• College Planning Timeline

    Freshman Year

    • Be certain you are enrolled in appropriate college-preparatory courses.
    • Establish strong study habits and time management techniques.
    • Complete all homework assignments thoroughly.
    • Keep a clean and organized backpack and locker.
    • Develop a reading plan that includes newspapers, magazines and books.
    • Work to enhance your writing abilities and vocabulary proficiency.
    • Earn strong grades. Freshman year counts in establishing your final grade point average.
    • Meet with your counselor regularly to discuss your progress and to plan your sophomore schedule. Consider 'stepping up' to Honors classes is your abilities permit.
    • Become involved with 1-3 extracurricular clubs or sports.
    • Think about your interests and how they might translate into future career options.

    Sophomore Year

    • Earn strong grades.
    • Continue to read a variety of books, magazines and newspapers.
    • Seek to improve your writing ability.
    • Take the PSAT or PLAN as practice for the official junior year administration.
    • Meet with your counselor for career exploration activities and to select your junior year classes. Consider 'stepping up' to Honors and Advanced Placement courses if your abilities permit. 
    • Investigate extracurricular opportunities which interests you. Continue your involvement throughout high school and aim for leadership positions.
    • Attend a few meetings with college representatives visiting your high school. Become familiar with general college entrance requirements.
    • Start to consider what qualities you are looking for in a college.
    • Consider a meaningful summer experience - employment, volunteer opportunity, travel or enrichment class.


    Junior Year

    September

    • Give some serious thought about your plans after high school. Evaluate your goals, your values, your interests and your abilities.
    • Place a strong emphasis on your academic work.  
    • Have your username/password for Naviance. Parents you can log in too!
    • Create a college-only email account, or regularly utilize your HHHS email.
    • Evaluate your goals, interests, and abilities.
    • Inquire about PSAT/NMSQT test date, time, and place in October.

    October

    • Take the PSAT/NMSQT in preparation for the SAT.
    • Continue pursuing extracurricular activities or plan to join some if you have not already. Try to pursue a          leadership position within your current organizations. (Remember: Quality vs. Quantity)

    November

    • Attend junior presentations and Junior Night.
    • Keep your grades up!
    • Register for the SAT/ACT if you feel prepared.

    December

    • Receive results of PSAT/NMSQT. Read material sent with your scores.
    • Review results with your counselor to determine how you can improve for the SAT.
    • Consider a test prep course if necessary.
    • Attend Naviance workshop with your counselor.
    • Decide what type of college you’d like (two-year, four-year, liberal arts/technical, private/public).
    • Determine what factors are important to you when selecting a college (location, setting, size).
    • Prepare a list of colleges and career options to explore. Research schools to see how you compare.
    • Develop your individual SAT, Subject Test, and ACT testing schedule, and remember to register at the appropriate time.
    • Begin preparing your Activities Résumé.
    • Register/take SAT or ACT if fully prepared.

    January

    • Junior conferences will be held beginning in January and throughout the Spring. They will be individualized planning meetings between counselor, student, and parent if possible. You must have completed the questionnaire before setting up an appointment. Forms in guidance.
    • Register/take SAT or ACT, if fully prepared.

    February/March

    • Junior conferences continue.
    • Register for the March SAT or April ACT in February if fully prepared.
    • Visit college websites to get on their mailing lists and view information about your particular major of interest.
    • Visit colleges over Winter Recess to begin determining if you will apply to them or not.
    • Take the SAT in March if you feel fully prepared.
    • Attend HHHS College Fair on March 20, 2019.
    • Attend college fairs in the local area to speak with college representatives
    • Register/take SAT or ACT, if fully prepared.

    April

    • Junior conferences continue.
    • Begin to complete Senior Brag Sheet on Naviance.
    • Begin to think about which teachers you will ask to write your recommendations.
    • Register/take the SAT, SAT subject tests, or ACT if fully prepared.
    • Make visits to colleges during Spring Break.
    • If your SAT scores revealed any weaknesses, plan to take a preparation course.
    • Register/take SAT or ACT, if fully prepared.

    May

    • Take AP Exams (if applicable).
    • Submit your résumé to your school counselor.
    • Register/take the SAT, SAT subject tests, or ACT if fully prepared.

    June

    • SAT/Subject Tests offered at HHHS.
    • Another chance to take ACT.
    • Refine your college list.
    • File with the NCAA Eligibility Center if you plan to play a sport in college at Division I or II levels.
    • Turn in your résumé and brag sheets to your School Counselor.

    July/August

    • Continue to visit colleges/have interviews.
    • If necessary, register for fall SAT/ACT tests.
    • Begin preparing your college essay. Topics are available on the Common Application website.
    • Finalize your college list.
    • Begin working on your Common Application as of August 1st.

     

    Senior Year

    September

    • Attend seniors presentation/night.
    • Finalize your list of schools to which you will be applying.
    • Continue to place a strong emphasis on your academic work. Colleges may request at least first quarter and mid-year grades.
    • Begin to gather paperwork needed for each school.
    • Follow up with the teachers you asked in the Spring about writing your letters of recommendation. Supply them with appropriate forms, websites, envelopes, etc.
    • Make yourself aware of the guidance office policies and deadlines.
    • Take the ACT, if needed.
    • Arrange to have your SAT/ACT scores sent to the colleges to which you are applying.
    • Prepare any Early Decision/Early Action applications.
    • Submit transcript request forms to your School Counselor. BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!
    • Finalize your college essay.

    October

    • If applying for Early Decision/Early Action, send your applications in now.
    • Work hard for the first quarter, as senior year grades are important.
    • Attend college representative visits at HHHS.
    • If you are applying to colleges that REQUIRE the CSS Profile, initiate that process now.
    • Initiate the FAFSA process for financial aid. The application opens on Oct. 1.
    • SAT & Subject tests are offered at HHHS. October is typically the last test date that is acceptable for early action/early decision.

    November

    • Continue filing applications to colleges. Be aware of deadlines.
    • Continue to meet with college representatives when they visit HHHS.
    • SAT/Subject Tests are offered.

    December

    • Continue to submit your college applications. It is best practice to submit all applications prior to the holidays.
    • SAT offered. December is typically the last test date that is acceptable for regular decision.

    January

    • Maintain a strong senior year.
    • File FAFSA if you haven’t done so yet.
    • Monitor your college applications to be sure that materials are sent and received on time. Use Naviance!
    • Update Naviance and your counselors about acceptances, denials, waitlists, etc.
    • Research and apply for regional/national scholarships.

    February

    • Be certain that your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile have been filed by this time.
    • HHHS local scholarships become available. Research and fill out applications to those you are eligible.
    • Continue to apply for regional/national scholarships.

    March/April

    • HHHS local scholarships are due to guidance (generally mid-March/more info to be posted).
    • Continue monitoring your college applications.
    • Consider possible wait list options.
    • Continue to maintain strong academics. DO NOT let senioritis kick in. Your college acceptances are contingent upon successful completion of senior year!
    • Update Naviance and your counselors about acceptances, denials, waitlists, etc.

    May/June

    • Decide on the college you will attend. Send in the required tuition deposit to ONE school by May 1st. Sending deposits to multiple schools is NOT allowed.
    • Write to the colleges you have not selected to inform them that you plan to enroll elsewhere.
    • Take AP Exams (if applicable).
    • Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college you plan to attend.
    • Update Naviance account with college decisions and final attending college.
    • Look for information from your new college on summer orientation, course registration, and placement testing.