College Planning Timeline

Please view the Naviance section in Future Planning for a comprehensive list of college search tools that are available to all students. The following timeline is a general guideline for college planning. Three excused college visit days are permitted. Students should see the Attendance Office for appropriate permission forms, which must be submitted prior to the day of the visit.

Grade 9

  • Parents should have access to your child’s Power School and Canvas accounts. Power School is PSD’s grading system. Parents can view your child’s courses, current grades, and individual assignment grades in each course. Canvas is an on-line learning management system. Students have a Canvas site for each class which shows curriculum, assignments, handouts, and due dates.

  • Students should get involved in school clubs and community activities. These activities should represent the student's interests and be a guide to future plans.

  • Students will be introduced to the Naviance Program, which they can utilize to conduct colleges and careers searches.

  • During course selection students should speak to their teachers to determine if they would be more successful in academic, honors or AP level classes.

  • Students should investigate summer programs such as work, pre-college programs, community service, etc. Any academic summer opportunities received by PHS are kept in the College and Career Center.

  • Students should begin building their resume in Naviance including all activities, work experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, honors, awards and special interests.

Grade 10

  • Students and parents should consider attending local college fairs and visiting specific colleges as a family.

  • Pennridge High School has college representatives visit the college and career center on a weekly basis. Students should routinely check the schedule on Naviance and sign up for any visits that they are interested in. Upcoming visits are also advertised on the daily announcements.

  • It is recommended that students take the PSAT during their sophomore and/or junior year in October.

    • The PSAT is a preliminary version of the SAT. It is recommended that students who are considering applying to college take the PSAT in the Fall of their Sophomore and/or Junior year. The cost is approximately $20 per student and advanced registration is required. See link for additional information on the PSAT.

    • PSAT score reports will be issued in December. Guidance Counselors will conduct presentations on how to read and understand the score reports.

    • Students should prepare for the SAT by uploading their PSAT scores to Khan Academy which creates a tailored study program based on their results. For more information, click here.

  • Guidance Counselors will teach students how to research colleges on Naviance. Students will be encouraged to consider criteria that is important to them such as majors, location, cost, school size, athletics, admission criteria and tuition. Students will use use the Supermatch tool to create a list of colleges to consider and will be advised to begin saving colleges to their colleges I am thinking about tab in Naviance.

  • Guidance Counselors will teach students how to use the compare me tool in Naviance to compare their individual GPA and test scores to admission criteria for the schools they are considering.

  • Guidance Counselors will teach students how to research a specific college and how to locate information regarding majors, size, athletics, admission criteria, graduation rate, application requirements, cost, location et cetera.

  • Students should continue to use the Naviance Program to assist with college and career exploration.

  • Students should begin to create a list of “Colleges I am thinking about” on Naviance.

  • Students should explore summer programs. Any academic summer opportunities received by PHS are kept in the College and Career Center.

  • Students should update their resume in Naviance including all activities, work experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, honors, awards and special interests.

Grade 11

  • The PSAT will be administered in October. This is the last opportunity for students to take the PSAT.

    • The PSAT/NMSQT (or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a preliminary version of the SAT. It is recommended that students who are considering applying to college take the PSAT in the Fall of their Sophomore and/or Junior year. The cost is approximately $20 per student and advanced registration is required.

    • The PSAT is not only a practice SAT but Juniors may also qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.

    • PSAT score reports will be issued in December. Guidance Counselors will conduct presentations on how to read and understand the score report.

    • Students should study for the SAT by uploading their PSAT scores to Khan Academy which creates a tailored study program based on their results. For more information, click here.

  • PHS hosts a college fair in October which over 100 college representatives attend. Students should review the list of colleges attending in advance and create of list of who they would like to speak to and what questions they would like to ask.

  • Counselors will meet with students to continue their college research. Students will complete a comprehensive college search based on criteria that is important to their personal wants/needs. Students will be encourage to build their list of college's and save them to the "college's I am thinking about" section in Naviance.

  • Students should prepare a list of “Colleges I am thinking about” on Naviance to review with their Guidance Counselor in the spring.

  • Students should review GPA and SAT admission requirements for each school that they are considering applying to by using the compare me tool on Naviance. Prospective colleges should be academically and financially realistic.

  • Continue college visits as a family if possible.

