General timelines

Freshman Year

• Start working on your four-year plan

• Get involved in high school activities

• Find out where the school counselor office is located. Spend some time there and get acquainted with resources and thinking about what appeals to you

• Work on building a good transcript (this means take challenging courses and get good grades!)

• Complete some community service

Sophomore Year

• Review your four-year plan by making adjustments to coincide with your post high school plans

• Consider your interests, abilities, and values as you explore career and educational options

• Explore summer opportunities to enrich your experiences

• Consider PSEO (post secondary enrollment option) or CIS (college in school) for your junior year to gain college credit

  • Need a certain GPA to receive college credit and may need a certain class rank, reach out to your school counselor

Junior Year

• Start your post high school planning. A good first step is to meet with your school counselor and review your strengths and interests, your academic plan, and your current transcript

• Attend college and career fairs

• Consider taking the PSAT

• Collect college brochures, view books, and program information - organize information by starting a college folder

• Attend meetings with college reps

• Study for the ACT and take the ACT in the Spring at the high school

• Pay attention and work diligently in your "careers" class - this class gives you valuable and irreplaceable information!

• Investigate requirements for admission to colleges that you are interested in

• Register carefully for senior year classes and check in with the school counselor about your credits

• Schedule a summer job or internship

• Get reference letters from summer jobs, internships, or special activities

Senior Year

September

• Attend a meeting with your school counselor to check in regarding credits and upcoming opportunities

• Talk to teachers or employers about letters of recommendation (allow them three weeks to write you a great letter)

• Check out ACT (www.act.org) for registration guidelines if you'd like to take the ACT again

• Obtain college application and review for early admittance incentives and application deadlines. Remember that most college applications are submitted prior to winter break and that counselors need requests for recommendations ahead of time

• Apply to technical programs

• Check out the MCIS website (www.mncis.intocareers.org) for college and occupation information. Ms. Olson has your log-in info

• Attend meetings with college reps

October

• College Knowledge Month: most colleges in MN have free applications during the month of October or for at least one week in October, apply to college now!

  • Let your school counselor know which colleges you need your transcript sent to

• Watch for scholarship applications

• Attend college and career fairs

November-December

• Check college application deadlines and finalize plans

• Apply for scholarships

January

• Check in with your school counselor regarding your plans for the future

• Complete your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov

• Complete any additional financial aid forms. If you do not live with your biological parents, check in with your school counselor to see if your FAFSA may be impacted by this

February-May

• Review college acceptances and make final decision, reply promptly to college

• Finish filling out local scholarships

• Make sure that your credits are on track for graduation

• Request a final transcript to be sent to the college you plan to attend