Fall, Step 1
Review your junior year schedule.  Consider the balance or rigor, opportunity, and your interests.  Review the Program of Studies for deadlines to make schedule change requests in the fall.    

Fall, Step 2

Develop your standardized testing plan and register for tests (ACT, SAT); review PSAT test results online in December.

Fall, Step 3

Review the flyer of counseling program events (College Fair, Financial Aid Night, College Rep Visits, Junior Planning Night every November).  Attend the college fair, and look out for Naviance Rep Visits with college representatives.  

Fall, Step 4

Use Naviance for your college exploration process and continue with career exploration from your sophomore year.  Familiarize yourself with the Naviance platform, assessments, and individual college websites as well.  Continue with the college search process.  Spend some time considering the factors that will make a school the right fit for you.  Refer to the counseling presentation from this fall for considerations for “best fit” schools. 

Winter, Step 5

Meeting with counselor for Junior Conference, which includes post-secondary planning and academic planning for senior year 

• Review the Program of Studies for course descriptions and grade/course prerequisites. Review any course recommendations from your teachers in Genesis and speak to teachers if you have questions.

• Review your graduation requirements to ensure your proposed course selections meet the requirements.  This includes both course credit requirements AND testing/assessment graduation requirements from the NJDOE (click here).

• Enter course selections for your senior year schedule into Genesis and submit. (The selections are not final, we can still discuss questions at your Junior Conference scheduling meeting).

• For the post secondary planning portion of the meeting, make a list of questions you have.  Consider the following topics: Standardized Testing, Post Secondary Plans (career, military, gap year, 2 year or 4 year college).

Spring, Step 6

Consider which junior year teacher(s) you will select to write your letter(s) of recommendation. Ask those teacher(s) if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you (this can occur after your junior conference).

Spring, Step 7

Consider visiting college campuses over spring break and/or during the spring.  Many colleges offer information sessions virtually, and in person where you can meet with admissions representatives.  Experiencing the college atmosphere in person can give you a sense of what life will be like at different campuses.

Spring, Step 8

Complete and submit Senior Packet Part A due June 1 to your counselor’s google classroom.

1. Directions - READ FIRST

2. Self-Description Survey

3. Parent/Guardian Brag Sheet

4. Preliminary College List 

5. Student Resume

Summer, Step(s) 9 

• Familiarize yourself with the Common Application and essay prompts.  

• Begin to draft your essays.  Check out the essay writing page of our website for recommendations.  

• Create a Common Application account (launches August 1st) and begin completing the application.  

• Continue college visits, revising your preliminary college list, editing your Senior Packet Part A if needed, and prepare to complete Senior Packet Part B.  

• Begin gathering documents for the financial aid process and create FSA IDs. 

Summer into Fall, Step 10 (...which is also Step 1 of the Application Checklist!)

Complete Senior Packet Part B due September 20th in your counselor's google classroom.  Part B will help you to get organized, including making checklists for each school you are applying to or create one document where you can keep track of all application components and deadlines.  Keep usernames and passwords in a safe place.