  • Pennridge High School has college representatives visit the college and career center on a weekly basis. Students should routinely check the schedule on Naviance and sign up for any visits that they are interested in. Upcoming visits are also advertised on the daily announcements.

  • Students should register for the SAT and/or Act at least 1 time (recommended 2 times) during the spring of junior year.

    • Created by the College Board, the SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. As of March 2016, there are two sections: Math, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, plus an optional Essay. The Essay results are reported separately. Each section of the SAT is scored on a 200 to 800-point scale, making the "perfect" score 1600. For more information, click here.

      • The SAT is offered during the months of August, October, November, December, March, May and June. Advanced on-line registration is required. www.sat.collegeboard.org/register

    • Created by ACT Inc., the ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math and Science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Students earn one ACT score (1 to 36) on each test (English, Math, Reading and Science) and a composite ACT score, which is an average of these four tests. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The ACT includes an optional essay, known as the writing test.

      • The ACT is offered during the months of September, October, December, February, April and June. Advanced on-line registration is required. www.actstudent.org

  • Students should determine if the colleges they are considering require the SAT Subject Tests.

  • Students should meet with their Guidance Counselor to discuss the colleges they are considering on Naviance.

  • Counselors will conduct in class lessons on the college application process. The college application process, letters of recommendation, and transcript requests will be discussed. Students will be given a folder of information to bring home and review with their family.

  • Students should ask two academic teachers for letters of recommendation. (preferably 11th grade teachers). Students may also ask a coach, group sponsor, religious leader, etc.

  • Student Athletes who plan to enroll in a Division I or II school should register with the NCAA

  • Students should continue to update their resume in Naviance including all activities, work experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, honors, awards and special interests.

Summer Before 12th Grade

  • Students should finalize a list of colleges that they are applying to. Ensure that at least 1 school is a “safety school”.

  • Students should prepare videotapes, audiotapes, art portfolios, and resumes, if appropriate (often for athletes and art/music students).

  • Students should request information from colleges of interest and attend college visits.

  • Students should begin drafting college essays.

  • Students should explore the common application online. The most recent common application is usually available late July-August.

  • Students should register for the SAT or ACT if they need to take it one more time during the fall of senior year.

  • Determine which, if any, SAT Subject Tests are required for admissions.

Senior Year

**** It is strongly recommended that all college applications are completed before Thanksgiving.

September – October

  • Students should finalize their list of colleges.

  • Students should finalize their resume.

  • PHS hosts a college fair in October which over 100 college representatives attend. Students should review the list of colleges attending in advance and create of list of who they would like to speak to and what questions they would like to ask.

  • Students should register for the fall SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject tests, if needed.

  • If they haven’t already done so students should ask two academic teachers for recommendations. Students can also ask a coach, group sponsor, religious leader, etc.

  • Students should be aware of all application deadlines.

  • Students must follow the College Application Process on Naviance.

  • Students should utilize Naviance to track their college applications.

  • Parents should complete the CSS Profile (financial aid form) for select colleges/universities that require it.

  • Parent should begin to gather materials for financial aid forms, such as the FAFSA. For more information, click here.

  • Parents should file the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (https://fafsa.ed.gov/) which is now available in October.

November – December

  • Continue to monitor application deadlines. Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are typically November 15 – students must complete applications two weeks prior to the deadline.

  • Check the priority deadlines for schools with rolling admission. It is better for students to have applications submitted prior to the deadlines so you are considered among the first batch of students. It becomes more difficult to be accepted the longer students wait.

  • Students who apply Early Decision or Early Action usually receive a reply by mid-December. If a student is accepted Early Decision, all other applications must be withdrawn as this is a binding contract. Early Action acceptances are not binding so students may wait for decisions from other schools.

January – February

  • Last call for college applications!

  • If any colleges require require mid-year grades, the student must complete a Transcript Request/Release Form in the College and Career Center

March – April

  • Notifications from Regular Decision applications arrive.

  • Mail a confirmation check to only one college by May 1, the national notification deadline

  • Complete the required paperwork for enrollment, including room and board options. The earlier you complete this process the greater chance of getting first choice for dorms, etc.

May

  • AP Examinations are administered. Students should ask the college admissions office what scores are required to receive AP credit.

June

  • Complete the required high school graduation senior survey on Naviance.

  • A final transcript will be sent to the matriculating college that students select on the graduation survey via Naviance.