Fall (September-November)

• Evaluate your current course load and find out how much you know about college planning. 

• Pick the right classes:

• This is likely the first year you’ve had much say in the courses you take. In addition to taking the core requirements, be sure to challenge yourself whenever possible. But remember, the idea is to challenge yourself, not break yourself! Don’t take Honors and AP classes just to take them…do it in classes that truly interest you, or it will potentially backfire

• Register for and take the PSAT (pre-SAT) exam. 

• Taking the PSAT doesn’t necessarily count towards a grade for your GPA, but it will give you a sense of how you compare to other sophomores nationwide. This can help alert you to any weaknesses you should be addressing and studying for the SAT.

• Increase your commitment to extracurricular activities to help you stand out on your future college/career applications.

• Seek out leadership opportunities. You don’t have to be President of the Student Council or Captain of your sports team to be a leader (although these are clearly great opportunities!) – you can start a club or organize a fundraiser.

• Create a college calendar to help keep track of important dates and deadlines. 

• Determine what role,  if any, athletic recruitment will play. A lot of college coaches select their recruits as early as a sophomore year and commit in junior year, so start preparing your highlight reels, contacting coaches, and being proactive. Consider the differences between Division I, II, and III for student-athletes. 

• Athletes must register with NCAA – sign up at www.eligibilitycenter.org

• Make sure you are taking all classes that align with the NCAA eligibility.

• Ask your Guidance Counselor for help if you are unsure.

• Get familiar with college planning and the admissions process so you’ll know what to expect before college.

Winter (December-February)

• Develop your standardized testing plan and take the tests you’re ready for.

• Discover unique tips on how to organize your college prep activities.

• Capitalize on college planning resources and learn more about colleges and universities.

• Visit the college and career center to get a head start on all things college and life after high school. 

• Make an appointment with the College & Career Center to discuss the below:

• College searches, college representative visits, college essays, resumes, The Common Application, financial aid, scholarships, questions to ask admissions representatives, career exploration (picking a major), and more!

Spring (March-May)

• Consult your counselor to make sure you’re prepared for junior year classes.

• Pick the right classes:

• In addition to taking the core requirements, be sure to challenge yourself whenever possible. But remember, the idea is to challenge yourself, not break yourself! You should pick challenging classes that relate to your interests without taking so many that your GPA suffers.

• Expand your knowledge about prospective schools by attending college fairs and information sessions.

• Plan a solid summer filled with volunteering, internships, and of course, fun.

• Ask your counselor or teachers about AP testing to see if you’re ready to take AP classes or sign up for the AP exam.

• Begin your college search by making a list of colleges or trade schools you want to research.

Summer (June-August)

• Talk with your family about creating a college budget.

• Talk about the cost of college and what you can afford without scholarships or financial aid. 

• Decide on some schools that you are interested in within this budget. You should look at schools above this budget too, as you may receive scholarships or financial aid that will make the final cost around the same as the other schools. 

• Does your budget include dorming? Meal plans? Flights (if needed)?

• Secure a summer job (if needed) and build credentials while having fun!

• Enroll in ACT or SAT prep over the summer while you still have free time.

• Visit college campuses to see which types of schools appeal to you.

• Start exploring college majors. Did you know that UC Berkeley offers a major in Rhetoric, which basically a program focused on arguing efficiently and effectively? Or that Tufts offers a major in Music Engineering, which combines music theory and composition, recording and production, and computer programming? Check out some of the options online, but even better, learn about the options in Information Sessions or by talking to professors when you visit campuses.

September

• Make sure your high school courses are in line with your future goals (college, career, trade, etc.)

• Athletes must register with NCAA – sign up at www.eligibilitycenter.org

• Make sure you are taking all classes that align with the NCAA eligibility.

• Ask your Guidance Counselor for help if you are unsure.

October

• Attend the College & Career Fair at Deer Park High School in October.

• Attend any other local college and career fairs as well. 

November 

• Begin your college search. College searches can be done using www.collegeboard.org, naviance.com, or by performing a google search. 

• After speaking with some college representatives at the College Fair or during the College Representative meetings, you might be able to narrow down some schools you like ad don’t like.

• Use College Board to look up SAT/ACT requirements for the colleges you are interested in. 

• Although some schools are test optional currently, they re-evaluate their decision yearly and can change!

• Start exploring potential majors and careers.

• If you are struggling, narrow down the list of majors you DO NOT want to do. This will help to narrow down what you are interested in doing. 

December

• Register to take the February ACT and March SAT.

• See where your strengths are for each exam and define weaker areas.

• Plan to visit some college campuses. Make good use of the upcoming school vacations!
  
  

January 

• Continue with your college searches. Try to narrow down your list of potential options. 

• Continue to prepare for the upcoming SAT/ACT. 

• Deer Park High School has FREE study methods for SAT/ACT learning.

• METHODIZE CASTLE LEARNING TEST PREP (SAT & ACT)

• Methodize's ACT and SAT courses are organized into brief, easy-to-navigate units. Each unit contains lessons that will cover the concepts covered by the course.

