Freshman Year in High School

• Emphasis on academic excellence! Grades now count and all final grades will be on the students' permanent record (transcript). Schedule rigorous high school courses. By graduation, you should have taken four years of English Math, Social Studies and Science. If you expect to take Advanced Placement courses later, you may need to sign up for prerequisites now.

• Register with Family connection through Naviance. Begin working on the personality tests and career tests available. Begin career searches and explore summer learning experiences.

• Explore clubs and activities in and outside of school that will offer you the chance to develop leadership skills.

• Become familiar with college entrance requirements. Your academic performance (grade point average, class rank and types of courses you take), SAT and/or ACT test scores, teacher or counselor recommendations, extra- curricular activities, essays and interviews are all important factors at most colleges.

• Research college costs, scholarships and other forms of financial aid. If you haven’t begun to save for college, do so as soon as possible.

Sophomore Year in High School

• Continue to take challenging college prep courses.

• Take the PSAT’s as a practice if you have completed Geometry. Review the results with your teachers, counselor and parents. Checkout My College Quick Start on www.collegeboard.com.

• Continue working on career exploration through Naviance. Draw up a list of college majors that intrigue you and review your four-year course load with the majors in mind.

• Start collecting information about colleges. You may begin getting brochures from colleges in the mail.

• Build a list of colleges in which you are interested or that you may want to visit.

• Attend local college fairs.

Junior Year in High School

Examine course load (take most difficult courses possible). Junior-year grades are extremely important, as is the rigor of your coursework.

Review your transcript for errors.

Register, prepare for and take the PSAT’s.

• In December when your scores come in Review your results and decide whether you'd benefit from a SAT preparation course or from using test-prep software.

Explore colleges/trade schools. Start your list of schools to visit.

• Talk with your parents about college costs. Knowing now how much they can contribute may affect your decision about where to apply.

• Check college guides/handbooks/internet resources.

• Correspond with school(s) for materials.

• Check admission process/qualifications for each college.

Decide on dates for taking SAT's and ACT’s.

• Check with your colleges to see if they require or prefer the ACT or the SAT. (Most will accept either.)

• We recommend taking both, since many students do better on one than on the other.

• The ACT examines "knowledge learned" in school; the SAT is an "aptitude" test.

Complete your graduation project. (For 2015 and 2016 graduates only)

Have your parents attend the Junior Parent Night at the High School.

Meet with school counselor to review course selection, and your plans for after high school.

Complete College Search in Naviance Family Connection. Identify the characteristics of a college that matter to you - size, location, cost, academic rigor, social environment, diversity, for example, and finalize your list of schools to visit. Plan to be on campus while schools are in session.

Visit colleges, talk to admissions counselors, and go to campus open-houses.

Refine your college list (5-7 colleges), begin to secure applications.

Take Advanced Placement tests and prepare to take June SAT or ACT tests.

Work on college application essay over summer.

Compile a resume of activities, honors, leadership positions, and job experience. You'll need this information for college applications and scholarship forms.

Think of two teachers who would write you a recommendation letter.

Complete NCAA Application if needed.

Important College Admissions Deadlines

Some colleges have established deadlines for applying as early as November 1st ; other colleges have deadlines of January 1st . If you are applying to any Pennsylvania state college, we encourage you to apply before the end of October. Pennsbury High School special deadlines exist for Early Decision Applications and for applications that need to go out before the holiday rush:

• November 1st Deadline - submit by October 14th (this includes all Early Decision and Early Action applications)

• November 15th Deadline – submit by October 28th

• Thanksgiving Deadline - submit by November 4th (this includes all December 1st deadlines)

• Winter Break Deadline - submit by December 2nd (this includes all January 1st deadlines)

Senior Year in High School

• Review your transcript.

• Refine list of Colleges and review your final list of colleges with your counselor.

• Organize and complete all Applications including Work on Essays – use your resources, Naviance, College Board, parents, teachers.

• Schedule interviews if required or recommended.

• Send official ACT and/SAT scores .

• Ask two teachers to write recommendations. Supply them with the correct information (re commendation forms and stamped envelopes addressed to the colleges' admissions offices).

• Have your parents attend the Senior Parent Night .

• Complete a transcript Release Label and Request that your transcripts be sent to the colleges you have chosen.

• Call admissions office to insure application requirements are complete.

• Investigate scholarships and institutional financial aid. Check application deadlines.

• Apply for federal and state financial aid on the FAFSA website .

• Send mid-year transcripts to your colleges.

• Notify the Guidance Office of Acceptances .

• Evaluate your financial-aid offers as you make a decision about where to go and then notify the college.

• Look for information about Freshman Orientation, housing assignments, roommate information, and course selection. Complete the Senior Survey in May to insure your final transcript is sent.

• Finally... Pack for your new home!