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Junior Yearo Continue to focus on academics; look to take on leadership roles in your extracurricular activities;
your junior year performance will be the most important for college admissions.
o Take the PSAT exam in October.
o Be certain that you are on track to meet high school graduation and college entrance requirements.
o If you are an athlete who wishes to compete in college, be aware of NCAA Clearinghouse guidelines.
o If you are an artist/musician/dancer, determine if you’ll need to compose a portfolio or arrange for a special interview.
o Prepare for and take the SAT and/or ACT tests, preferably in the spring semester (May or June).
o Take SAT Subject Tests in the spring (if you’ll apply to colleges that require them).
o If you’ll need standardized testing accommodations, be aware of deadlines for required paperwork.
o Ask older friends/family about their college experiences.
o Research colleges in guidebooks, online, and at college fairs.
o If a college seems interesting to you, request to receive more information (on the admissions page of each college’s website, or at the college’s booth at college fairs).
o Organize and read college literature that arrives in the mail.
o Visit colleges and arrange interviews. Utilize college websites for virtual tours.
o Prepare an activities résumé and bring a copy to interviews.
o Complete personal statement for college.
o Register with collegeboard and study for the SAT.
o Apply to scholarships.
o Attend college visits and campus tours in the spring with TCHS.
o Update activities resume.
Summer before Senior Year
- Continue to visit colleges and arrange on-campus or alumni interviews.
- Continue to research colleges online, in guidebooks, and in person.
- Begin to narrow your list down to the colleges you’d most like to attend.
- Create a system to organize your applications; keep copies of everything you send.
- Gather applications for the colleges you’re serious about, or create an online account for online applications (keep login and passwords written in a secure location at home!)
- Begin writing application essays.
- Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (if you’re hoping to play a sport in college)/ Complete art portfolio/Prepare for musical audition, if necessary.
- Complete registrations for fall SAT/ACT tests, if necessary.
- Apply to scholarships.
- Take practice SAT/ACT exams.
Senior Year
General
- Narrow college choices.
- Make a list of all application and scholarship deadlines.
- Update activities résumé.
- Complete applications, including essays.
- Complete recommendation forms for teachers and counselor, submit to recommenders several weeks prior to the deadline. The earlier, the better!
- If you plan to ask an additional adult for a recommendation, make that request early and ask him/her to submit the letter to the guidance office.
- Send official SAT or ACT score reports to colleges that you did not originally list when you registered for the test.
- Retake SAT or ACT.
- Meet with college representatives who visit TCHS in the fall.
- Actively search for scholarships, including ones for sports, activities, service, academics, and cultural, religious, or ethnic organizations.
October
- Applications for Early Decision/Early Action colleges will need to be submitted to the guidance office.
- Financial aid forms will need to be completed for early decision colleges so that a projected award can be calculated; official financial aid application will be completed after January 1st.
- Applications for colleges that have rolling admissions can be submitted at any time — the sooner, the better!
December
- All applications will need to be submitted to guidance during the 1st week of December**.
- Write thank you notes to individuals who wrote letters of recommendation for you.
- Attend college night with your parents.
January
- When it comes to financial aid, remember that DEADLINES MATTER!!
- Financial aid forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile) available online and can be submitted as early as January 1st. Check each college’s deadline for submission of financial aid forms! Priority deadlines can be as early as February and may not require tax returns for completion.
- Some colleges might require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. This application is available at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com.
- Submit applications for colleges with February/March deadlines.
April
- April 1st is the date by which all colleges must notify applicants with a decision.
- During the month of April you may consider visiting/revisiting colleges to which you were accepted. Many will hold formal programs for accepted students.
- Carefully compare financial aid award letters and determine the affordability of your options.
May
- Notify your college of choice by May 1st. This will usually require a monetary deposit to hold your spot for the fall.
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