• When working through these courses, students will read brief lessons that will prepare them for everything that they can expect to see on the ACT and SAT. Every lesson also has an accompanying quiz that students can use to demonstrate their mastery of the material.

• Best of all, every quiz question has a detailed text and video explanation so you can glean valuable strategies and subject information by reviewing the answers on your quizzes.

• To use Methodize: Go to castlelearning.com and log in using your Deer Park Email (Single Sign On Through Google)

• KHAN ACADEMY SAT PREP

• Khan Academy creates a tailored practice plan for you based on a diagnostic or your SAT or PSAT/NMSQT® scores.

• In this course, you will receive 8 full-length, real-practice tests and content created in partnership with College Board. There are thousands of practice questions, videos, lessons, and hints plus study and test-taking tips and strategies. Get constant feedback and progress so you know where you stand while practicing.

• To Use Khan Academy: Go to https://www.khanacademy.org/SAT and create an account with them. 

February 

• Finalize course selections for next year.

• It is important to choose your classes for next year well in advance and submit them to your high school on time. You should pick challenging classes that relate to your interests without taking so many that your GPA suffers.

• Plan Fall extracurricular activities

• Do you want to start a club? Begin volunteering somewhere? Get a job? It's important to look for these opportunities in advance so you don't miss any deadlines.

• Prepare applications to US Military Academies or ROTC programs if interested. 

March

• Start creating folders or lists of the schools you are most interested in.

• When searching for colleges, you want to have 2-3 of each type of school (Likely, Target & Reach)

• Likely Schools are colleges/universities where you have a greater than 70% chance of acceptance. Your GPA and test scores are much higher than the average for that school. 

• Target Schools are colleges/universities where your academic credentials (grades and SAT or ACT scores) fall well within the school’s average. Unless the school is very selective, how your GPA and SAT/ACT scores compare to its middle 50% test scores is a decent indicator of whether a school is a target school.

• Reach Schools are colleges/universities where you have less than a 15% chance of admission (this is your personal chance of acceptance, not the school’s acceptance rate). Keep in mind that schools with less than a 10% acceptance rate are reaches for everyone. These schools are extremely competitive and even students with profiles that align or exceed those of accepted students cannot be confident they’ll gain admission. A school may also be a reach if your grades and test scores are below the averages of accepted students.

• Start organizing a list of your extracurricular activities, honors/awards, work and/or volunteer experience, and more for your resume. 

• Take the SAT/ACT exams.

April 

• Attend the Junior Conferences with your Guidance Counselor to discuss your future plans.

• Sign Up for AP Exams if applicable. 

• Plan College Visits

• As you are working on finalizing your college list, now is a great time for you to consider taking an occasional weekend to visit schools you're struggling to decide between. Alternatively, you could take a virtual tour, attend an information session, or talk to an alumnus.

• Here is a worksheet you can download so you can take notes on all the schools you visit. 

• Register to take the May/June SAT/ACT.

• You will have the opportunity to take the SAT/ACT Senior Year as well. The September, October, and November exams will allow you to receive your scores back in time to submit your college applications. Later exams will not. Plan accordingly.

May 

• Take the SAT/ACT exams.

• Take AP Exams (if applicable) 

• Finalize your college lists:

• Ideally, you've decided what colleges you will want to apply to. There may be minor changes later on, but for the most part, you want to have a solid plan in place for the Fall.
  
  

June 

• Finish your Junior Year strong!

• Attend the Common Application Workshop:

• Students will be able to learn all about the Common Application.

• Students will sign-up and begin to fill out the Common Application.

• Students will learn how to conduct college searches, and where to find school requirements on The Common App. 

• Start creating your plans for Summer.

• Think about visiting colleges/universities, future deadlines, volunteer work opportunities for your resume, and more!

• Start thinking about your College Essay

• While not all college applications require this, most do. Typically the essay should be 650 words or less. 

• Use the prompts on the Common Application (Found Here) to start brainstorming topic ideas. 

Summer

• Continue researching and visiting colleges/universities.

• Remember that since it is Summer break, there won’t be as many students on Campus. 

• Perform community service and/or participate in a summer development opportunity. 

• Review college application websites to get a feel for the future. 

• Sign up and start The Common Application. This will help to get a head start for the Fall.

• Prepare a testing strategy and study for any tests you will take in the Fall (SAT/ACT)

• Start thinking about your College Essay

• While not all college applications require this, most do. Typically the essay should be 650 words or less. 

• Use the prompts on the Common Application (Found Here) to start brainstorming topic ideas. 

September 

• Register to take the upcoming SAT or the ACT.  

• The September, October, and November exams will allow you to receive your scores back in time to submit your college applications. Later exams will not. Plan accordingly.

• Attend the Senior Conferences with your Guidance Counselor to discuss your future plans.

• Approach 1-2 teachers and ask them to write a letter of recommendation. If needed, you may ask your Guidance Counselor as well. 

• Review an unofficial copy of your transcript; make corrections if necessary. 

