Summer Before Senior Year

Research Colleges (use Naviance to help build your college list)

The  data should help you identify 6-12 colleges of interest, including 2-3 safety schools (both academic and financial safeties), 3-6 match schools with strong chance of acceptance, and an optional 1-3 reach schools

Tour college campuses when possible

If you are able to visit any of your potential interests, you will have a more in depth view of what that campus may offer. You can do a self guided or sign up for an official tour.

Understand college costs

Talk to your parents about college costs and use the online tools to calculate your "Expected Family Contribution", the amount of money estimated as your's family's college contribution. Most colleges have "Net Price Calculators" and can give a good estimate of cost of attendance.

Applications: 

• Applications: the Common application, Coalition, and the UC Application open on August 1st. You can start an account and begin to input your information, saving it until the application is complete, reviewed, and the filing period has begun. The CSU application will open on October 1st. Remember your passwords!

Essay

Begin working on your Common App essay, UC Personal Insight Questions, and/ or supplemental writing required by a college on your list. You might just start brainstorming, have a rough draft, or a complete essay, but starting the process will lighten your workload in the fall. Remember that the Common App main essay is shared between multiple schools, and the same holds for the Coalition application, so make sure your writing is not school specific in the main essay. 

Letters of Recommendation:

Decide if you will need a letter of recommendation for college applications. Usually only private schools and some out of state colleges will request or accept. Please note that UC and CSU schools do not require or accept letters of recommendation. If you need a letter, please discuss this option with an academic teacher of your choice. Try to have this conversation early, as each teacher may have multiple requests, and may not be able to accommodate all letters. They will also need at least one month or longer prior to any of your application due dates to complete a letter.

If you need a Counseling Recommendation, please make sure to follow the process and deadline sent out to you by your assigned counselor. For more information, please visit the Counseling website