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PREPARING FOR COLLEGE BY GRADE LEVEL
9th Grade (Freshman Year)
10th Grade (Sophomore Year)
11th Grade (Junior Year)
12th Grade (Senior Year)
9th Grade (Freshman Year)
- Build strong academic, language, mathematics and critical thinking skills by
taking challenging courses.
- Study hard and get excellent grades to build a great transcript.
- Become involved in co-curricular activities.
- Begin searching colleges and universities that interest you to see what types of
things they are looking for to be admitted; GPA, SAT/ ACT scores.
- Know NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) requirements if you want to
play sports in college.
- Begin thinking about how to save money for college.
- Research career/interests possibilities.
- Take the PLAN test in October.
- Be aware of PE requirements if you wish to use your sport, band or color guard
as a PE credit.
- Take the ECA exams after completing Algebra I and Biology courses. (If taking
this year)
- Meet with your counselor in the spring to set up 10th grade schedule.
- Look for volunteer opportunities
10th Grade (Sophomore Year)
- Remember that colleges and future employers will look at your High School
Transcript
- Take classes that ensure you stay on your chosen diploma track.
- Consider taking the SAT prep course after school at HSE
- Know the alternate PE credit rules and deadlines, if you plan on using your
sport, band or color guard as a PE credit.
- Take the PSAT in October
- Research colleges that may be of interest to you
- Get involved!
- Take the ECA when you finish English 10 and Algebra I and Biology courses. (If
you are taking these courses)
- If you are an athlete, make sure you are taking NCAA approved courses
(information available at
www.eligibilitycenter.com)
- Sign up on Naviance to meet
with college representatives. Scheduled college rep. visits are announced on
morning announcement and posted in the guidance office.
- Begin exploring financial aid and scholarship options on the Learn More Indiana
web site. www.learnmoreindiana.org
- Take your one excused college visit to explore a campus during “business hours”.
11th Grade (Junior Year)
11th Grade (Junior Year) - Fall
- Start exploring your post high school possibilities. Write down your abilities,
preferences, and personal qualities. Start keeping track of your high school
resume for senior year.
- If you have not already, log on to your Naviance Account and begin exploring all
it has to offer. Complete the career inventory and SAT prep help, explore
colleges, etc. Contact the Guidance Office if you do not know your access code.
- Begin your college search through recommended internet sites, reference guides
available in the Guidance Office, the High School Library or local town library
and through Naviance.
- Explore careers and majors available on college websites.
- Talk with friends, family, and teachers about their career experiences.
- Discuss your possibilities with your high school counselor.
- Use your Fall Break to visit some colleges.
- Attend local and regional college fairs, presentations of visiting college
representatives both within the high school and in the metropolitan area.
- Take the PSAT given at HSE in October during school. Prepare for this by taking
the practice test provided in class previous to this test date. Also visit
www.CollegeBoard.com and check out their College Board Test page for links to
tips and sample questions.
11th Grade (Junior Year) - Winter
- Junior Parent College Info Night (see guidance calendar
for dates and times)
- Review your PSAT report with answer key provided to determine your weaknesses.
College Board will help you develop a study plan - available through their
website.
- Find lists of colleges, majors, and careers right for you through “MY Road” on
the College Board Website.
- During winter break find out the real scoop on college from your friends who
have come home from campus.
- Plan on taking the SAT and/or ACT sometime during the spring. Test dates and
registration deadlines are available in the Testing Information link in the web
site or on line at www.collegeboard.org or www.act.org. Practice tests available
in the Guidance Office and on Naviance.
- SAT prep classes are available at HSE in the fall and spring at an additional
cost-check with Guidance if you are interested.
- Begin planning visits to colleges of interest to you. Juniors have one day they
may
use as a planned college visit day. Another good time is Spring Break, or the
summer months to explore campuses. Appointments can be made by contacting the
admission’s offices at universities.
11th Grade (Junior Year) - Spring
- Take the SAT and/or ACT test.
- Review your senior year class schedule with your counselor.
- Challenge yourself with honors and AP classes and continue ongoing studies such
as world languages.
- Arrange enriching summer activities, including volunteering, getting an
interesting job or internship, and enrolling in summer classes at colleges.
- Create and maintain a personal resume to use in the upcoming year for
applications and scholarship applications.
