Freshman/Sophomore Planning Calendar 

9th/10th Grade

• Work hard on your classes. You will be reporting A-G class grades to universities 

  • 9th Grade: Biology, English, Math, plus an elective of your choice (Ex. Foreign Lang)

  • 10th Grade: Science, English, Math, History plus an elective of your choice

  • Consider taking a College Class! College classes give you college credit, improve your GPA, and make you a more competitive student! 

• Sign up to take the PSAT/NMSQT® in grade 10, which takes place during the second week of October. Make sure that you are at school! Students take the real SAT and ACT in 11th grade.

• Participate in extracurricular activities. Academics aren’t everything. Explore your interest in a sport, school club, program, or community volunteer activity. You can list up to 20 activities on the UC application and 10 on the Common App! 

  • Remember that colleges would rather see real involvement in one activity instead of a loose connection to several. 

  • If you were involved in a club ninth grade consider running for a position. Universities want to see student leaders!

• Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest. Don’t let any summer go to waste!

  • It is always a good idea to start saving for College

• Continue brainstorming on what career you want in the future. Talk to people about it and do research!

Junior Planning Calendar 

11th Grade 

• Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, social/cultural preferences and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college

• Work on your college research and begin narrowing down universities you are interested in. Students who qualify for a university application fee waiver can apply to 4 UC’s and 4 CSU’s for free. 

• Take an interest inventory to explore career options and college majors. Students can always apply to universities as undeclared but it is helpful if they know what they want to major in.

• Work hard on your classes. You will be reporting A-G class grades to universities 

  • 11th Grade: Science, History, Foreign Language, Visual/Performing Art, English, Math and electives of your choice

October

• The PSAT/NMSQT®, takes place during the second week of October. Make sure that you register to take it, study and prepare. Remember that this is the last practice exam you will take before the real SAT and ACT

February/ March

• Sign up for the SAT and ACT. Students who qualify for Free or Reduced lunch qualify for 2 free SAT registrations and 2 free ACT registrations. They also qualify for up to 2 free SAT subject registrations.

April

• All student athletes planning to participate in Division I or Division II sports in college must register with the NCAA eligibility center.  http://www.eligibilitycenter.org

May

• 11th graders will take the ACT for the first time

• Students who plan to take a college class in the summer should have their college classes selected and should submit their special admissions form to their counselor. Community college classes are a huge way of improving a student’s A-G GPA and this will be the last chance to improve a GPA prior to the college submission deadline in November of their senior year.

• Students take the SBAC which includes the EAP. The EAP measures Math and English college readiness for community colleges and universities within the California State University System. Doing well on this test can allow them to skip remediation and support classes and go directly to college level English and Math.

• Create a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities and work experiences since you started high school. 

June

• 11th graders will take the SAT for the first time

 August

• August 1st - UC Application opens as well as Common App for private and out of state universities. There is no advantage to submitting early, so take your time to make sure your application is accurate.

• Review your career plans and decide which type of school is right for you. If you haven’t done so already, finish your college research with your choice of schools through californiacolleges.edu.

September

• Ask teachers and counselors for letters of recommendation. The sooner you do this the better, but remember that you should ask teachers a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. You can request a counselor LOR HERE.

• Deadline to register for the October SAT/ACT

• Begin checking the Scholarship Bulletin on the VHS Counseling website for ongoing Scholarships.       

October

• October 1st - Application window for the CSU Application opens online (Submission Period for CSU and UC)

• Complete the CAL DREAM app at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/ as soon after October 1st, as possible (for undocumented students, DACA, U-Visa or TPS students)

• Make sure to verify your Cal Grant Verification was sent by VHS to the state of California. You will be able to check the status of this, along with your financial aid application on the MyGrantInfo website.

• Early October to early November: Window for AP Exam ordering available. Link for Total Registration will be posted on our counseling website.

• October deadline for November SAT

  • Note: If you are applying for fall admission to a 4-year college, all SAT/ACT*testing  (if required) should be completed before the December test date.      

• Check with out-of-state and private colleges for special deadlines.        

• Continue working on application essays/UC personal insight questions

November                

• November SAT/ACT Test date

December

• December 2nd, priority application filing period deadline for CSU and UC, make sure you make or save a copy of your applications before you send them. EOP deadlines range by school, so we recommend that they get done early by the end of November to avoid missing deadlines.

• Check filing deadlines for all colleges to which you are applying and write all financial aid and housing deadlines in your planner or Google calendar.    

• Last day for SAT/ACT if they require it

• Starting December- Submit your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov  and your CAL DREAM app at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/ as soon as possible. If you are applying to a private college, you may also have to complete the CSS PROFILE.

  • PARENTS: Get your income tax returns prepared early--they may be requested by schools to prove eligibility for financial aid

January

• Applying to a private college? Make sure that your counselor knows about the "Mid-year Reports" that you need along with any letters of recommendation required with deadlines. 

• Cash for College workshops will be offered starting this month. Pay attention to announcements for more information.

February 

• Sign up for any seventh-semester transcript requests through Parchment, which can be found on our counseling website.

• Make sure all of your financial aid forms have been mailed.

• Continue to check the Scholarship Bulletin for scholarships.

• Students to enroll in a UC will receive a notification to register for the UC Writing Exam. CSU placement will be determined on their grades, SAT/ACT Scores, and EAP Scores from the state SBAC exam.

March                

• March - Admission Decisions Begin for many colleges! Watch the mail/email/portal for decisions.

•  March 2, the priority deadline for FAFSA and CA Dream App - must be postmarked by this date.

• Start thinking about a summer job, you will need it!

• Solano Community College Students can qualify for priority registration if they meet the following requirements:

  • Submit CC Application by end of February

  • See email for class placement for English and Math and complete online orientation.

  • Create initial draft of first semester of Ed Plan by Early March

  • Schedule a time to meet with a counselor and create an educational plan. We recommend an in person meeting!

  • Don’t forget!- Submit a California College Promise Grant application OR complete your FAFSA/ CA Dream App for your fees to be waived for your first 2 years.

  • Late April - Register for your classes

  • Submit a change of status to the admissions office (high school→ college student) if you have a hold.    

April         

• UC Bound students - In early April, students will receive a letter directing them to the test center where they must take the UC Writing Test. 

• Check your web portals and compare the financial aid offers you receive. Schedule a meeting with your counselor or college advisor to review and compare Financial Aid Awards and to select the best financial fit for you. 

• Watch for deadlines - These could be listed as “Holds” or “To-Do” items on your web-portals.

• Notify the other schools that you will not be attending. 

• Community College Students

  • Sign up for summer and fall classes in late April if you have completed your education plan with a counselor

May

• May 1st - Decision Day - Statement of Intent for your college of choice due. This is a good time to also accept your Awards!

• Mid May - AP examinations are held. Exact dates and time can be found on the College Board website.

• UC Bound students - UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination

• DREAMER Students must submit a nonresident tuition exemption to their university so that you are not charged out of state tuition.                 

June

• June – Graduation

• CSU Bound Students: Make sure you are registered for your Early Start for Math or English if required! Note that you can take the summer requirement at ANY CSU or online. Students doing EOP will likely attend their Summer Bridge which will take place at the CSU and will include the required Early Start.

• Update your Cal Grant graduation date on MyGrantInfo so that your money can be disbursed. 

• Send your AP scores to your university via apscore.org (after July for exams taken 12th grade).

• Complete the senior survey so that we have information on where you will be enrolled after high school.

Important Note: Make sure to request official transcripts through Parchment online through the counseling website so that transcripts can be mailed to your university. College Transcripts will need to be ordered online through MySolano.