• Is your student still studying for the SAT and ACT? This is the year they will complete those exams, so maintaining a study schedule is crucial to scoring high!

• It may be best to check in on your student's college readiness during this year, even more so than in previous years. Eleventh grade is the last year the student will have to prove themselves before applying to college next year.

• At the start of this school year, your student should begin to identify who they will ask to write letters of recommendation. Whether it be for college applications or job applications, a letter of recommendation tells the reader another individual's honest perspective of your student's work ethic.

• Recommenders must be someone with who the student has been working. Contacting a new teacher or a new acquaintance is not a good approach. It's best to have someone who knows your student well and can advocate on their behalf. 

• SAT and ACTs traditionally take place in March, but other dates are available before and after, too. March is five months away! How is the test prep going? Keeping up with a study schedule will enhance your student's score.

• Why are SAT/ACT scores so important? Well. Many colleges use the scores to determine how ready a student is to take on college-level courses. Furthermore, if your student struggles with their grades, a strong SAT or ACT score could help support their college application.

• Will test prep continues, now is a good time for your student to narrow their college search. After exploring majors, programs, and universities since the ninth grade, your student is now ready to build a list of target schools.

• Ideally, selecting 5 - 8 colleges or universities is a good starting point. 

• Selected institutions should provide your student's major, have regional accreditation, and be within your student's grades and academic performance range. 

• Keep studying for the ACT and SAT

• Keep fostering relationships for letters of recommendation

• Identify 5 - 7 safe schools! The term "safe schools" refers to backup colleges and universities. A safe school is a college/university with admissions standards that are not as high as the 5 - 8 colleges the student is targeting.

• Safe schools help assure admissions to college. If your student's application gets denied at all of their targeted schools, the safe backup schools may offer admissions.

• Keep studying for the ACT and SAT

• By now, your student should have 10 - 12 institutions to which they intend on applying. This includes targetting schools and safe schools. Since the search for a college or university has been completed, now is an excellent time for both parents and students to review the selected college's mission statements, values, and campus offering beyond coursework. Internalizing this information will help with writing admissions essays next year. 

• We're just one month from the SAT and SAT. Keep them studying! 

• Your student has identified colleges, reviewed content for admissions essays, and connecting with potential recommenders. Use this month to focus on test preparation exclusively. Every day of February should include ACT and SAT study time.

• ACT and SAT TESTING IS THIS MONTH!

• Keep studying for the ACT and SAT. In addition to the test content, be sure to brush up on testing strategy and time management.

• Leading up to the student's test date, help them to eliminate barriers or distractions. Whether spending too much time at a part-time job, on social media or focusing on school projects that are not due until well after the test, shifting your student's focus to the ACT and SAT is essential to their success.

• Be sure to advise your student to connect with their counselor to discuss test dates, stress management, and mindfulness. 

• Testing is now in the past, and scores should be available to your student already or very soon. 

• Low test score? Do not get discouraged. Your student can retest. Retesting shows commitment to success, and your student's college admissions application will not suffer solely based on retesting. 

• Now is a good time for your student to review their career path and which of their selected colleges offer the best non-academic resources. These resources include access to career services, counselors and career advisors specializing in the same field, and employers who recruit from the selected schools.  

• It's the perfect time to check in with your student's guidance counselor. As we approach twelfth grade, it is best to get an idea of where your student stands regarding their graduation requirements, attendance, and any other concerns you may have. 

• Does your student have a state ID or driver's license? At a minimum, it's best to be sure your student get their state ID. Here is the link to the DMV application for an ID. 

• Your student can now review early admissions guidelines at each of their selected colleges. This is not necessary for the student's safe schools.

• As we head into summer break, let's review what we've completed:

  • • SAT and ACT

    • Identifying Recommenders

    • Narrowed your search for a list of colleges and universities

    • Identified safe schools

    • Explored school missions

    • Explored resources for your major and career path

• What's left? It's time to explore the Common App. Common App is a centralized college admissions application that nearly 1000 colleges and universities use. It helps simplify the process, but your student still has to submit all the listed items above. Your student mustn't feel that the Common App makes writing an essay easier. All admissions essays must be customized to each school.

• By this time next year, your student will no longer be a student. Instead, they will be preparing for college, work, or both. After next year, the assurance of another year or school with provided services is no longer. As we head into twelfth grade, let's collaborate to focus on your student's transition into adulthood.

• Keep your student focused on their list of colleges. Have them follow the colleges' social media accounts to stay attuned to campus culture.

• Have your student continue to explore early admissions guidelines and determine which schools they will be applying to for early admissions. Early admissions applications tend to be due in early November of the twelfth grade school year.

9th Grade College Prep Timeline

10th Grade College Prep Timeline

12th Grade College Prep Timeline