College Planning Timeline

Choose high school courses carefully. Familiarize yourself with graduation and college admissions requirements. Become involved in extra curricular activities. Keep a written record of activities. Keep your grades up! You are beginning to compile a record that is called a transcript. A transcript is a record of all classes that you attempt in high school. The final grade is recorded on the transcript and a grade point average is calculated based on your performance in each class. This will begin your academic record that will be forwarded to colleges as you apply during your senior year.

Fall

Choose high school courses carefully. Be sure you are familiar with high school course requirements for graduation and for college admissions. Check with your counselor or go to RHS School Counseling tabs "Graduation Requirements" and "4 Year College Requirements."

Take the PSAT in October. This will serve as a practice for next year’s PSAT which may qualify you for National Merit recognition and possible scholarships. Your counselor should provide sign up information.

Continue participation in extra curricular activities. Keep written records. Consider volunteer activities, and leadership positions.

Spring

Find information regarding career choices and possibilities. Check in with your School Counselor.

Register for your junior year courses carefully with the help of your teachers and counselor.

Fall

Begin the college exploration process. Identify what you are looking for in a college. On a sheet of paper list your strengths and weaknesses, interests and needs. Consider the following when looking for a college: intended college major, city size, 2 or 4 year college, student body size, religious affiliation, special services, public or private, state, athletics, disabilities. Several resources may help you find a college. Check out the Riverside High School website with direct links to college search engines.

Continue career exploration. Interview, observe or volunteer in career fields you like the most.

Take the PSAT. This test is given only once each year in October. This preliminary exam to the SAT also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. National Merit Scholarship consideration is only given to juniors who take the PSAT. Your counselor will provide sign up procedures and deadlines. Juniors must pay to take the PSAT.

Attend any College Fair available in your area.

Spring

Meet with your School Counselor to come up with an initial list of colleges for further investigation. SchooLinks is a great resource to research colleges. You will find a wealth of information on the individual college website. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences in the colleges and chart your findings.

Make initial visits to colleges of interest. Make an appointment with the college first. Be sure to follow the Riverside High School procedures for taking a college day. Refer to the student handbook and check in the attendance office.

In March or May take the SAT and or the ACT and request the scores be forwarded to at least three colleges. 

• ACT Registration - http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html

• SAT Registration - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register

 Remember that Riverside’s High School code is 410951.

Plan your senior year schedule carefully. Be sure that you are taking the courses needed for graduation and college admissions. Take challenging courses above the minimum requirements if possible. Allow your parents, teachers and counselor to help.

Continue extra curricular activities, maintaining accurate records. Keep a list of honors and awards you receive.

Summer

Visit additional colleges during the summer vacation.

Make a resume, which summarizes your extra curricular activities, honors and awards. Save this on your computer so you may add information during your senior year. You may need this information for your college and scholarship applications that you complete during the fall of your senior year.

Prepare a personal essay summarizing your qualifications for college and scholarship consideration. Write about why a college should accept you or why you should be considered for a scholarship. Make this a generic essay that you may alter as needed when you begin the college and scholarship application process during your senior year.

Fall

Finalize your list of colleges. Do not allow cost to prevent you from applying to any school in which you are interested. You may be surprised at the financial aid package the college may work up for you.

Attend any College Fair available in your area.

Make college visits to help narrow your choices. Be sure to make an appointment with the college, and make college day arrangements through the attendance office.

Submit admissions applications to the colleges of your choice. (On average, students apply to three different schools.) All applications are available online. Be sure to follow the procedures outlined by your Counselor for submitting college applications. Check the College Application Guide on the RHS School Counseling website for how to use Schoolinks to manage the college application process.  Many applications will require a list of activities, honors and awards. Use your resume that you prepared during your summer vacation. You may also be required to submit an essay. Refine the essay that you began during the summer to adhere to the particular college requirements as noted in the college application.

Retake the SAT or ACT if appropriate. Registration materials are available in the guidance area or you may register online.

If you are applying for financial aid, complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA forms may be completed online. FAFSA can not be submitted prior to October 1. By completing this one form, it will be determined if you qualify for any federal grant or loan program as well as the SC Tuition Grant for private schools or the SC Need Based Grant. Also complete any college financial aid form if required. Check all deadlines.

Apply for available scholarships. Ask your School Counselor for scholarship information. Visit SchooLinks, through your student backpack, for a comprehensive list of scholarships. Remember that the best source of financial aid and scholarships is the college you plan to attend. Do not hesitate to contact the scholarship and financial aid office at the college of your choice.

Spring

Wait for admissions responses. Respond to offers of admission. Notify the college you plan to attend by their deadline.  Send in required deposits, housing contracts, medical forms or other requested information.

Maintain a list of all financial aid and scholarship offers. This information is required for a School District of Greenville County scholarship report. Your School Counselor will request this information from you before you graduate.

Arrange for a final transcript to be sent to the college of your choice. Follow the procedures as outlined by your School Counselor.