AUGUST:

• Begin the college selection process! Attend college fairs and learn as much as you can about the application process.

• Check your transcript to be sure that you’ve chosen the right courses for this year and begin to plan for next year’s schedule.

• Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II sports in college. For more information, visit the NCAA Eligibility Requirements Site. If your potential college is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member, click here for eligibility information.

SEPTEMBER:

• Register for the October PSAT. Taking the PSAT junior year is the ONLY way to qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

• Save samples of your best work for your academic portfolio.

• Keep track of your extra-curricular activities, honors and awards. See below for a Recommendation Activity Worksheet to use as a tracker.

OCTOBER:

• Take the PSAT. Your scores may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship: a very prestigious and selective honor. This can mean big money to help pay for college costs!

• Pay attention to announcements and take advantage of leadership development opportunities open for juniors. It’s good experience for you, and colleges and scholarship organizations like to see that you’re active in helping in your community.

• Get ready to present yourself professionally as a potential college student. Use a professional-sounding email address (not something like GlitterKitty4Evah@email.com) for your college communications. Keep an organized system for logging passwords and usernames for various websites you’ll be returning to, like www.collegeboard.org. Clean up anything that would make you seem unprofessional or discount how serious you are about college planning. 

NOVEMBER:

• Keep your grades up! December progress report grades are used for calculating 1st semester honor roll.

• Start researching for financial aid sources: grants, scholarships. Become familiar with the scholarship guide created by the DHS Counseling Department. It is located at DHS Scholarships.

• Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to help you identify your career or academic interests and skills.

DECEMBER:

• If you are planning to go to a 4-year college, register to take either the SAT or ACT college entrance exams.  You’ll do best on the math portions of the exams if you’ve completed or are going to complete Advanced Algebra this year. Register now for the February or March exam.

• Register at: www.collegeboard.org for SAT or www.act.org for ACT. All DHS students qualify for up to 2 fee waivers on the ACT.  Students who meet income requirements may also be eligible for SAT fee waivers.  See your counselor or the college advisor for more information.

• Visit www.collegeboard.com to help you develop a list of colleges you’d like to investigate further.

• Review your PSAT scores with your counselor to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

• Be on the lookout for College Admissions Exam prep courses. Use online study resources: SAT - Khan Academy or ACT - www.number2.com and ACT Academy.

• Continue to check the DHS Scholarship Guide for opportunities.  It is updated weekly and available at DHS Scholarships.

FEBRUARY:

• Think about taking on some community service projects—get involved with something beyond your usual routine.

• Take prep courses for the SAT and ACT. Visit Khan Academy and ACT Academy for free assistance. 

• During your IGP meeting be sure to choose courses that will continue to be challenging.

MARCH-APRIL:

• Start gathering admissions literature from the colleges on your list.

• Re-evaluate your college list, removing colleges that no longer interest you and adding others as appropriate.

• Begin looking into special summer Academic Programs or summer jobs.  Volunteer Opportunities 

MAY-JUNE:

• Take the SAT or ACT if you haven’t.

• Arrange some college visits over the summer.

• Re-evaluate your college list.  Many applications will open after August 1.

• May transcript grades are used to calculate 2nd semester honor roll and your cumulative Grade Point Average.