College/Career Planning
Need Help Applying and Researching Colleges?
Need Help Applying and Researching Colleges?
Click here for more info on the Regional College Access Center or you can also reach out to our Americorps member Melonni Brower at mbrower@arizonaserve.org
Click here for more info on the Regional College Access Center or you can also reach out to our Americorps member Melonni Brower at mbrower@arizonaserve.org
College Application Deadlines for the TOP 50 Colleges/Universities
Each school has its own policies when it comes to early action, early decision, and regular decision. As a result, while many schools have a November 1 ED deadline or January 1 RD deadline, not all colleges follow the path. You might find a few schools have ED applications due on November first, and some schools even accept RD applications upto February. So to make sure you’re organized in knowing which applications to prioritize and when to submit them, we’ve provided you with a table of college application deadlines 2021-2022 at the top colleges, how to navigate these, and some final tips as you embark on this defining journey. College Application Deadlines for the TOP 50 Colleges/Universities
College Application Deadlines Here
College Exploration
College Exploration
Description of Majors
Description of Majors
Military Colleges and Academies
Military Colleges and Academies
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Provides an opportunity for students to attend a public college outside of Arizona for a reduced level of tuition (150% of the host institution's resident tuition). The WICHE member states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Interested applicants should visit the website to search participating institutions by program of study.
What Does It Mean To Be First Generation College Student?
What Does It Mean To Be First Generation College Student?
University of California Admissions Info
University of California Admissions Info
College Planning Timeline
College Planning Timeline
Four Year Planning Guide
Suggested courses by year. This guide reflects a schedule that meets the MINIMUM graduation requirements:
Suggested courses by year. This guide reflects a schedule that meets the MINIMUM graduation requirements:
Grade 9:
Grade 9:
1. English 9 /Honors English 9
1. English 9 /Honors English 9
2. Math (Algebra I/Geometry/Honors Geometry)
2. Math (Algebra I/Geometry/Honors Geometry)
3. Earth Science/Honors Biology/AP Environmental Science
3. Earth Science/Honors Biology/AP Environmental Science
4. Student Success/Freshmen Gov
4. Student Success/Freshmen Gov
5. Elective*
5. Elective*
6. Elective*
6. Elective*
Grade 10:
Grade 10:
1. English 10 /Honors English 10
1. English 10 /Honors English 10
2. Math (Geometry/Honors Geometry/Algebra II/Honors Algebra II)
2. Math (Geometry/Honors Geometry/Algebra II/Honors Algebra II)
3. Biology/Honors Biology/Chemistry/Honors Chemistry
3. Biology/Honors Biology/Chemistry/Honors Chemistry
4. World History or AP World History
4. World History or AP World History
5. Elective*
5. Elective*
6. Elective*
6. Elective*
Grade 11:
Grade 11:
1. English 11/AP English Language
1. English 11/AP English Language
2. Math (Algebra II/Honors Algebra II/Advanced Math Course)
2. Math (Algebra II/Honors Algebra II/Advanced Math Course)
3. Advanced Science Course
3. Advanced Science Course
4. U.S. History/AP US History
4. U.S. History/AP US History
5. Elective*
5. Elective*
6. Elective*
6. Elective*
Grade 12:
Grade 12:
1. Writing 101/ AP English Literature
1. Writing 101/ AP English Literature
2. Advanced Math
2. Advanced Math
3. Senior Government/Economics
3. Senior Government/Economics
4. Elective*
4. Elective*
5. Elective*
5. Elective*
6. Elective*
6. Elective*
*Required electives include 2.0 credits of fine arts or 2.0 credits of CTE. or combo. College admissions requires 2.0 credits of the same foreign language.
*Required electives include 2.0 credits of fine arts or 2.0 credits of CTE. or combo. College admissions requires 2.0 credits of the same foreign language.
Grade 9
Grade 9
Don't neglect your study habits! Keep up the good work and continue to improve your study skills. Start your high school experience with strong grades.
Don't neglect your study habits! Keep up the good work and continue to improve your study skills. Start your high school experience with strong grades.
If you are struggling in class, meet with your teacher either during Academic Assistance or by appointment.
If you are struggling in class, meet with your teacher either during Academic Assistance or by appointment.
If you don't have one, sign up for a college savings account.
If you don't have one, sign up for a college savings account.
Talk to your counselor, teachers, family members, or trusted adults about your plans for college.
Talk to your counselor, teachers, family members, or trusted adults about your plans for college.
Follow the Tanque Verde High School Four Year Planning Guide to keep track of your courses and grades.
Follow the Tanque Verde High School Four Year Planning Guide to keep track of your courses and grades.
Get involved in campus and community activities and volunteer.
Get involved in campus and community activities and volunteer.
Grade 10
Grade 10
Keep those grades up! Stay on track with your courses.
Keep those grades up! Stay on track with your courses.
Continue to meet with your teachers for extra help.
Continue to meet with your teachers for extra help.
Find out about AP and Honors level courses for junior year.
Find out about AP and Honors level courses for junior year.
Continue extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
Continue extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
Take the PSAT in October.
Take the PSAT in October.
Talk to your parents and counselor about your post-secondary plans.
Talk to your parents and counselor about your post-secondary plans.
Keep reading! Expanding your vocabulary and learning new things will help with many things over the next few years.
Keep reading! Expanding your vocabulary and learning new things will help with many things over the next few years.
Grade 11
Grade 11
Maintaining your grades through your Junior year is very important! These grades are the first thing colleges will see when you apply.
Maintaining your grades through your Junior year is very important! These grades are the first thing colleges will see when you apply.
Take challenging courses. Colleges will consider how difficult your courses are.
