-secondary plans, and financial aid.
Start checking for scholarships. Remember to read your email at least weekly to get updates from the counseling staff. Be sure to check out the monthly College and Career Newsletter from the LHS School Counseling Office. New scholarships come in at different times during the year and they aren't just for the "straight A" students.
Visit some college campuses. Sign up for the LHS Counseling Center-sponsored Fall College Trip. If you haven't done this already, try to schedule some college visits this fall. Interview some students, faculty and staff if possible.
Gather all application materials. Get an application packet from every college you are thinking about applying to. If you're applying to an out-of-state or private college, you'll probably need to call or e-mail the admissions office to request the materials. Once you have all the application packets, read through them to get a feel for what's required and what's involved in applying. You will be able to apply to most colleges online through Naviance, the Common Application or the Black College Common Application.
November
Continue checking for scholarships every week in your PGCPS email and the newsletter.
Finish up your college applications. Some early action deadlines are November 1st.
December
Try to finish your college applications by December 1. Even if the college's official deadline is March 1, it's better to get your application in to your counselor by December 1. You'll be ahead of the game and able to shift your focus to financial aid applications, scholarships and simply enjoying your senior year. Unless you thrive on stress, there is no good reason to wait until the last minute to begin working on college applications.
If you're still applying to colleges, get those applications filled out and submitted as soon as possible, allowing at least three weeks for processing. Keep in mind counselors are often on vacation over the December break; not reviewing college applications. January 1st deadlines should be turned in to your counselor by December 1st at the latest.
April
Watch the mail for college acceptance letters. They typically start arriving in April.
Compare financial aid packages from each college. If a financial aid offer is not what you expected, do not hesitate to contact the college's financial aid office to discuss your concerns. They may have the ability to adjust the offer.
Make a decision on which college you will attend and send them your formal acceptance.
May
May 1st - National Decision Day (and beyond):
Submit your deposit and corresponding forms to the college you will be attending. Be sure to call the admissions and financial aid office of the colleges that you will not be attending.
Watch for important deadlines at your college of choice. These may include housing deposits, financial aid and more.
Complete the three required graduate surveys. Each student must complete a graduate survey before he or she receives their cap and gown.
Request your final transcript to be sent to your college.
