Class of 2021

Don't Forget to Schedule your Appointment with your College Counselor as soon as you fill out your Request Form so you can get your preferred date and time

It's going to be a busy year.... snapshot of what to expect

Fall

• Continue to take college prep and honors classes.
• Expand your interests by joining clubs and activities that are meaningful to you and may apply to your potential major.
• You will take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) for practice. When you fill out your test sheet, make sure you check the box that releases your name to colleges so you can start receiving information from them.
• Strengthen relationships with teachers and counselor as they can help you later on in your search.
• Become familiar with general college entrance requirements. Attend a Saturday Hybrid SAT vs. ACT practice test so you can learn which is the best test for you. The dates are posted on Schoology.
• Attend the lunch time series: “So You Want to Be A…..” so you can learn more about various careers, what high school classes will help you as well as receive a list of great summer opportunities and a college list.

Winter

• Attend the Sophomore Parent/ Student Presentation on understanding what the PSAT scores mean for you. If you cannot attend, discuss your PSAT score with your counselor and devise an action plan for areas that need improving.
• Get involved in activities outside the classroom through community service and other volunteer activities ideally that relate to your potential college interest.
• Seek out leadership positions in the activities that you enjoy the most.
• Work on your writing skills—it will come in handy for your application essays and anything you choose to study.
• Discuss college cost factors with your parents/guardians and investigate options, such as scholarships.
• Tour a nearby college, if possible. Visit relatives or friends who live on or near a college campus. Check out the dorms, go to the library and student center, and then begin to think about what type of college you want to attend.
• Investigate summer enrichment programs and APPLY!

Spring

• Keep your grades up so you can have the highest GPA and class decile rank possible.
• Meet with College Counselor for course and summer advisement. Ask your counselor about courses to take over the summer or next year.
• Continue to explore interests and careers that you might like and talk to your counselor about them.
• Go onto college websites and find out their academic requirements for admission.
• Read all of the mail you receive from colleges and make notes of what you like and dislike.
• Attend college fairs. Pick up literature on colleges that catch your eye and talk to admission counselors from colleges you’ve started investigating.
• Solidify summer plans. Please meet with your College Counselor and check out dozens of vetted ideas found in Schoology under Resources/ Summer Opportunities.

Summer

• Visit a few more local college campuses to begin zeroing in on the type of college you would prefer (two-year or four-year, small or large, rural or urban).
• Talk to friends and relatives about their college experience and use that to help define what you are looking for.
• Read as many books as possible as it will help prepare you for the amount of reading expected of you in college and is a great way to improve reading comprehension.
• If you are a strong student, take a summer SAT test prep class so you will rock the PSAT test in October! If you are potentially a recruited athlete- take a SAT test prep class as well. Most college coaches will ask your PSAT scores to see if you have the potential to meet the college’s academic requirements.
• If you would like to increase your GPA, take a FREE summer online College of the Siskiyous class. The subject areas are: Psychology, Sociology, Ethnic Studies, and Anthropology. Please email Mr. Cushing if you are interested.