Take challenging courses. Colleges will consider how difficult your courses are.
Really focus on your career and college research. Share your discoveries with your family.
Really focus on your career and college research. Share your discoveries with your family.
Stay involved in school and community activities.
Stay involved in school and community activities.
Meet with your Counselor:
Meet with your Counselor:
Talk about schedules for the SAT or ACT, and AP exams. Sign up for tests.
Talk about schedules for the SAT or ACT, and AP exams. Sign up for tests.
Review your transcripts and talk about ways to improve.
Review your transcripts and talk about ways to improve.
Discuss admissions requirements for the colleges you are interested in.
Discuss admissions requirements for the colleges you are interested in.
Register for PSAT in October. (Remember that when you take the PSAT in your Junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program - and it is also good practice for the SAT.
Register for PSAT in October. (Remember that when you take the PSAT in your Junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program - and it is also good practice for the SAT.
Visit colleges you are interested in attending. Set up a campus tour, meet with staff and students, etc.
Visit colleges you are interested in attending. Set up a campus tour, meet with staff and students, etc.
Choose a strong schedule for your Senior year.
Choose a strong schedule for your Senior year.
Register and take the SAT in March or the ACT in April, or both.
Register and take the SAT in March or the ACT in April, or both.
Take AP exams in May
Take AP exams in May
Continue to work on your application essays and review application procedures for the colleges you apply to.
Continue to work on your application essays and review application procedures for the colleges you apply to.
Make early decision preparations. This requires you to submit your application early, typically between October and December of your Senior year. Be ready to commit if this is your decision!
Make early decision preparations. This requires you to submit your application early, typically between October and December of your Senior year. Be ready to commit if this is your decision!
Grade 12
Grade 12
June/July/August:
June/July/August:
Register to take the ACT or SAT test.
Register to take the ACT or SAT test.
List your top colleges.
List your top colleges.
Request admissions information and school catalogs.
Request admissions information and school catalogs.
Schedule visits to colleges.
Schedule visits to colleges.
Compare costs of each school that interests you.
Compare costs of each school that interests you.
Register for the October/November SAT or ACT tests if you plan to take them.
Register for the October/November SAT or ACT tests if you plan to take them.
See your Guidance Counselor for a Senior Credit Check to make sure you have what you need to graduate and enter college.
See your Guidance Counselor for a Senior Credit Check to make sure you have what you need to graduate and enter college.
Create your Brag Sheet and Resume for college applications.
Create your Brag Sheet and Resume for college applications.
September:
September:
Get your Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the Free Application for Federal Assistance Aid (FAFSA) application at pin.edu.gov.
Get your Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the Free Application for Federal Assistance Aid (FAFSA) application at pin.edu.gov.
Prepare your information for the FAFSA.
Prepare your information for the FAFSA.
Work on admissions application essays if necessary.
Work on admissions application essays if necessary.
Submit your college applications September - November.
Submit your college applications September - November.
Search and apply for scholarships from a variety of sources, including your college(s) of choice.
Search and apply for scholarships from a variety of sources, including your college(s) of choice.
Apply to schools with early admission application deadlines.
Apply to schools with early admission application deadlines.
Ask for letters of recommendation.
Ask for letters of recommendation.
Request official transcripts from the registrar or parchment.com
Request official transcripts from the registrar or parchment.com
Take the SAT or ACT tests.
Take the SAT or ACT tests.
October/November:
October/November:
Complete the FAFSA and submit as early as October 1st.
Complete the FAFSA and submit as early as October 1st.
Check with your top college choices for FAFSA, institutional, and state aid priority deadlines.
Check with your top college choices for FAFSA, institutional, and state aid priority deadlines.
Check with your Counselor for scholarship opportunities. You can go to https://sites.google.com/site/tvhscounseling/scholarships for a list of scholarship opportunities.
Check with your Counselor for scholarship opportunities. You can go to https://sites.google.com/site/tvhscounseling/scholarships for a list of scholarship opportunities.
Use fafsa4caster.ed.gov and Net Price Calculator on college websites to determine costs for going to college.
Use fafsa4caster.ed.gov and Net Price Calculator on college websites to determine costs for going to college.
Watch your mailbox if you submitted an early decision application.
Watch your mailbox if you submitted an early decision application.
If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks.
If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks.
Take the SAT or ACT tests.
Take the SAT or ACT tests.
January/February:
January/February:
Continue to apply for scholarships.
Continue to apply for scholarships.
Request 7th semester official transcripts to be sent to colleges.
Request 7th semester official transcripts to be sent to colleges.
Rank your finalized list of colleges.
Rank your finalized list of colleges.
Register to retake the ACT or SAT test if needed.
Register to retake the ACT or SAT test if needed.
March/April/May:
March/April/May:
Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers.
Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers.
Make your final decision and be aware of deadlines. Notify your counselor and teachers where you will be attending.
Make your final decision and be aware of deadlines. Notify your counselor and teachers where you will be attending.
Contact the schools you are not planning to attend to inform them.
Contact the schools you are not planning to attend to inform them.
Send in deposit by the required deadline.
Send in deposit by the required deadline.
Have your high school send your final transcripts to your college.
Have your high school send your final transcripts to your college.
In May - Take AP exams for any AP subjects you have taken in high school.
In May - Take AP exams for any AP subjects you have taken in high school.
June/July
June/July
Determine how much additional money you may need to pay for college expenses.
Determine how much additional money you may need to pay for college expenses.
After exhausting grants, scholarships, and other aids – if you have additional expenses – consider applying for a private student loan to help cover your education costs.
After exhausting grants, scholarships, and other aids – if you have additional expenses – consider applying for a private student loan to help cover your education costs.