• Make an appointment with the College & Career Center to discuss the below:

• College searches, college representative visits, on-site decision days, college essays, resumes, The Common Application, financial aid, scholarships, questions to ask admissions representatives, career exploration (picking a major), and more!

• A handful of schools, including popular ones like UNC Chapel Hill, have application deadlines in mid-October. Don't be surprised! Plan accordingly.

• Start working on your College applications, college essays, and resumes.

October 

• Take the October SAT/ACT

• Finalize college choices, applications, essays, and resumes.

• Make an appointment with the College & Career Center for help.

• Start attending College Visits:

• A college visit is when a representative from a college will come to Deer Park High School to speak with students. The representative will tell students all about the college, hand out information, and allow students to ask any questions they may have. This is a great opportunity for students to meet with the admissions representative who will later be reading their applications. 

• Prepare for Early Action/Early Decision deadlines.

• Most early deadlines are around November 1st.

• You must inform your Guidance Counselor 2-3 weeks BEFORE you apply for EARLY DECISION.

• A handful of schools, including popular ones like UNC Chapel Hill, have deadlines in mid-October. Don't be surprised!

• Attend the College Application Day hosted by the College & Career Center:

• Students will sign up and fill out The Common Application, The Suffolk Community College Application, and The SUNY/CUNY Application (if needed).

• Attend any virtual financial aid nights

• Check the College & Career Center website under the Financial Aid tab for dates and to register.

• Attend the Deer Park High School College & Career Fair

• Attend any local fairs as well.

• FAFSA opens on October 1st. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. 

• Determine if the CSS Profile is needed for the schools you are going to apply to.

• Start signing up for On-Site Decision Days:

• On-Site Admission days are when an admission representative from a college comes to the high school to review students' applications and give an admission decision ON THE SPOT! Aside from skipping the wait, students participating in an on-site visit do not have to pay an application fee.

• In order to be eligible to sign up for an on-site admissions day, a student must meet the GPA & SAT/ACT requirements for the college or university.

• Check the College & Career Center website and google classroom for dates and sign-up sheets. (Most begin in November)

• Register for the November SAT

• Remember this will be the last exam you can take before applications are due. There is no guarantee you will receive the December scores back in time for application deadlines. 

November 

• Take the November SAT/ACT

• Remember this will be the last exam you can take before applications are due. There is no guarantee you will receive the December scores back in time for application deadlines. 

• Most Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) deadlines are November 5 & November 15th. Make sure you apply before the deadline if you wish to apply Early. 

• Check each school you plan to apply to and write down their application deadlines. 

• Continue attending College Visits

• Register for the December SAT if applicable (this date is usually too late for college application deadlines, please plan accordingly). 

• Attend any On-Site Decision Days that you signed up for.

December 

• Take the December SAT if applicable (this date is usually too late for college application deadlines, please plan accordingly).

• Prepare to submit college Regular Decision applications: 

• Regular deadlines are January 1st-15th

• This is right after Winter Break, Plan accordingly.

• Attend (with your parents/guardians) a FAFSA Completion Workshop:

• A financial aid representative from a college will come to Deer Park to host the FAFSA Completion Workshop. They will walk you step-by-step- through the FAFSA Application and be there to answer any questions. 

January 

• Start searching for Scholarships and fill out any applications needed.

• A list of scholarships can be found on the College & Career Center website under the Scholarships tab.

• Complete college-specific financial aid forms (if required).

• Attend the Alumni Panel (Hosted by The College & Career Center):

• Curious about life after high school? This is a panel where students who have previously graduated from Deer Park High School come to speak with our students about college, careers (if applicable), and life after high school. Students are encouraged to ask questions. 

February - June

• Prepare to send out mid-year reports and transcripts to applicable schools that request them.

• DON'T get senioritis. Colleges are looking at your final grades including your Senior year!

• Attend a virtual financial aid night (if needed); Check the college and career center website under Financial Aid Information to register.

• Keep searching for scholarships.

• Attend the Resume Building Workshop (hosted by the College & Career Center)

• You will work on your resume from start to finish. This is essential in applying for any future jobs (on campus, off campus, etc.)

• Prepare to start receiving admissions decisions from Colleges/Universities.

• Once you receive an acceptance letter, you should fill out the college letter analyzer.

• This can be located on the College & Career Website under the Financial Aid Tab.

• Inform your Guidance Counselor on acceptances and if you have made your decision.

• You have until May 1st to decide which school you are going to attend!

• Sign up for AP examinations (if applicable)

• Continue to visit colleges/universities:

• It is very important to visit any schools that you can see yourself attending. 

• Visiting schools is important to get a feel for what it will be like on that school's campus.

• See this worksheet when visiting any school. 

• Review your financial aid package and talk to financial aid officials if needed.

• Take AP Examinations if applicable. 

• When you decide on a school, send your deposit and inform your other schools of your decision.

• Informing the schools you did not choose will allow your spot to go to someone on the waitlist.

• Decision and Deposit need to be sent BEFORE May 1st.

• Make arrangements and have final transcripts sent to the college/university you chose. 

ENJOY YOURSELF AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE OR A CAREER! CONGRATULATIONS! :)