Freshman Year

• Familiarize yourself with graduation and college admissions requirements. 

• Become involved in extra curricular 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.

Sophomore 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 and/ or go to the Greenville High website.

• 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. Consider volunteer activities and leadership positions.

Spring

• Find information regarding career choices and possibilities. Check with your counselor or career development facilitator to explore career options.

• Register for your junior year courses with your career goals in mind.

Junior Year

Fall

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

• Identify what you are looking for in a college, if you are planning to attend. 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. 

• 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. 

• Attend any College Fair available in your area.

Spring

• Continue to work on your list of possible colleges. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences in the colleges.

• Schedule college visits to tour colleges you might be interested in taking.

• Take the SAT and/or ACT. Be sure to check with your counselor about test dates and fee waivers. 

• Plan your senior year schedule carefully. Be sure that you are taking the courses needed for graduation and college admissions. 

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

Summer

• Continue college visits to tour schools you might be interested in attending. 

• 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.

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.

• Submit admissions applications to the colleges of your choice. (On average, students apply to three different schools.) 

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

• Apply for available scholarships. 

Spring

• Attend financial aid workshops.

• Complete the FAFSA application to apply for financial aide. FAFSA forms may be completed online. FAFSA can not be submitted prior to January 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.

• Wait for admissions responses. Respond to offers of admission. Notify the college you plan to attend as well as those to which you were accepted but will not attend. Send in required deposits, housing contracts, medical forms or other requested information.

• Maintain a list of all financial aid and scholarship offers. Your 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.