8th/9th grade

• Set post secondary pathway goals and identify interests

• Set post secondary work force goal in Naviance

• Begin a personalized college list based on determined factors in Naviance "Colleges I am thinking about"

• Road Trip Nation in Naviance 

• Set GPA goals and improve upon study skills

• Determine PSAT/SAT baseline score and determine trends

• Begin test prep basics for the SAT/PSAT

• Create a resume

• Begin involvement in high school clubs, extracurricular activities, or summer/career camps

• Explore volunteering and community service opportunities logging in Helper Helper

• Explore internships and employment opportunities through WBL 

• College visits, Trade School visits, and exploration around career interests 

10th grade

• Create a personalized college list based on determined factors in Naviance 

• Career Survey help you move forward in selecting a major or post secondary pathway 

• Create academic and GPA goals with course counseling & support

• Determine SAT baseline score and determine trends

• Begin test prep basics for the SAT/PSAT

• Build a resume and upload into Naviance

• Begin involvement in high school clubs, extracurricular activities, or summer/career camps

• Begin involvement in volunteering or community service opportunities logging in Helper Helper

• Begin internships and employment opportunities

• College visits, Trade School visits, and exploration around career interests

11th Grade

• College visits

• GPA improvement and/or academic advising and course counseling

• Maximize multiple fall and spring ACT/SAT prep classes and test dates (link College Board with Khan Academy)

• Standardized test score improvement with detailed score reports 

• Fall PSAT test prep classes for high achieving juniors (National Merit Scholarship Program)

• Resume enhancement

• Career Survey to move you forward in selecting a major

• Explore scholarship applications and deadlines

• Junior Meeting to discuss test scores, college list/visits and resume

Junior Year To-Do List

Test Prep

• Link College Board Account to Khan Academy

• Sycamore Learning Test Prep - Starts at $99

• ACT Academy

Exploring/Researching Colleges

• Complete college search through Naviance Big Future, College Navigator, or The College Tour

  • Update your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list in Naviance as necessary

• Sign-up for college rep visits through Naviance and (under “Colleges” tab and “Upcoming College Visits”)

• Tour colleges via official campus tours

• Set up College Board Account

Preparing to Apply to College

• Update resume/maintain a running list of community service, activities, and leadership roles

• Register for the ACT and/or SAT *CEEB (high school code): 060-747

• Sign up for official college tours to schools which you are considering applying

• Refine your list of colleges you are thinking about applying to (summer before senior year)

• Make note of application requirements: 

  • Teacher recommendation

  • Counselor recommendation

  • Admissions essay

  • Testing: If required, you must send ACT/SAT scores directly to college from testing agency

  • Make a list of your deadlines and request letters of recommendation and transcripts 4 weeks prior to your deadlines. Don’t forget a thank you note for your recommenders!

• Future collegiate athletes: Register with the NCAA eligibility center and send an official transcript to NCAA

Career Research

• ONET Interest Profiler

• My Next Move

• Career and self-discovery assessments in Naviance 

• Pursue job shadow and summer internship opportunities

Summer Before Senior Year*

• Create a Common Application account (if necessary)

  • Complete as much of the application as possible

  • Review essay prompts 

• Write and revise your essay(s) during the summer (many English Classes will have you work on this in the first months of school)

• College Applications: I’m ready to apply to college, now what?

12th Grade 

• Finalize "Top 10" personalized college list

• Potential colleges left to visit

• Create Common App link to Naviance 

• Essay development and workshops

• Finalize essay submissions

• Finalize resume

• ACT/SAT game plan for fall semester (final attempt)

• Letters of recommendation (request through Naviance) 

• College applications and deadline management

• Finalize scholarship applications and deadline management

• Senior/Parent Post Secondary Meeting 

• FAFSA/financial aid forms

• College transition readiness

Beginning of Senior Year

• Move colleges over in Naviance from “Colleges I’m Thinking About” to “Colleges I’m Applying To” and match to your Common App, if applicable

• Request letters of recommendation from teachers (provide at least 4 weeks notice and don’t forget a thank you note)

• Request official transcripts via Naviance 

• Schedule and attend a Senior Conference with your counselor and parent