Timeline grades 9-12, Checklist, printer friendly version
Grades 9 & 10
Enjoy high school! Get involved in your community, volunteer, join a team, find something that interests you. Focus on your strengths, and take appropriately challenging courses. Your grades from freshman through junior year are typically used in college admissions. Attend college fairs to learn about the different types of programs that may interest you. Practice using the accommodations/ supports you need to circumvent your challenges and maximize academic success.
Work with our mentorship program to explore your career interests. Then, plan ahead with the end result in mind. For example, if you are considering a career in engineering or STEM, take more advanced math classes as soon as possible. If you love the arts, take as many art courses as possible and start to build your portfolio. If considering a future as a competitive student athlete, be mindful of the NCAA course requirements, and get started on their eligibility center and choose eligible courses for your schedule.
Grade 11
The main tasks of junior year are defining criteria for your college search, developing a list of colleges and other options.
Before Junior Year: (optional) Apply for accommodations with the College Board and practice/ do some prep for the PSAT/ SAT on Khan Academy and in Blue Book.
Fall: Optional, Take the PSAT/NMSQT at Assets School.
Junior Year: Take the required College & Career Guidance Class to explore your strengths, challenges, interests and post-secondary options that best fit, and get ready for your future.
Junior Year/ Ongoing: Update resume, list of accomplishments, and brag sheet. Artists: Create a portfolio; Athletes: Complete the NCAA eligibility application, and/ or NAIA process.
Before senior year: Update your educational/ psychological evaluation so you can access accommodations in college (within 3-5 years of college enrollment). Note- college requirements vary in terms of timeline, but all disability service offices require documentation.
Fall or Spring of Junior Year: (Optional) Prepare for and take the SAT or ACT. Check with your counselor regarding which date to register.
Spring of Junior Year: Along with your parent/ guardian, meet with Ms. James for a post-secondary transition planning session.
When Possible, Spring or Summer: Schedule college tours and attend College Fairs.
Summer: Do something with your Summer that expands your horizons, builds your resume, and increases your independence (Driver’s license? Summer School? Volunteer? Travel? Job?). Be sure to keep track of your volunteer and work hours, and update your resume.
Extra Steps for Some Juniors:
*** Prospective student athletes considering NCAA D1 or D2 schools need to complete the NCAA eligibility process ASAP during high school, and intentionally choose courses that are approved. https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
NAIA is another option requiring eligibility! https://play.mynaia.org/
D3 and Club sport participation do not require these steps.
***Art school applicants collect artifacts for a portfolio.
***Those pursuing ROTC Scholarships or military academies will need to make some adjustments to the steps. https://www.todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs
https://militarybenefits.info/how-to-apply-to-a-military-service-academy/
Grade 12
Any junior year steps not done? Do those too!
First Quarter, First Meeting with College Counselor: Students should schedule a meeting during the first quarter to finalize an action plan and college list. Login to Scoir using your assets.org email. Determine deadlines and get to work on your applications early. If you change your list mid year, please update your list on Scoir and notify Ms. James.
Apply for Financial Aid ASAP after October 1, using the FAFSA https://fafsa.gov/. Be sure to list all colleges to which you are apply. Some colleges and scholarship programs also require the CSS Profile, an extra financial aid application.
FAFSA Application: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
CSS Profile required for some: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Apply to College August- February: Students are responsible for deadlines. I recommend setting aside a few hours each week to work on your applications, it is not possible to do in one sitting. Many applications require essays or other information you will need to gather. The timing of the applications depends on the college. Some early action and early decision deadlines are in November. Some deadlines are “rolling” and as late as Summer. Be sure to update your Scoir page with your application info under colleges. Use your personal email for your college apps, and keep track of your login info for each application. It is ideal to finish most college applications before Winter Break, and all applications before February 1.
UH system apps (10 campuses in our system including community colleges): apply.hawaii.edu
Common app 900+ colleges/ universities: http://www.commonapp.org/
Cal State applications: https://www2.calstate.edu/Apply
UC applications: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-now.html
Other colleges have applications posted on their websites under admissions! Just search for the name of the college and freshman/ undergraduate admission.
Order Transcripts when needed: Request transcripts on Scoir under Colleges by adding them to the applying column. Complete the FERPA waiver on the Common app for Common app schools and on Scoir for other schools, and be sure to select the same answer in both places. You may also view your unofficial transcript under your profile, in the drive folder. Allow 2 school weeks prior to deadlines for transcript delivery. Initial transcripts are used in the fall for applications. Mid year transcripts are typically available in mid-January.
Test Scores, August, September, October or November: Most colleges are now test optional and many are test free. If colleges require official scores, send directly from the ACT or SAT to the colleges/ programs. Some may allow a self-report. If not required, check with your counselor about whether it is a good idea to send. To see current status, consult this site: https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/.
Letters of Recommendation: August/ September or when needed: Most students need to request 2 teacher letters of recommendation for college applications and/ or scholarships. It is optional to have a third recommender from the community. Some colleges limit the number of recommendations allowed and others do not consider them at all. Follow these steps for requesting a recommendation, complete all steps a minimum one month prior to deadlines, not counting vacation weeks: First, request personally with a friendly email or conversation. Include deadline info in your request. Use this Template for a friendly email to the teacher or recommender. Also, send your updated brag sheet/ resume to your recommenders so they know what you do outside of their class.Then, promptly provide needed links via Scoir or hard copy materials a minimum of one month prior to deadlines. It is easiest to request the letter for all current and future applications. Your teacher will upload your letter for colleges via Scoir. If your college or scholarship is not on Scoir, please provide any external links or forms to the teacher. Also note that Scoir is ONLY for Assets School teachers, not external recommenders. If you have a community recommender, have them send your letter directly to the college and a reference copy to your counselor.
Scholarship Search and Application, Ongoing Scholarship opportunities are posted on my scholarship page. Most scholarships are awarded directly by colleges when you apply for admission and financial aid using the FAFSA. Check the financial aid office at your colleges of interest for more scholarship opportunities.
March-April Receive, review admission notices and financial aid offers inside student admission portals, and decide. Seek support from your counselor for support with accessing needed information, and thinking about your decision. You may make use of the decision matrix in your college application and enrollment organizer in google classroom. If you forgot to apply for federal student aid earlier this year, do so now! If your financial circumstances have changed for the worse since your need was calculated, contact the financial aid office at your colleges directly to arrange an appeal so they can recalculate based on current reality. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
ADVOCATE: If you have a disability or health condition, don’t forget to advocate for accommodations with the disability support office. You may use your senior year Assets accommodations profile that was provided for you at that January conference for this process, along with any outside documentation you have.
May 1 REPLY DATE: Though not set in stone, this is typically the decision day. Pay any required housing and tuition deposits on or before this date. Start checking your new school email (at your college of choice) regularly, and follow their checklists.
May- Graduate and Celebrate! Don't forget to order your final high school transcript with proof of graduation for your college of choice to avoid registration delays. This can be done using the end of year senior survey, or the transcript request form posted to the school website: https://www.assets-school.org/academics/high-school/college-counseling
Placement testing? If required, be sure to access any needed accommodations and do some practice first so that you do not underperform. Some colleges use your high school coursework or SAT scores for placement.
June, July and August: Savor family time, attend all available orientations, even if virtual. Establish new support systems for any health, counseling, transportation or disability needs.