- If you are hoping to play a sport in college, talk to your coach and ask for
help in
meeting college coaches. Register for Initial-Eligibility with the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at www.eligibilitycenter.org
- Listen for announcements from Guidance about scholarships open to juniors.
11th-to-12th Grade Summer
(Junior-to-Senior Year)
- Take campus tours.
- Schedule interviews with admission counselors at colleges you’re serious about.
- Check out on-line applications and financial aid information from these
colleges.
- Check important dates; some universities have early deadlines or rolling
admissions.
- Ask your summer employer for a recommendation letter on letterhead that you can
use during your senior year for applications. (Don’t forget to say thank you!)
- Visit prospective college campuses.
- Schedule your yearbook picture with Prestige Studios – 844-2441.
12th Grade (Senior Year)
12th Grade (Senior Year) - Fall
- SENIOR PARENT NIGHT (see guidance calendar for dates
and times)
- Obtain college applications or apply online.
- Continue to use your Naviance Advising Website to search colleges,
scholarships, and track your college applications. If you have not done it
already, complete the Learning Style Inventory and the Career Inventory
available in Naviance. Also enter information into the Resume Builder.
- Visit colleges in which you are interested, attend College Representative
presentations at HSEHS (schedules are posted outside of Guidance and in
Naviance). Seniors have 2 school days available to visit colleges. These days
are not counted against your exam exemption.
- If you are planning to play a sport in college, register with the NCAA at
www.eligibilitycenter.org . Transcripts can be requested through electronic
delivery at the time you register. Just follow the directions given to you by
NCAA.
- Complete college applications no later than Thanksgiving. If you are doing a
paper application, bring the application and $2 per application to the Guidance
office. Allow 2 weeks to process these through our office. Last day to turn in
applications for January 1st deadlines is DECEMBER 7th. February 15th deadline
in the Guidance office will be February 1st. If you are doing an on-line
application process and we can submit your transcript to the college
electronically, there will be no charge. Please note that not all colleges are
set up to take transcripts electronically so be sure to check the availability
of this on www.parchment.com
*.
- Get required recommendations (allow two weeks). Follow up with a “Thank you” to
that person. Try to obtain recommendation letters from people who see you in
different capacities such as employer, coach, teacher, youth group leader,
volunteer coordinator, etc. Show what makes you special outside of being a
student: community service, outside school activities, honors, jobs and special
skills. Especially important is a recommendation from an academic teacher that
you have impressed with your hard work, intelligence, creativity and ability to
think about complex topics.
- Write first drafts of application essays and ask teachers, parents, and friends
to read and critique them.
- Complete your Senior Meeting with your counselor (September). Double check that
you have met your requirements for your diploma track.
- Take the SAT/ACT in October or November if still needed.
- Order Cap and Gowns for graduation and any other graduation supplies wanted.
(Invitations, memory items, etc.)
- Start your scholarship search - See recommended web sites. Applications start
arriving in the Guidance Office in October and are posted on our website and in
Naviance with updates weekly.
12th Grade (Senior Year) - Winter
- Apply for your FAFSA pin number in December by going to
www.pin.ed.gov *. This allows you to complete your FASFA on their website in
January.
- Attend the Financial Aid Meeting January 11 at 7:00 pm High School Leonard
Auditorium
- Complete your FAFSA form by the required date.
- Make sure the counseling office has sent any required 7th semester transcripts
to colleges if required—or request them to be sent on www.parchment.com .
- If you did not pass any required courses for graduation during the first
semester, see your counselor about taking those courses again.
12th Grade (Senior Year) - Spring
- Inform Guidance of any scholarships you receive.
- Tell every college you applied to of your acceptance or
rejection of their offer of admission or financial aid by May 1. It is just as
important to tell colleges you are not attending as it is to let them know you
will attend.
- Send your initial deposit to the college you choose.
Don’t delay on locking in your dorm preferences.
- Fill out you senior exit survey on line – survey
available April/May 2012 on the Naviance website.
12th Grade (Senior Year) - Summer
- Tell the Guidance Department where to send your final transcripts.
- Finalize financial aid awards paperwork.
- Read carefully all orientation and registration materials provided by your
chosen university.
- Start gathering items needed for your freshman year of college. Pay attention to
the recommendations from your college/university on how to handle the first year
of college.
HELPFUL WEBSITES
Petersons:
www.petersons.com *
American colleges:
www.clas.ufl.edu/au *
The College Board:
www.collegeboard.org *
Princeton Review:
www.princetonreview.com *
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