College Planning By Grade Level

School Counselors meet with all 9th grade students one-on-one as a way to start building relationships with them. At this meeting we begin the process of creating a 4-year plan.

Our 9th grade students activate their school-issued Naviance accounts that they will use all throughout high school. We show students the many different options and resources available to them in Naviance, and we will assign them a series of assessments over the course of four years.

9th graders will complete the Naviance Strengths Explorer assessment to gain a deeper understanding of what their academic, personal, and career strengths are. This assessment will identify their strongest emerging talents.

All sophomore students are given the opportunity to take the PSAT in October. Counselors give a PSAT follow up presentation where students are instructed how to set up a College Board account and how to link their PSAT scores to Khan Academy for individualized SAT college prep.

Sophomores and their parents are invited to the GAP Year Enrichment Program Night.

Our sophomore students complete a personality type survey in Naviance called Do What You Are. Personality type is the innate way people naturally see the world and make decisions. Do What You Are helps students make more informed decisions about their future. After all, people are happiest and most successful in work that allows them to use their greatest gifts, and personality type is the best way to determine what those gifts are.

Sophomores will also complete the Naviance Career Interest Profiler and begin researching careers that match their personality style as previously defined in the Do What You Are assessment.

Counselors are available to meet one-on-one to review the 4-year plan and discuss early college planning with students.

Students are given the opportunity to attend a college tour on a 4-year campus during the spring of their sophomore year. Previously visited colleges include: Bates College, Bowdoin College, UMaine: Orono, UMaine: Farmington, University of New England, and University of Southern Maine.

Juniors are given the opportunity to take the PSAT’s. Counselors give a PSAT follow up presentation where students are instructed how to set up a College Board account and how to link their PSAT scores to Khan Academy for individualized SAT college prep.

Juniors are invited to College Rep Visits in the fall.

Our junior students complete a personality type survey in Naviance called Do What You Are. Personality type is the innate way people naturally see the world and make decisions. Do What You Are helps students make more informed decisions about their future. After all, people are happiest and most successful in work that allows them to use their greatest gifts, and personality type is the best way to determine what those gifts are.

Juniors and their parents are invited to the GAP Year Enrichment Program Night.

Juniors attend a class meeting presentation on the college planning process. They are introduced to a variety of college search engines. Students can utilize our curated list of junior-specific scholarships.

Guidance counselors hold junior meetings for all juniors in the spring, meeting one-on-one and discussing their individualized post-secondary plans. Students receive a college planning timeline, learn about how to create a balanced list of schools, have a transcript review, are given information about upcoming assessments, and finalize classes for senior year.

Parents of junior students are invited to a College Planning & Financial Aid information night in late winter.

Selected juniors are invited to apply to the “EMBARK” program.

All Juniors take the SAT in April.

Juniors are given the opportunity to attend a NEACAC College Fair in May.

Our senior students have their senior meetings with their counselor in the fall to assist with their post-secondary planning.  Seniors are introduced to using Common App which is used to request letters of recommendation and transcripts. 

Parents will have access to a webinar with information regarding the college process and timeline.

Seniors are invited to attend College Rep Visits in the Guidance Office.

Students and parents are invited to the FAFSA informational event hosted by Region 10.

Students and parents are invited to the GAP Year Enrichment Program Night.

Students are invited to the Same Day Admit program including but not limited to CMCC, SMCC, UM, UMF

Seniors attend a scholarship presentation and then are supported by our guidance office to discover the many, many generous offers of scholarship opportunity, and decide which they’d like to apply.

One-on-one meetings are available to assist students with understanding college acceptance & financial aid packages - also assistance in college selection and acceptance checklists.

Assistance in Candlelight Scholarship Ceremony.