To-Do List
Programs/Competitions
PSAT/SAT/ACT
College Search
Scholarships
Recs
Understand what you have undertaken.
This form was due August 29. It affirms that you and your parents have read the IB General Regulations. I have extended the deadline to earn the full 10 points to Sunday, September 14,11:59 p.m.
AP Capstone Diploma and the IB Extended Essay
Be mindful of the laws governing Indiana transcripts
SAT score (or scores if superscoring)
Attendance
Sig includes other College Board Recognitions and ACT scores if they are better than your SAT scores.
Build your resume.
Look for leadership opportunities through Sig clubs or community organizations.
Keep your CAS page updated.
Complete the Power School profile questionnaire by Tuesday September 9, 12 noon, deadline extended due to Microsoft licensing issues. Did you complete yours? Check here.
Consider the endgame for your EE. For example, you could submit your work to the Regeneron Science Talent Search next year or the USI Tri-State Science & Engineering Fair (2025 site here).
Talk to your parents about
attending College Information Night for current juniors, in the KC Commons on Thursday, September 11, 5:30-6:30. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. RSVP here. Materials: Timeline pdf here, Excel sheet here; 2025 Profile here.
(New) registering for a Big Future Live Parent Night, especially the 9/25 session, "Demystifying the PSAT/NMSQT."
Stay on top of your schoolwork and get help if needed through NHS tutoring (contact Ms. Grant) and Mu Alpha Theta math tutoring after school on Wednesdays.
Get ready for the October PSAT, see PSAT/SAT/ACT news at top right.
Competitions
The Coolidge Foundation Student Essay Contest entries are due September 10. Finalists will receive money, a trip to Washington D.C, and an opportunity to compete for even more money! This year's topic is Protectionism: the Jones Act.
New The Buckley Institute's 2025 essay contest submissions are due October 5, at 11:59 PST.
Congressional App Challenge 2025 due October 30, but you should complete your registration and set up your account now.
Winning apps may be displayed on the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Bennington Young Writers Awards contest submissions due November 1, application opens early September.
Categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Winners in each category receive up to $1000.
All submitters must obtain teacher sponsorship.
New The Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest submissions due November 6 by regular mail. Rules are here. The winning essay will move to the state-level competition.
New 2025 Learn More Indiana529 Contest K-12 survey entries due November 21, at 11 p.m. EST. 5 surveys will be randomly drawn for a $1000 deposit into an Indiana529 account.
Programs
Interested in Purdue engineering? Attend the Exploring Engineering at Purdue session, October 20. The program is for parents and students, and there are early-bird sessions starting on October 19. Click the link above to sign up for more information.
Pre-College Programs are available throughout the year. This list is not exhaustive.
Sign up for Signature School lunchtime college visits through Schoology's Class of 2027 page. All juniors must attend at least one lunchtime college visit.
New Interested in attending a Service Academy for a full ride plus room, board, and textbooks? Applications for a congressional nomination to the four Service Academies requiring such a nomination are due on October 1 of senior year. Here is some more information:
Congressman Mark Messmer is accepting applications through this form. He provides a checklist, and a Service Academy fact sheet.
Sign up for College Fairs Online and enter a drawing for a $1000 scholarship. The more you engage, the more chances you earn.
Admissions Beat, a podcast wherein an Ivy League Dean demystifies the college search and application process
The College Tour, Seasons 1-9 on Amazon Prime, spreadsheet of all episodes here. Free college search classes here.
Big Future's College Search Guide
PSAT/NMSQT
Best preparation for junior-year PSAT, on October 23?
Review your 10th grade PSAT score report. Here's a guide.
2024 Student Guide, still relevant
Free skills practice through Khan Academy
(Math and Reading and Writing skills)
Free PSAT full-length exams through College Board's Bluebook
Free PSAT practice tests and strategy sessions from Princeton Review
Free sessions from August 25-September 29. Enroll here.
SAT
All members of the Class of 2027 will take a school-day SAT, likely in March 2026.
Consider taking a full-length SAT before then
Upcoming sessions: 10/4-register by 9/19, 11/8-register by 10/24, 12/6-register by 11/21
Fee waiver eligibility information
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
ACT
Fee waiver eligibility and benefits
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
Coolidge Scholarship application (including letters of reference) was due last year on Wednesday, December 11. Stay tuned for the 2025-2026 application to go live soon!
highly selective and meant for students whose scholarly interests take them well beyond the classroom, who have records of interest in public policy and of humility and service;
full-ride at any U.S. college;
a complex application--get started now if interested.
Explore Scholarship Databases
BigFuture’s Scholarship Search
Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)
Get your website documentation ready. (Example: update your CAS page.)
Obtain your recommender's consent.
Register your recommendation request here. Complete the form for each request. Some recommenders like a hard copy.
Complete the Teacher Recommendation Questionnaire. Print a hard copy of the questionnaire for your recommender.